Filipino civil engineers in Qatar have extended their commitment to nation-building by providing a safer and more sustainable learning environment for Indigenous Manobo students through the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) Qatar Chapter’s 7th Green School Building Project at Mt Apo National High School in Sitio Sibayan, Barangay Ilomavis, Kidapawan City.
The project, which culminated in the turnover of a newly constructed classroom on September 19, 2026, aims to improve educational facilities in an underserved community where students and teachers previously relied on seven makeshift classrooms.
Serving 137 students and 12 teachers, the school now has a 63-square-metre permanent classroom built to Department of Education standards. The building features durable materials and a galvanised cladding system, incorporating sustainable, climate-resilient construction principles.
With an initial construction cost of P650,000, the project was coordinated by Michael Mineses, a former member of the PICE Board of Directors.
The initiative also marked the revival of PICE Qatar’s flagship community infrastructure programme, which was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic because of financial and operational constraints. Efforts to revive it began in 2025 under then-PICE Qatar president Mario S Oligo, with COPCP chairperson Katherine Sarajan Rombano leading the initiative.
Implementation continued in 2026 under PICE Qatar president Jundee Mar Tejedo, COPCP chairman Lester O Militante, vice chairperson Nida L Austria Tagtag, and supervising officer Katherine S Rombano, with support from chapter members, donors and volunteers.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 25 while the September turnover brought together PICE National president Cary Beatisula, Kidapawan City mayor Atty Jose Paolo Evangelista, local education officials, school representatives, community leaders and members of the Manobo community.
PICE Qatar donated 30 school armchairs and three solar-powered streetlights with poles, adding PHP63,000 to the project investment and bringing the total to P713,000 (approximately QR43,200).
Pual Marquez, the Ashghal Planning Team, PICE COCPA, and the 2026 PICE Board of Directors supported the additional facilities.
Funding came from several initiatives, including the “One Ticket Today, Classroom All the Way” raffle campaign, Adopt a Community Project raffle, Bowling for a Cause, Top CE Nights Awards, and BIM modelling workshops, along with corporate sponsorships and individual donations.
In recognition of its contribution, Mt. Apo National High School presented PICE Qatar with a Certificate of Citation for Sponsorship.
The project also forms part of the chapter’s entry for the 2026 PICE Most Outstanding Community Project Awards – Hall of Fame.
For PICE Qatar, the initiative underscores how Filipino engineers overseas can translate professional expertise into meaningful community service, demonstrating that engineering excellence extends beyond infrastructure to improving lives and expanding opportunities for future generations.