Faced with competition from non-architects but qualified players such as contractors, engineers, plan drawers, artists and even fashion houses, architects in Negros Oriental are encouraged to look beyond designing buildings in order to survive.

Ned Carlos, president of the United Architects of the Philippines-Dumaguete, advised his members to brace themselves to weather the competition.

He said the profession needs to modernize and firm up if there’s any chance of surviving the next 10 years.

Carlos, who met with the UAP’s board of directors and officers recently, also said that architects need to be able to out-value the competition if they are to be of use to a client.

The UAP thrusts for the next 12 months will focus on tourism, marketing, sustainability, innovation, education, creativity, management, and process-driven consultancy, he added.*

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