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When meeting face-to-face is not an option, many Filipino groups and organisations as well as companies in Qatar have resorted to using technology to carry on with their respective tasks at hand.
Among them is the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) Qatar Chapter, one of the most active Filipino professional groups in the country.
PICE-Qatar President Engineer Sheila Medel said the decision of their group’s top leadership to maximise the use of technology and social media given the current health and safety situation in the country is aligned with their commitment to the objectives and programmes of their organisation and their members. Similarly, she said the move is a show of strong support to the efforts of Qatar government to slow down the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) by urging people to avoid social gatherings by staying at home.
“The current situation is first and foremost an extraordinary one that most of the organisations including PICE Qatar are not prepared to handle. However, as a mature organisation, our Board of Directors have ensured that we will continue with our programmes and services to the members with full support and in line with the Qatar government’s quest to effectively fight Covid-19. We ensure as much as possible that this pandemic will have minimum impact on our daily lives and to the existence and objectives of PICE Qatar. With this, all our events that are contrary to the implementation of self-quarantine, social distancing and mass gatherings including face to face meetings, trainings, seminars and sports activities are effectively suspended until further notice,” Medel told
Qatar Tribune.
According to the PICE Qatar President, in order to connect with officers and members of their organisation, they are making use of Viber and Zoom applications as well as Facebook.
“We make use of Viber application as a form of effective communication with our Board of Directors as well as our members. This is carried-out with due consideration to control and regulation of information dissemination, wherein we tried to prevent also the circulation of fake news. Facebook application is used as an additional platform to inform members of current events and plan and other announcements that are of members’ interest. While Zoom application is being adapted in the conduct of our monthly Board meetings. Last April 3, we successfully completed our Board Meeting from 8:00am to 12:00pm through Zoom app,” Medel said.
She added, “Our review programme for the Board Examination for civil engineers is without let up every Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm. This is facilitated through zoom application wherein the instructor and the students participated to the event through video conferencing. There is also a plan to conduct our trainings true webinar using the same Zoom applications. The works for the monthly publication of our PICE Qatar Newsletter which is also continuing with the February 2020 issue released last March 17. They are now working for the March issue with the scheduled release of April 15. This is being released in the form of soft copy and sent through the individual e-mails of members and pertinent offices. News gathering is also carried out remotely through different media applications.”
Meanwhile, Megaworld International Territory Head/Vice President for Sales of MEA1 Bhem Aspe said while the use of technology has been at the core of their operations being a premier Philippine company with presence across the globe, their experience with such means of communications came in very handy in how she efficiently manages her team in Qatar with the prevailing situation.
She said, “The use of video conferences is a norm in the global operations of Megaworld. In my case, since I handle the operations of our company across the GCC, such platform is our only way to communicate either to hold meetings, provide updates and presentations. It has also been our means to connect with our clients. In managing my team in Qatar, we have also resorted to video conferences for updates, meetings and other transactions to ensure the safety of each and everyone and in compliance to government policies aimed at the protection of the nationals and residents.”
Among them is the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) Qatar Chapter, one of the most active Filipino professional groups in the country.
PICE-Qatar President Engineer Sheila Medel said the decision of their group’s top leadership to maximise the use of technology and social media given the current health and safety situation in the country is aligned with their commitment to the objectives and programmes of their organisation and their members. Similarly, she said the move is a show of strong support to the efforts of Qatar government to slow down the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) by urging people to avoid social gatherings by staying at home.
“The current situation is first and foremost an extraordinary one that most of the organisations including PICE Qatar are not prepared to handle. However, as a mature organisation, our Board of Directors have ensured that we will continue with our programmes and services to the members with full support and in line with the Qatar government’s quest to effectively fight Covid-19. We ensure as much as possible that this pandemic will have minimum impact on our daily lives and to the existence and objectives of PICE Qatar. With this, all our events that are contrary to the implementation of self-quarantine, social distancing and mass gatherings including face to face meetings, trainings, seminars and sports activities are effectively suspended until further notice,” Medel told
Qatar Tribune.
According to the PICE Qatar President, in order to connect with officers and members of their organisation, they are making use of Viber and Zoom applications as well as Facebook.
“We make use of Viber application as a form of effective communication with our Board of Directors as well as our members. This is carried-out with due consideration to control and regulation of information dissemination, wherein we tried to prevent also the circulation of fake news. Facebook application is used as an additional platform to inform members of current events and plan and other announcements that are of members’ interest. While Zoom application is being adapted in the conduct of our monthly Board meetings. Last April 3, we successfully completed our Board Meeting from 8:00am to 12:00pm through Zoom app,” Medel said.
She added, “Our review programme for the Board Examination for civil engineers is without let up every Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm. This is facilitated through zoom application wherein the instructor and the students participated to the event through video conferencing. There is also a plan to conduct our trainings true webinar using the same Zoom applications. The works for the monthly publication of our PICE Qatar Newsletter which is also continuing with the February 2020 issue released last March 17. They are now working for the March issue with the scheduled release of April 15. This is being released in the form of soft copy and sent through the individual e-mails of members and pertinent offices. News gathering is also carried out remotely through different media applications.”
Meanwhile, Megaworld International Territory Head/Vice President for Sales of MEA1 Bhem Aspe said while the use of technology has been at the core of their operations being a premier Philippine company with presence across the globe, their experience with such means of communications came in very handy in how she efficiently manages her team in Qatar with the prevailing situation.
She said, “The use of video conferences is a norm in the global operations of Megaworld. In my case, since I handle the operations of our company across the GCC, such platform is our only way to communicate either to hold meetings, provide updates and presentations. It has also been our means to connect with our clients. In managing my team in Qatar, we have also resorted to video conferences for updates, meetings and other transactions to ensure the safety of each and everyone and in compliance to government policies aimed at the protection of the nationals and residents.”
