Engr. Mariano Sta. Romana Agoncillo, an accomplished graduate of the UE College of Engineering-Manila, was awarded by the Professional Regulation Commission as the Most Outstanding Professional of the Year in the field of Civil Engineering!
The awarding ceremony was held during the PRC Awards Night that last December 10, at The Manila Hotel.
Per the PRC, the Most Outstanding Professional of the Year Award is “the highest award bestowed by the Commission upon a professional as recommended by his/her peers for having amply demonstrated professional competence of the highest degree and conducted himself/herself with integrity in the exercise of his/her profession, participated meaningfully in the advancement of the profession, and contributed significantly to the effective discharge of the profession’s social responsibility through meaningful contribution/participation in socio-related activities.”
Engr. Agoncillo earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree from UE CEng’g in 1980. He took and passed the licensure exam, becoming a licensed civil engineer in the following year. He would later on complete a postgraduate course in Construction Management at the Asian Institute of Management, and take advanced studies in concrete precasting at the Elematic Precast Academy in Helsinki, Finland.
He is the Co-Founder and incumbent President of Datem Incorporated, one of the country’s leading construction firms—one that is accredited as a Quadruple A company and has built some of the most prestigious high-rise landmarks and prominent infrastructure in the Philippines. These include the Power Plant Mall in Makati City, The Mind Museum in Bonifacio Global City, and the North-South Commuter Railway Project, which involves the construction of a 37.6-kilometer double-track standard-gauge railway from Malolos in Bulacan to Tutuban in Manila, to name just a few.
From a fledgling company borne during the turbulent first half of the 1980s, Datem—along with Engr. Agoncillo’s colorful career—has truly grown by leaps and bounds. To date, he is likewise the President of Datem Water Incorporated and the Director of Datem Homes. He is likewise the Director of both the Construction Manpower Development Foundation and of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE).
In addition, he is the External Vice President of Construction Safety Foundation Incorporated; a Member of the Association of Construction Equipment Lessors; a Director of the International Federation of Asian and Western Pacific Contractors’ Associations; a Director of the ASEAN Contractors Federation; and Chairman of the 171220 Holdings Corporation.
He had been President of PICE’s East Metro Manila Chapter from 2017 to 2018, and of the Philippine Constructors Association (PCA) from 2018 to 2019.
Prior to his PRC award, Engr. Agoncillo was honored with the International Federation of Asian and Western Pacific Contractors Builders Award in 2006 for the Greenbelt Development Project, and the 44th National Industrial Safety Convention Award for Excellence in October 2011 by the Safety Organization of the Philippines for the One Rockwell Project. In 2012, he was recognized as a Prime Mover by Habitat for Humanity. Furthermore, he was bestowed the Meritorious Service Award during his term as PCA President.
On the University’s end, Engr. Agoncillo was recognized as one of UE’s 75 Most Outstanding Alumni, on the occasion of the University’s 75th Foundation Anniversary in 2021. He was the Commencement Speaker for UE Caloocan for the 72nd UE Yearend Commencement Rites, held virtually in November 2020.
Congratulations, Warrior Civil Engineer, and thank you for making Lualhati proud!
[Portrait shot courtesy of Engr. Agoncillo; awarding ceremony photo by Ms. Angelica Agoncillo]