SAINT JOSEPH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

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College of Engineering and Architecture

LCS Building, SJIT-Main Campus, Montilla Blvd., Butuan City

CE 15 (Civil Engineering Project)

NAME : LENBERT JAKE C. YAP

TITLE : Practicum Paper / Case Study about my OJT (Observation in the field of Civil
Engineering that has mal-practice)

CRITERIA RATING

1. Significance of the Study (25%)

2. Relevance of the Study C.E Profession

(50%)

3. Impact Community / Humanity Being

(25%)

Remarks:
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Practicum Paper / Case Study about my OJT

(Observation in the field of Civil Engineering that has mal-practices)

A Thesis Proposal Presented to the College of

Engineering and Architecture

Saint Joseph Institute of Technology

Butuan City

In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirement for the Degree of

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Lenbert Jake C .Yap

June 2020
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APPROVAL SHEET

This thesis entitled “Practicum Paper / Case Study about my OJT

(Observation in the field of Civil Engineering that has mal-practice)” prepared and
submitted by Lenbert Jake C. Yap, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree of Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, has been examined and
recommended for Oral Examination.

PANEL ON ORAL DEFENSE

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science

in Civil Engineering, by the Oral Examinee Committee on __________________ with
a grade of ___________.

Engr. ____________________ Engr. ____________________

Member Member

Engr. Joel C. Lobrino

Dean Of CEA

Accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of

Science in Civil Engineering.

Engr. Joel C. Lobrino

Dean, CEA

__________
Date Signed
 iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The researcher acknowledges the following persons who extend their hands

for support and contributed there help for the completion of this project.

The Almighty Father, our Creator for guiding and giving wisdom in our every

day’s life.

To my beloved mother Mrs. Helen C. Yap for the funding of this very

important research project and for the unending love and continuing support.

To my Friends/Family who supported in assessing and sharing thoughts and

ideas regarding in my research.

Lastly, the author wishes to recognize the Dean of Engineering and

Architecture, Engr. Joel C. Lobrino for the approval and assessing until the

completion of this project.

Lenbert Jake C. Yap

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Title : Practicum Paper / Case Study about my OJT

(Observation in the field of Civil Engineering that has mal-
practice)

Author : Lenbert Jake C. Yap

Institution : Saint Joseph Institute of Technology

Degree : Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Year : 2020

ABSTRACT

In Construction industry and Government Engineering Offices, one of the

problems so far is killing time at work which led and results to extension of deadlines,
projects and designs. “Work Smarter, Not Harder.” This one catchy phrase appears
in almost every discussion thread on productivity. But how do you actually put it into
practice? How do you get more from your set resources? One of the easiest places
to start is by looking at your dead time – all the trapped minutes where you could be
doing something productive. Once you know how to exploit dead time, you’ll end up
with much more useful time on your hands. Theoretically, people no longer need to
know what time it is in order to synchronize and coordinate their activities.

Corruption (including bribery, gift policy, embezzlement, kickbacks and fraud)

in construction projects undermines the delivery of infrastructure services.
Furthermore, corruption poses significant risks to construction and engineering
companies themselves. What progress has been made, therefore, in reducing the
risk of corruption to construction projects? It is the purpose of this paper to argue that
with improved accountability, attention to ethics and reduced corruption, it is possible
to construct, operate and maintain adequate quality and quantity of infrastructure on
a more sustainable basis and thereby improve construction and engineering
practices.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page No.

Title Page i

Approval Sheet ii

Acknowledgement iii

Abstract iv

Table of Contents v

CHAPTER

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study 1

1.2 Significance of the Study 2

1.3 Statement of the Problem

1.4 Scope and Limitation of the Study 3

1.5 Definition of Terms

2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURES 4

3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 6

3.1 Effects of Corruption like gift-policy, bribery, and extortion 7

3.2 Effects of “Killing time” or “Dead Time” in the

Construction and Engineering Industry, Offices, and Firms

4 FINDINGS 8

5 CONCLUSION 9

REFERENCES 11

CURRICULUM VITAE 12
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CHAPTER 1INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study:

We are all proud of our engineering/construction industry’s role in shaping our

world. Our water and wastewater systems have done more to improve public health

than all the hospitals in the world. Our roads and bridges, railroads, transit systems,

airports, and ports move people to and from their houses and jobs, and move goods

from producers to consumers. The buildings we produce provide houses, stores,

manufacturing, energy (refineries, power plants), education (schools), and health

care (hospitals). Life as we know it would not exist without engineers, constructors,

material suppliers, equipment suppliers, lenders, and owners who plan, design,

construct, operate and maintain our built environment.

despite all of the good that the engineering/construction industry has done,

engineering and construction industry still receives notoriety for corruption including

bribery like receiving gift from clients (contractors) which I encountered during my

practicum at one of the Government Engineering Office.

The public works/engineering/construction sector has been identified as the

most corrupt sector in the world. For a long time, the industry had no concerted plan

to attack the problem, but in the late 1990s several events happened that have given

rise to the industry’s most far-reaching effort to address corruption. Efforts are

underway by world governments, engineering/construction organizations, and

individuals to combat corruption and conduct business in an honest, transparent, and

fair manner.
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In addition of this, during my practicum, I also observed that most of the

employees did not meet the exact submission timeframe on their designs and

assignments project because of the “killing time” habit occur inside the office which I

considered also a mal-practice in Engineering and Construction Industry.

1.2 Significance of the Study:

This study will add an understanding on how to prevent corruptions like gift-

policy and be aware of mal-practices like “killing time” / “Dead time” that occur inside

the Construction and Engineering Offices or firms.

1.3 Statement of the Problem:

Some of the most widespread problem facing in the state Philippine

today, are these what we called Dead-Time at work and The Gift Policy that runs

longer as a traditional genre inside and out of several offices that is frequently

sounds and seen demeanor of our government employees and officials.

More specifically, the study will be geared to attain the following objectives:

 To emphasize the mal-practices inside the Construction and Engineering

Industry, Offices and Firms.

 To further understand on how to override the existing problems inside the

Construction and Engineering Industry, Offices, and Firms like the gift-policy

and “Killing of Time”

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1.4 Scope and Limitation:

Scope of the Study:

 The study will only focus at my assigned practicum office.

 To discuss and emphasize the mal-practices inside the Construction and

Engineering Industry, Offices and Firms that I observed during my practicum
period.

Limitation of the Study:

 Other Construction and Engineering Industry, Offices and Firms are not part

of the study whom I did not take my practicum.

1.5 Definition of Terms:

To provide better understanding, the following terms are defined theoretically

and / or operationally as used in the study.

Gift-Policy. The gift policy defines who may give a gift to company

employees. It provides guidance about what is and is not appropriate to

accept as a present, offering, advertisement, award, or token of appreciation.

Killing Time / Dead Time. To engage in an activity, usually a rather aimless

or idle one, with the goal of making time seems to pass more quickly or less

slowly.

Corruption. A form of dishonesty or criminal offense undertaken by a person

or organization entrusted with a position of authority, to acquire illicit benefit or

abuse power for one's private gain. Forms of corruption vary, but

include bribery, extortion, graft, and etc.
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Chapter 2

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Corruption like gift-policy in the construction and engineering sector across

the world has taken a high toll including lost lives, financial losses, diverted

resources, and destruction of the environment. In 2003, Transparency International

concluded there was a need for development and implementation of anticorruption

actions that addressed both the supply and demand sides of the corruption issue.

Since then, Transparency International has produced a suite of tools and reports as

well as a project anticorruption system that includes standards and templates to

assist project participants. It continues to work with national, regional, and

international construction and engineering professional institutions and business

associations to promote anticorruption measures.

Transparency International’s 2008 Bribe Payers Index revealed that public

works and construction were perceived to be the most corrupt industry sectors in the

world. This is not surprising. Construction impacts on all aspects of our life, including

houses, schools, offices, hospitals, shops, roads, railway lines, ports, airports,

stations, the supply of water and power, and communications and sewage facilities.

Large construction projects are complex and usually involve numerous players. The

scale of financing is often huge. For corrupt politicians and officials who rely on gift-

policy, construction projects are the perfect vehicle to dispense patronage and

amass illegal private wealth.

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It is difficult to put a precise figure on the financial cost of corruption in the

construction/engineering sector; however, it is likely to be very high considering that

this is a US$3 trillion industry. The costs are not only financial. Corruption in the

industry has many terrible impacts: lives are lost when corruptly constructed houses

and schools collapse in earthquakes; unnecessary infrastructure projects are built,

diverting scarce resources from other pressing needs such as health, water, and

education; and shoddy infrastructure is produced and the environment is destroyed

because regulations and standards are circumvented.

On the other hand, regarding “killing time” or “dead time” at work; people

inside the Construction and Engineering Industry, firms and offices workers are

usually a pretty busy bunch, yet their time spent idle costs employers an estimated

$100 billion per year, according to a new study from Harvard Business School.
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Chapter 3

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This chapter discusses the Effects of Corruption like gift-policy and “Dead time”

or “Killing time” in the Construction and Engineering Industry, Offices, and Firms.

3.1 Effects of Corruption like gift-policy, bribery, and extortion

Anderson Et al. 2006 Anti-corruption Transition 3, who is succeeding and

why, reported the construction industry accounts for about one-third of gross capital

formation. Governments have major roles as clients, regulators, and owners of

construction companies. The industry is consistently ranked as one of the most

corrupt: large payments to gain or alter contracts and circumvent regulations are

common. The impact of corruption goes beyond bribe payments to poor quality

construction of infrastructure with low economic returns alongside low funding for

maintenance-and this is where the major impact of corruption is felt. Regulation of

the sector is necessary, but simplicity, transparency, enforcement, and a focus on

the outcomes of poor construction are likely to have a larger impact than voluminous

but poorly enforced regulation of the construction process. Where government is the

client, attempts to counter corruption need to begin at the level of planning and

budgeting. Output-based and community-driven approaches show some promise as

tools to reduce corruption. According to MGDS (2006:62), Corruption retards

economic growth and development by diverting resources from socio-economic

development activities into coffers of a few. In particular, corruption that leads to poor

quality construction or this supports an environment of poor project selection and

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insufficient maintenance can significantly reduce the economic return to investments,

and carry high human costs in terms of injury and death. And while there is an

undoubted role for the government in the sector both as customer and regulator,

there is also a serious concern with the capacity of many governments to adequately

fulfil these roles (Ibid).

3.2 Effects of “Killing time” or “Dead Time” in the Construction and

Engineering Industry, Offices, and Firms:

Employees with idle time are not good for the organization, company, industry

or a frim. According to the new business study of Harvard Business School impact of

idle time can cost employers an estimated $100 billion in wages per year.

Organizations are often concerned that their employees are too occupied to

complete tasks in a very short span of time. Usually, it’s just the opposite; employees

try and keep themselves busy just for the sake of appearance. Term idle time refers

to the unproductive hours spent in the office, for which employees are paid. Idle time

can be accounted for time spent in discussions, group chats, system failures,

inefficient working, etc.

When these hours were calculated into wages, the researchers conventionally

estimated that such idle time costs businesses $100 billion a year. This proves that

when employees pretend to keep themselves busy at work, they are not only wasting

their time but also wasting company’s and government’s money. Calculating idle

time and working out on it, can save companies and government’s a lot of money.
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Chapter 4

FINDINGS

This chapter discusses on my observation regarding Gift-Policy and “Dead

time” or “Killing time” during my practicum in a Government Engineering Office.

The people’s problem in their mindset today is busy of thinking on how to dig

up benefits from the service they extended to others, the word “Thank You” is not

really sufficient for them, instead; considered that money or an exchange of

gratitude is the fuel to makes every things worth and fast. It cannot denied that even

in our Government Construction and Engineering Offices nowadays were become

heir to this matter, many obsolete projects and proposal were still pending and

doesn’t moved for a very long time, instead; the office in-charged are doing for

nothing, sitting pretty, travelling and busy of waiting for extra-curricular. These are

the basically a verification of deeds that through an absence of the gift giving policy,

there is nothing and there will be nothing happened, of course these how are the

reasons why the killing of times begun.

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Chapter 5

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

This chapter presents the conclusions and recommendations based on my

observation and case study.

5.1 Conclusion:

All in all when the policy is well studied, practice and be renovated, and every

one of the workforce are responsive of; it is of utmost significance to generate an

appropriate evaluation and clearness of every individual concern. The cleansing of

the government must be featured in every department as well as its new innovative

changes concerning client services as well as how these new arrangements are far

more behave and eloquent to act in good protocol and manners. Indeed, this will not

merely improve their position on management offices, but will guarantee that the

prospect issues will be not the same as usual. As soon as the government heads

and officials implement the mentioned recommendations, the result will not only

eliminate the problem, but will guide the new government towards new customer

beneficial outcomes, which is essentially the core idea of the recommendation.

5.1 Recommendations:

Through these rampant problems, it is recommended that the government

employees and officials should better examine their personal thoughts and

conscience to review the implementing rules of high standard protocol and ethics

under Memorandum 002 that the “No gift Policy” is strictly implemented involving all

public officials and employees to be enshrined of the following provisions of the

constitutions and held to be accountable to the people serve them with the outmost
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responsibility, integrity, loyal and efficiency act with patriotism, justice and live a

modest lives. The people also is hereby recommended to cooperate and enlightened

to be brave on this issue of not cooperating such kind of practice, instead; to be

encouraged and to be a witness of this memorandum order and fight against the

violators. In this regards, the said tradition will be no longer existed. Through

regardless of the entire predicament these exacting steps will sheltered the every

individual employee and officials if well reviewed and renovate about the mentioned

guiding principle as well as it will guarantee that the course of action itself is

followed.
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REFERENCES:

1 - Brodsky, Andrew. (Jan 31, 2018). “American Idle: Workers Spend Too

Much Time Waiting for Something to Do”. Retrieved from

https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/american-idle-employees-are-wasting-way-too-

much-time

2 - Jong, Maarten De, Henry, William P., P.E., Stansbury, Neill. “Eliminating

Corruption in Our Engineering Construction Industry”. Retrieved from

https://ascelibrary.org/doi/pdf

3 - Hoke, Tara (January 2018). “Engineers must avoid all types of corruption”.

American Society of Civil Engineers”. Retrieved from

https://www.asce.org/question-of-ethics-articles/jan-2018/

4 - Retrieved from https://www.prohance.net/impact-of-idle-time-on-work/

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CURRICULUM VITAE

NAME : Lenbert Jake C. Yap

DATE OF BIRTH : October 06, 1998

PLACE OF BIRTH : Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte

RESIDENCIAL ADDRESS : Brgy 26. New Society Village 035 Narra Road

, Butuan City

 FATHER : Robert Y. Yap

OCCUPATION : Mandarin Translator

 MOTHER : Helen C. Yap

OCCUPATION : Midwife

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

 COLLEGE : Saint Joseph Institute of Technology

COURSE : Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

(BSCE)

 SECONDARY : Agusan National High School

GRADUATED : 2015

 ELEMENTARY : Butuan Central Elementary School

GRADUATED : 2012