The Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) marks another milestone with the oathtaking and reactivation of the ICP PNP Cluster (PNP Forensic Group), renewing its commitment to advancing the chemistry profession and strengthening the role of forensic science in public service.
First established in 2013, the ICP PNP Cluster serves as a platform for professional collaboration among chemists in the Philippine National Police, promoting scientific excellence, professional development, and the application of chemistry in forensic investigation and law enforcement.
The newly elected officers formally took their oaths of office before Mr. Arjay C. Cubos, RCh, ICP National President, at the Maringal Hall, PNP Forensic Group, Camp Crame, Quezon City, reaffirming their commitment to leadership, integrity, and service to the organization and its members.
The new ICP PNP Cluster officers are: President: PLTCOL Donna Villa Huelgas, RCh Vice President for Internal Affairs: PLTCOL Jocelyn Julian, RCh Vice President for External Affairs: PLTCOL Sotero Rodrigo Jr., RCh Secretary: PCPT Sterwin Ong, RCh Treasurer: PLTCOL Lorna Santos, RCh Auditor: PLT Clarise Alangsab, RCh
The reactivation of the cluster represents a renewed opportunity to strengthen the partnership between ICP and the PNP Forensic Group, foster collaboration among chemistry professionals, and promote the vital contribution of forensic chemistry to justice and public safety.
As ICP celebrates its 50th anniversary, this milestone reflects the organization’s continuing commitment to building stronger professional communities and empowering chemists across sectors to serve the nation. Congratulations to the newly inducted officers! May your leadership usher in a new chapter of active engagement, meaningful collaboration, and exemplary service.
The Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) proudly congratulates the newly elected officers and Board of Directors of its newly established National Capital Region (NCR) Chapter!
President : Ms. Priscilla Alice L. Samonte, RCh, MSc Vice President for Internal Affairs : Dr. Lourdes P. Guidote, RCh Vice President for External Affairs : Ms. Annabelle A. Zamudio, RCh, MBA, MPA Secretary : Atty. Frances Anne Q. Matatquin, RCh Treasurer : Mr. Sammy L. Aytona, RCh Auditor : Dr. Jonyl L. Garcia, RCh Public Information Officer : Mr. Jonas Marie A. Dumdum, RCh, MSc Board of Directors :
Membership: Ms. Kresta Muluken R. David, RCh, MSc
Ways and Means: Ms. Maria Josephine B. Gonzales, RCh, MSc
Continuing Professional Development: Dr. Ian Ken D. Dimzon, RCh
Public Information: Mr. Roger C. Evangelista Jr., RCh
Professional Affairs: Atty. Ma. Cristina L. Moratalla, RCh
The officers formally took their oath of office on October 9, 2026, at Luxent Hotel, Quezon City, with ICP National President Arjay C. Cubos, RCh, administering the oath.
As ICP celebrates its 50th Anniversary, the establishment of the NCR Chapter marks another significant milestone in expanding the organization’s reach and strengthening the chemistry profession across the country. Congratulations, ICP NCR! May your leadership inspire greater collaboration, meaningful service, and continued excellence in Philippine chemistry!
Dr. Fabian M. Dayrit Professor, Department of Chemistry, Ateneo de Manila University Former President of the ICP, 1996 – 2025
This year, 2026, marks the 50th year of the Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP). This essay gives a brief history of the ICP, including key organizations and events in the history to the ICP.
The first national Philippine chemical society was formally established as the Chemical Society of the Philippines (CSP)1 in 1937. The membership of the CSP came mainly from the academe and government agencies. In 1952, Congress passed the Republic Act No. 754 (known as the “Chemistry Law of the Philippines”) which sought to regulate the professional practice of chemistry in the Philippines. RA 754 defined a Chemist as: “Any person, who for fee, salary or other compensation or reward to himself or to another person renders professional service requiring the use and application of chemical knowledge, and/or chemical or physico-chemical processes.” The law also created the Board of Examiners for Chemists and required chemists to register with the Board to practice chemistry. The first members of the Board were Benito F. Legarda (Chairman), and Eduardo Taylor and Marcos Alicante (Members). RA 754 required an examination which included General Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Industrial Chemistry, Allied Subjects, and areas of Specialization. The scope of the licensure examination was revised through the years. RA 754 focused mainly on the qualifications of the professional chemist and it defined the professional practice of chemistry in the Philippines until 2015 when it was replaced by RA 10657.
As the chemical sciences branched out into various subdisciplines, so too were specialized chemistry-related societies created. In addition to the CSP (later renamed KKP), the following societies were established: Philippine Association of Chemistry Teachers (PACT) (1961), the Philippine Association of Chemistry Students (PACS) (1964), Organic Chemistry Teachers Association (OCTA) (1971), and the Philippine Biochemistry Society (PBS) (1973)2.
Although the professional chemist was defined by RA 754 in 1952, their home organization remained the KKP until 1976 when the organization of professional chemists was established following the mandate of then President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. to integrate the various societies under a single organization. However, no such integration occurred among the chemistry societies. Instead, a new organization of professional chemists was created with the Integrated Chemists of the Philippines. The ICP was officially registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 14, 1976.
During the 1980s, the ICP and KKP worked closely with shared officers, meetings and activities. Many of the monthly meetings were held at United Laboratories, hosted by the late Dr. Roger de Leon. In 1985, Dr. Benigno Peczon, who headed the analytical laboratory at Unilab, chaired the first Philippine Chemistry Congress which was held at St. Louis University, Baguio City. This successful congress led to the establishment of the Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies (PFCS) in 1988 to unite the various chemical associations in the country. Currently, the members of the PFCS are the ICP, KKP, PACT, and PACS. Among its major activities are the traditional celebration of Chemistry Week during the 3rd week of February, the organization of the Philippine Chemistry Congress, the selection of outstanding chemists in various areas, and the organization of the Philippine Chemistry Olympiad, from which the Philippine representatives to the International Chemistry Olympiad are selected.
By the 1990s, it was felt that there was a need to revise RA 754 to make it more responsive to the needs of the chemistry profession. The first forum on the revision of RA 754 took place during the 14th Philippine Chemistry Congress in 1998. By 2005, fourteen drafts of proposed revisions had been prepared and presented to potential sponsors in the senate and congress. But it was only on March 27, 2015 when RA 10657 (known as the “Chemistry Profession Act”) was passed into law through the sponsorship in the Lower House by Congresswoman Victoria G. Noel and in the Senate by Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV. Among the key revisions in RA 10675 are the following: the creation of the Chemistry Technician professional, requirement for continuing professional education (CPD), regulation and improvement of chemical laboratories, and introduction of legal protection and hazard pay for chemists and chemical technicians.
Chemists attend the Senate public hearing on Jan. 27, 2014. Left to right: Dr. Fabian M. Dayrit (president, ICP); Dr. Adoracion P. Resurreccion (chair, Board of Chemistry); Edna C. Mijares (vice-president, ICP); Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV (sponsor of the bill); Dr. Lilibeth dlC. Coo (treasurer, ICP); and Dr. Aida R. Aguinaldo (2003 Outstanding Chemist).
The ICP itself has indeed grown significantly. In 2018, a new ICP constitution was approved by the membership to match the changes brought about by RA 10675. From a single active board and membership of about 500 in the 1990s, the ICP has grown to over 4,000 members and the number of board examiners has likewise grown after the passage of RA 10657 in 2015. The ICP currently has 12 regional chapter. A 13th chapter, the NCR chapter, is being organized for 2026. This will enable the ICP National board to focus its attention on national matters and a NCR chapter to attend to local affairs.
Another important activity of the ICP is the annual National Conference of Chemical Laboratories (NCCL) which was spearheaded by Edna C. Mijares in 2017. The NCCL has become an annual meeting that is focused on the needs of chemical laboratories, including important topics such as chemical waste management, advances in analytical methodologies, laboratory management, relevant product standards, among others. NCCL will be holding its 10th session in February 2027.
As stated in the Declaration of Policy of RA 10657: “Chemistry is vital to public safety, the national economy, and the protection of the environment. It is, therefore, the policy of the State to promote, regulate and protect the professional practice of chemistry and to ensure the continued development and high international standards of the practice of chemistry in the Philippines.” Although this policy was explicitly enunciated in 2015, the ICP has been dedicated to this policy since its establishment fifty years ago in 1976.
1CSP was renamed as Kapisanang Kimika ng Pilipinas in the 1970s.
2PBS was renamed Philippine Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PSBMB) in 1993.
The Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) successfully conducted its Election and Oath-Taking Ceremony for 2026–2027 National Officers and Board of Directors last July 11, 2026 at Luxent Hotel, Quezon City.
Leading the newly elected national officers is Mr. Arjay C. Cubos, RCh (Unilab), who assumes the presidency of the organization. Joining him in the Executive Committee are Mr. Mark L. Grageda, RCh (Berries Agricultural Company Inc.) as Vice President for Internal Affairs, Dr. Maria Carmela Q. Capule, RCh (CRL Environmental Corporation) as Vice President for External Affairs, Ms. Princess Lalaine W. Benzon, RCh (Department of Public Works and Highways) as Secretary, Dr. Emily V. Castriciones, RCh (University of the Philippines Diliman) as Treasurer, Atty. Severino P. Uy, Jr., RCh (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) as Auditor, and Mr. Julio Salvador C. Valeza, RCh (Bureau of Plant Industry) as Public Information Officer.
Also serving on the Board of Directors are Dr. Evangeline C. Amor, RCh (University of the Philippines Diliman) and Dr. Patrick John Y. Lim, RCh (University of San Carlos).
In the recently concluded ICP Board Elections, Dr. Maria Carmela Q. Capule, RCh, Atty. Severino P. Uy, Jr., RCh, and Dr. Evangeline C. Amor, RCh emerged as the elected new representatives of the Industry, Government, and Academe sectors, respectively.
The Integrated Chemists of the Philippines also extends its heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing members of the Board of Directors for their dedicated service: Dr. Glenn V. Alea, RCh, Immediate Past President; Ms. Priscilla Alice L. Samonte, RCh, Immediate Past Vice President for External Affairs; and PCol. Albert S. Arturo, RCh, Immediate Past Auditor.
As the organization embarks on a new chapter during its milestone 50th Anniversary, the new leadership reaffirms its commitment to advancing the chemistry profession, fostering collaboration among industry, government, and academe, and serving the Filipino chemistry community with excellence, integrity, and innovation for the next 50 years and beyond.
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Integrated Chemists of the Philippines
Submission Deadline: 20 Jun 2025 11:59 pm Prize: PHP 12,000
As the Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) marks its 50th anniversary, we invite all Filipino creatives—students, professionals, and chemistry advocates—to take part in this special logo and theme making contest!
This is your chance to contribute to a historic milestone by designing a commemorative logo and proposing an event theme that captures the legacy and future of the chemistry profession in the Philippines.
📌 Contest Guidelines:
A logo design that symbolizes 50 years of the ICP and its impact on the chemical profession and society.
A proposed event theme (1 short sentence) that reflects the vision of chemistry in shaping the future of the Philippines.
A brief description (2–3 sentences) explaining the meaning behind the logo and how the proposed theme reflects the organization’s mission and legacy.
The logo must be original, creative, and suitable for use in event materials and promotions.
Submissions must include a short concept title, a brief description, and a high-resolution version of the logo (PNG, JPG, or SVG format, minimum 300 dpi) with the following variations:
Logo only
Logo with your proposed theme
If possible, include the fonts used for the text
If AI tools were used in any part of the design process, please disclose this in the submission form.
🏆 Prize:
The winning logo will receive PHP 12,000 and will be featured in all official event materials.
🧪 Judging:
Entries will be evaluated by the ICP Board along with invited judges from the field of chemistry and design. The decision of the panel is final.
📜 Terms & Conditions:
By submitting an entry, participants grant the Integrated Chemists of the Philippines the exclusive rights to use, reproduce, and modify the winning logo for all event-related purposes. All personal information collected will be handled in compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012.
Let your design speak for chemistry’s role in shaping the future! Submit your entry by Jun 20, 2025.
For inquiries, please contact: secretariat[at]icp.org.ph.
