SA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

He should have been retired a couple of years ago but the expertise and the distinct dedication to his work are the winning qualities that prompted the employer of overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Jesse James Atadero Agustin to request him to stay put and extend his contract with them. But the employer, the diligent Filipino national is referring to, is not an ordinary employer. Rather, it’s the government of Brunei Darussalam, no less.
A native of Iloilo City, the 56-year-old Civil Engineer humbly boasts of a 26- year- working- experience in the Sultanate country, with 22 years spent with the Ministry of Development, Road Department specializing in planning, design, cost estimate, project and construction management.
Unassuming but definitely brilliant, Mang Jesse, as he is fondly called by his colleagues and friends, worked for various construction firms in the Philippines before he decided to try his luck in Brunei. Soft-spoken and with a kind heart for everyone, his loads of job credentials shall speak for the caliber of the man: He is currently the Chief Technical Assistant, Road Department, Ministry of Development, B.S.B. Brunei Darussalam, former Project Manager, R.C. Gonzalez, Co., Inc., once a Superintendent, Commonwealth Pacific Consultant Ltd. Of Canada, Ontario, Canada and Capitol Industrial Construction Group, a Field Manager of Dimson, Manila and started as a Leadman at the Iloilo City Engineers Office in his hometown.
Specializing in roads, bridges, airport construction, tunnels, dams, irrigation and drainage structures, housing schemes, among others, he planned, managed, supervised the following projects in Brunei, flooding at Arabic Religious School, Construction of Kampong Mata-Mata and Kampong Serasa Resettlement Scheme, Construction of Mosque at Kampong Serasa Resettlement site. While at the home front, his competence is gleaned in various projects such as construction of Gataran to Appari Road and Magapit suspension bridge, Cagayan Valley, Construction of Marikina-Infanta Road, Supervised construction of Butuan Airport, among others. Indeed, a writer may even run out of words in describing the competence and expertise of this very well-rounded man. Literally, he does not only build bridges, he also assists in molding the minds of the young Brunei nationals Technical Staff by providing them the ropes of the trade.