Xavier University lauded its seven passers of the October 2016 Chemist Licensure Examination (CLE) and two graduates who qualified for registration as chemical technicians.

“Congratulations to our new XU chemists and chemical technicians! May you use your professional expertise in becoming good stewards of our common home,” said XU president Fr Roberto C Yap SJ in his message to the academic community.

XU garnered a passing rate of 50.00% after 7 out of 14 successfully took the CLE, namely, Lancer Pimentel Agravante, Felomino Bahian Hinampas Jr, Jorena Agapulo Jaraula, Frances Pauline Ungab Onting, Kimberly-Jean Cabiling Ragmac, Camille Baco Villocillo, and Jerlyn Rose Calago Yasay.

Among the responsibilities of a licensed chemist are to prepare test solutions, compounds, and reagents for laboratory personnel to conduct test; analyze organic and inorganic compounds to determine chemical and physical properties, composition, structure, relationships, and reactions, utilizing chromatography, spectroscopy, and spectrophotometry techniques; and study effects of various methods of processing, preserving, and packaging on composition and properties of food and drugs.

The two XU takers who qualified as chemical technicians were Renebelle Kristine Liñan Flores and Darlene Kristine Gallentes Wabe. Those who did not reach the cutoff rate of 75% in the CLE but had obtained a rating of at least 70% in any of the two subjects (organic and inorganic chemistry) can register as chemical technicians.

“We thank College of Arts and Sciences dean Dr Juliet Q Dalagan, Chemistry Department chairperson Dr Aileen B Angcajas, the faculty and staff of the Department of Chemistry for the guidance and support they have given to our students,” added Yap.

The Professional Regulation Commission reported on Friday, October 7, that only 559 out of 1,019 takers (54.86%) passed the said exam conducted by the Board of Chemistry in the cities of Manila, Cagayan de Oro, and Cebu. ∎