Manila: Over 1.2 million Filipino professionals are set to benefit from a recently approved measure by the House of Representatives that extends the validity of Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) licenses from three years to five years, announced House Speaker Faustino 'Bojie' Dy III.
According to Philippines News Agency, House Bill No. 8876 aims to amend the existing provisions related to the renewal of Professional Identification Cards (PICs) issued by the PRC. This legislative change is anticipated to alleviate the financial and administrative burdens experienced by professionals who regularly invest time and resources to renew their licenses.
House Speaker Dy emphasized the critical role that professionals play in society, highlighting that teachers, nurses, engineers, accountants, doctors, and other professionals are pivotal to the nation's daily functions. He noted that extending the validity of PRC licenses to five years will significantly reduce the repeated expenses and inconvenience associated with the renewal process, describing it as a practical step to support the workforce.
Current data from the PRC indicates that there are 1,259,264 registered professionals in the Philippines, with approximately 95% already holding valid Professional Identification Cards. The sectors expected to benefit the most from this measure include 562,369 professional teachers, 156,023 nurses, 111,692 criminologists, and various other professionals across multiple fields.
The extension of the validity period is also seen as a move to ease congestion in renewal systems, allowing professionals to concentrate more on their work and ongoing professional development rather than frequent compliance with renewal processes. Dy expressed the government's commitment to making processes more efficient and considerate of the challenges faced by ordinary Filipinos while maintaining professionalism and high standards.
The House of Representatives has approved HB 8876 on its third and final reading. However, the counterpart version of the bill is still under consideration in the Senate.
