Professional Identification Cards (5 Years Validity Period)

"Offer of the Secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL 10 P3:06 SENATE CAVED BY: S. No. _ _3'78 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A FIVE-YEAR VALIDITY PERIOD OF THE PROFESSIONAL IDENTIFICATION CARDS OF ALL PROFESSIONALS UNDER THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATION COMMISSION EXPLANATORY NOTE The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) was created by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 223 (PD No. 223) and among the powers of the Commission was to keep and maintain a register of professionals, issuing certificates of registration or licenses to the same. In 1977, pursuant to Letter of Instruction No. 567, the PRC started issuing registration cards valid for three (3) years. On 05 December 2000 Republic Act No. 8981 otherwise known as the PRC Modernization Act of 2000 was enacted into law, repealing PD No. 223, as amended and empowered the PRC to admit successful examinees to the practice of the profession or occupation, register their names in its registry book and computerized database, and issue certificates of registration and professional license. The PRC was likewise given the authority to determine and fix the amount of fees to be charged and collected for the exams, registrations, and professional identification cards, among others. At present Professional Identification Cards (PICs) still have a validity period of three (3) years for all professions and are renewable during the birth month of the professional.

Renewal of PICs are done initially through the online services of the PRC to secure an appointment. The renewal fees of PICs with a validity of three years range from P420.00 to P450.00, with professions requiring non-baccalaureate degree at P140.00 per year or a total of P420.00 for three years (3) years, and for professions requiring baccalaureate degree at P150.00 per year or a total of P450.00 for three (3) years. A surcharge of P28.00 for non-baccalaureate degree and P30.00 for baccalaureate-degree is added if the PIC of the professional is renewed twenty (20) days after their birth month. Professionals have encountered issues in securing an appointment through the online services of the PRC, with some having to resort to a farther PRC satellite office or service center from their residence or place of work which have an available slot for their preferred renewal date. While the issuance of the PIC on site does not take very long, since renewals can only be on weekdays, professionals who would have to renew at a farther PRC office or service center may have to take a minimum of half a day off to process their PICS. This bill seeks to extend the validity of the PICs from three (3) to five (5) years. This will be beneficial as this will reduce the number of annual renewal transactions, thereby alleviating the strain in securing an appointment at the professionals' preferred date and satellite office or service center. Furthermore, this will reduce the expenses entailed in renewing the PIC and will provide professionals more time to undertake their Continuing Professional Development compliance. In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA

sochare Place of the deceptirr TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 25 JUL 10 P3:06 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 3'78 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A FIVE-YEAR VALIDITY PERIOD OF THE PROFESSIONAL IDENTIFICATION CARDS OF ALL PROFESSIONALS UNDER THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATION COMMISSION Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Extension of the Validity of the Professional Identification Cards

2 issued by the Professional Regulation Commission. - All Professional Identification 3 Cards (PICs) issued by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) shall be valid for five (5) years, subject to the compliance with all the legal and procedural requirements for its issuance. The Information and Communication Technology Service of the PRC and other concerned offices and divisions shall complete the necessary systems enhancements and other administrative processes, including the finalization of the revised assessment of application and renewal fees.

Sec. 2. Fees. - Reasonable fees shall be collected for the processing and

issuance of PICs: Provided, That application and renewal fees shall not be increased more than once every three (3) years.

Sec. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the

approval of this Act, the PRC shall promulgate and issue the rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 4. Separability Clause. - Should any provision herein be declared

unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or

2 other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 3 repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

Sec. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

5 publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,