REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
QUEZON CITY

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 1941 _

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVES ENRICO A. PINEDA and.
MICHAEL ODYLON L. ROMERO, PhD.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

We have always believed that education is the foundation upon which one builds
a future. Realizing this, the government has endeavoured on ways to provide its youth
with every opportunity to access free primary, secondary, and even tertiary education,

so as to assure that the young will have greater chance to become professionals
themselves.

However, it should be realized that finishing school is not the be-all-end-ail to a
promising career in an employment environment where title equates to proficiency. it
bears stressing that a college diploma does not confer one title but rather, it is after
hurdling a professional examination may an individual claim to be a medical doctor,
nurse, engineer, teacher or lawyer, among others. And this professional examinations
come ata steep price particularly for those indigent students who may not afford the cost
of a review, much less the fee required to undertake professional examination

For an indigent graduate who had pinned all hopes for a brighter future in this
journey to a professional career, the government as the administrator of these
professional examinations should not make this exercise of regulation a hindrance
someone who may consider these examination fees restrictive, it should be afforded
free and with no dime for cost. In that manner, we can better assure that those whe
deserve and are qualified may proceed unhampered in their pursuit of a means that may
eventually help them eke out of poverty

Early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

A
ENRICO A. PINEDA MICHAEL ODYLON L. ROMERO, PhD
1PACMAN 7 IPACMAN


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
QUEZON CITY

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILL No. _1941

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVES ENRICO A. PINEDA and
MICHAEL ODYLON L. ROMERO, PhD.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR FREE PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATIONS
TO QUALIFIED INDIGENTS

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Free Professional
Examinations Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. It is declared policy of the State to promote full
employment and to provide equal opportunities for employment for all.

Corollary to this is the concomitant responsibility of the State to ensure that there
are no inroads that may effectively hinder the professional growth of the citizens

Furthermore, it is the policy of the State to promote a just and dynamic social order
that will free the people from poverty through policies and programs that provide
adequate social services, and improve the quality of life for all. In this regard, efforts
should be initiated so as we may afford the poor access to mechanisms that may expand
opportunities for better employment.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. As provided for in this Act:

a. “Professional Examinations” shall refer to the licensure examinations conducted
by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) leading to the issuance of a
professional license. It shall also include examinations conducted by the Civil
Service Commission (CSC) leading to eligibility for employment to the
government as a civil service professional or sub professionals and the Bar
Examinations conducted by the Supreme Court of the Philippines

b. “Qualified Indigents” refers to a person who has no visible means of income or
support, or whose income may not be sufficient for the subsistence or basic needs
of his family, as may be determined by the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD).

SECTION 4. Requirements for Availment. For purposes of availing of the benefits of
this Act, an examinee shall secure a certification as a qualified indigent from the DSWD.
Such certification shall be presented to the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC),


the Civil Service Commission (CSC) or the Supreme Court of the Philippines, as the case
may be, in lieu of the payment of examination fees.

No other fee shall be charged against the qualified indigent for purposes of the
professional examination.

SECTION 5. Limitations on Availment. Benefits of this Act may be availed of by a
qualified indigent only once for every year.

SECTION 6. Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign. The
DSWD, PRC, CSC and the Supreme Court of the Philippines, in cooperation with the
Philippine Information Agency (PIA), is hereby mandated to conduct an annual IEC
campaign in order to inform the people of the procedures and guidelines in availing the
benefits of this Act.

SECTION 7. Reportorial Requirement. For purposes of determining the effectiveness
and social impact of the provisions of this Act, the DSWD, PRC, CSC and the Supreme
Court of the Philippines shall submit an annual report to both Houses of Congress
indicating therewith the number of parties who benefited from this Act

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or other
issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed

and modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause. If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of other provisions,

SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,