REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3626

HOUSE BILL NO. _

Introduced by Representatives Enrico A. Pineda
and Michael Odylon L. Romero, Ph.D.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

We have always believed that education is the foundation upon which
one builds a future. Realizing this, the government has endeavored on ways to
provide its youth with every opportunity to acces
even tertiary education, so as to assure that the young will have a greater chance
to become professionals themselves.

s free primary, secondary and

However, it should be realized that finishing school is not the be-all-end-
all 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 examination come at a steep price particularly for those indigent
students who may not afford the cost of a review much less the fee required to
undertake the professional examination.

For an indigent graduate who had pinned all hopes for a brighter future in
this journey to professional career, the government as the administrator of these
professional examinations should not make this exercise of regulation a
hindrance, For someone who may consider these examination fees restrictive, it
should be afforded for free and with no dime for cost. In that manner, we can
better assure that those who 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.

fn
Moa . PINEDA a :L ODYLON L. ROMERO, PH.D.
/


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _ 862 6

Introduced by Representatives Enrico A. Pineda
and Michael Odylon L. Romero, Ph.D.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Re
assembled:

resentatives of the Philippines in Congress

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 of 2016".

Sec. 2, Declaration of Policy. - It is the 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.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As provided for in this Act;

a) "Professional Examinations” shall refer to the licensure
examinations conducted by Professional Regulations Commission (PRC)
leading to the issuance of a professional license. It shall also include
examinations conducted by the Civil Service Commission leading to
cligibility 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 Indigent" 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).

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

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



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

Sec, 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.

Sec. 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 Hous
‘of Congress indicating therewith the number of parties who benefited from this
Act.

‘Adopted.