SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Third Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 8296
EXPLANATORY NOTE

&ESY
Last July 21, 2016, Republic Act No. 10912 was signed’iffto'iaw. With this, programs for the
mandatory continuing professional development or CPD of workers and professionals were
institutionalized.

However, the CPD Law has been met with negative feedback from workers and
professionals, including teachers, engineers, accountants, physicians and nurses. In an
online survey conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) on the CPD
implementation, 95 percent of respondents said that the CPD law should be stopped. The
main reasons for the backlash are the exorbitant fees, difficult requirements, confusing
processes, and lack of accredited training providers for the CPD requirements. This made
the law a burden instead of helping improve the workforce. The implementation of CPD
Programs will ensure that our professionals will be the best in their fields.

If @ worker or professional cannot comply with the requirements of the CPD Law for
Professional identification Card (PIC) renewal, his/her job security may be at stake.

Thus, this measure seeks to amend some provision of RA 10912 to make it easier for the
workers and professionals affected to comply with the mandatory requirements of the CPD
law.

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bills earnestly requested.

MAXIMO IDRIGUEZ, JR.


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS __)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Third Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 8296

AN ACT
ENHANCING THE CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF FILIPINO
WORKERS AND PROFESSIONALS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT
NO. 10912, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2016”

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

SECTION 1. Section 10 of Republic Act No. 10912, otherwise known as the “Continuing

Professional Development Act of 2016" is hereby amended to read as follows
“SEC. 10. CPD as Mandatory Requirement in the Renewal of
Professional License and Accreditation System for the Practice of
Professions. — The CPD is hereby made as a mandatory
requirement in the renewal of the PICs of all registered and
licensed professionals under the regulation of the PRC;
PROVIDED, THAT: REGISTERED AND _ LICENSED
PROFESSIONALS ARE EXEMPTED FROM COMPLIANCE
WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS AFTER OBTAINING THEIR
LICENSES; PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT: FAILURE TO
COMPLY WITH CPD SHALL ONLY BE A BASIS TO DENY
RENEWAL OF PICS AFTER THE LAPSE OF THE
COMPLIANCE PERIOD PROVIDED HEREIN; PROVIDED
HOWEVER, THAT: LICENSED PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE
OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWS) SHALL BE
EXEMPTED FROM THE REQUIREMENT UNDER THIS
SECTION FOR THE PERIOD OF THEIR OVERSEAS
EMPLOYMENT."

SEC 2. New Sections 13-A to C are hereby inserted to read as follows:
“SEC. 13-A. REQUIRED CPD UNITS; WHEN TO OBTAIN THE
REQUIRED CPD CREDIT UNITS. — PROFESSIONALS SHALL
ONLY BE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A MAXIMUM OF THIRTY-SIX
(36) CPD CREDIT UNITS ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS, WHICH
SHALL BE DEEMED ONE COMPLIANCE PERIOD.

‘SEC. 13-B. PERSONS EXEMPT FROM CPD REQUIREMENT. —
NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS 5, 6, 7,
8, 9 AND 12 OF THIS ACT, THE PRC AND THE PRBS SHALL
HAVE THE DISCRETION TO EXEMPT CERTAIN PERSONS
FROM COMPLYING WITH THE CPD REQUIREMENT AS
REQUIRED UNDER THIS ACT; PROVIDED, THAT: THE
FAILURE TO OBTAIN REQUIRED CPD CREDIT UNITS IS
SOLELY DUE TO THE FAILURE OF CONCERNED


AGENCIES/PERSON/S RESPONSIBLE TO PROPERLY
IMPLEMENT THE CPD PROGRAM IN THE LOCATION AND
PROFESSION OF THE CONCERNED PROFESSIONALS;
PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT: THE PROFESSIONAL HAS
EXERCISED DUE DILIGENCE IN COMPLYING WITH THE CPD
REQUIREMENTS CONSIDERING THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

THE PERSON/S OR AGENCY/IES RESPONSIBLE SHALL BE
ADMINISTRATIVELY LIABLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH
RELEVANT LAWS FOR THE FAILURE TO PROPERLY
IMPLEMENT THE CPD PROGRAM, UPON COMPLIANCE WITH
DUE PROCESS.

SEC. 13-C. FEES FOR PIC RENEWAL. — IN THE
PROCESSING OF DOCUMENTS FOR PIC RENEWAL IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THIS ACT, NO FEES SHALL BE
REQUIRED IN ADDITION TO WHAT PRC ALREADY
REQUIRES FOR PIC RENEWAL, IF ANY, PRIOR TO THE
PASSAGE OF THIS ACT.

SEC 3. A new Section 16-B is hereby inserted to read as follows:

SECTION 16-B. CPD AS PART OF THE HUMAN RESOURCE
DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND PROGRAM OF COMPANIES AND
GOVERNMENT OFFICES. — HUMAN RESOURCE
DEVELOPMENT PLANS OF ALL PRIVATE COMPANIES AND
GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND SCHOOLS SHALL BE GEARED
TOWARDS ASSISTING THEIR RESPECTIVE PROFESSIONAL
EMPLOYEES FROM COMPLYING WITH THE CPD
REQUIREMENT UNDER THIS ACT.

IN ADDITION TO THE PENALTIES PRESCRIBED IN THE
AFOREMENTIONED LAWS, ANY COMPANY THAT FAILS TO
COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING SHALL BE METED WITH
THE PENALTY OF SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF
CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION AND/OR PERMIT TO
OPERATE.

SEC 4, Implementing Rules and Regulations — Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of
this Act, the Philippine Regulatory Commission in consultation with the Professional
Regulatory Boards, Accredited Integrated Professional Organizations or Accredited
Professional Organizations in all professions and all stakeholders shall promulgate the rules
and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC 5. Separability Clause — If any provision of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional,
the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions hereof.

SEC 6. Repealing Clause — All laws, decrees, orders, ordinances, rules and regulations or
parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC 7. Effectivity — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,