Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Representative Ivan Howard Guintu 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 9, Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides that “[t]he State shall promote a 
just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation 
and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, 
promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all. 
Furthermore, Section 5(3), Article XIV provides that “[e]very citizen has a right to 
select a profession or course of study, subject to fair, reasonable, and equitable admission and 
academic requirements. 
In 2017, Republic Act No. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education 
Act was signed into law providing for free college education. This gave the underprivileged 
youth better economic access to higher education and provided them an opportunity for a better 
future through education. 
Despite this, most professions require graduates to undergo professional licensure 
examinations as prescribed by law. These professional licensure exams entails further expenses 
for graduates, especially in the form of examination fees. To indigent graduates, this is another 
financial burden which they must shoulder before they could start practicing their chosen 
profession and have gainful employment. 
To promote social justice and to provide for equitable opportunity to pursue a 
profession, this bill seeks to exempt qualified indigents from paying examination fees to 
government administered professional examinations. 
This proposed measure is approved on 3rd Reading during the 19th Congress in the 
House of Representatives. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
IVAN HOWARD A. GUINTU 
Representative, 1st District of Capiz 
July 14, 2025
8:02 am
1810


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by Representative Ivan Howard Guintu 
AN ACT  
PROVIDING FOR FREE PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATIONS TO QUALIFIED 
INDIGENTS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title.  This Act shall be known as the "Free Professional Examinations 
Act." 
SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is declared the policy of the State to promote full 
employment and to provide equal opportunities for employment for all. 
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, the State shall provide the poor 
access to mechanisms that expand opportunities for better employment. 
SEC 3. Definition of Terms.- As used in this Act: 
(a) Professional Examinations refer to the licensure examinations conducted by the
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) leading to the issuance of professional licenses to
successful examinees. It shall also include examinations conducted by the Civil Service
Commission (CSC) leading to eligibility for employment in the government.
(b) Qualified Indigents refer to persons who have no visible means of income or support, or
whose income may not be sufficient for the subsistence or basic needs of the family, as may be
determined by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
SEC 4. Requirements for Availment. – For purposes of availing the benefits of this Act, an 
examinee shall secure Certificate of Indigency from the DSWD. Such certification shall be 
presented to the PRC and CSC, as the case may be, to be exempt from the payment of 
examination fees.  
HOUSE BILL NO. 1810


 
No other fee shall be charged against the qualified indigents for purposes of taking the 
professional examinations. 
 
SEC 5.  Limitations on Availment.- Benefits of this Act may be availed of by a qualified 
indigent only once a year. 
 
SEC 6. Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) Campaign. - The DSWD, PRC, 
and CSC, 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, and CSC shall submit an annual report 
to both Houses of Congress indicating therein the number of indigent examinees who benefited 
from this Act. 
 
SEC 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall remain in full force 
and effect. 
 
SEC 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, decrees, rules and regulations, or any 
part thereof inconsistent with the provision of this Act are deemed repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
 
SEC 10. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication 
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved.