Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 12, Article XIII of the 1987 Constitution declares that the State shall establish 
and maintain an effective food and drug regulatory system and undertake appropriate 
health manpower development and research that is responsive to the country’s health 
needs and problems. In line with these principles, various laws were enacted to protect 
the public including the Food Safety Act of 2013 and the Code on Sanitation of the 
Philippines. 
Despite these existing regulations, there are still a myriad of concerns that must be 
acted upon. In 2019, a commentary from the World Health Organization found that 
almost one in 10 people in the world fall ill, and 420,000 die after eating contaminated 
food. It also showed that low and middle-income economies lose around $95 billion in 
productivity annually due to the impact of unsafe food. As studied, unsafe food usually 
contains harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances that causes more 
than 200 diseases including cancer and diarrhea. In 2018, over 17,000 people had 
acute bloody diarrhea in the country.1 
With these concerns, it is imperative for the State to ensure food safety and the quality 
of manufactured goods in the country. The State must put our scientists at the forefront 
in ensuring the prevention of rapid spread of microbially-caused diseases in human, 
plant, and animal populations, and in aiding a safe and healthy environment for the 
public.  
To strengthen the existing State interventions, this bill aims to regulate the practice of 
microbiology in the country and to create its board to be supervised by the Professional 
Regulation Commission. This bill also provides for the guidelines on its examination, 
1 https://www.who.int/philippines/news/commentaries/detail/food-safety-is-everybody-s-responsibility 
August 23, 2022
2:00 pm
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registration, renewal, and its practice in line with interrelated fields such as veterinary 
medicine, medical technology, agriculture, pharmacy, and food technology among 
others.  
Further, this bill also ensures proper monitoring of the profession practice by providing 
its limitations, compliance to ethical standards, and the issuance of special temporary 
permits for foreign practitioners in the country. Lastly, this bill also provides for 
penalties for any person who violate the indicated provisions of the proposed measure. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
 MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 


3
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 
AN ACT  
REGULATING THE PRACTICE OF MICROBIOLOGY 
IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
ARTICLE I 
TITLE, DECLARATION OF POLICY AND OBJECTIVES 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Microbiology 
Act." 
SECTION 2. Statement of Policy and Objectives. – The State recognizes the 
important role of microbiologists in national development. Hence, this Act institutes a 
regulatory system that guarantees the delivery of technical services in a manner that 
ensures food safety and high quality of manufactured goods, prevents the rapid spread 
of microbially-caused diseases in human, plant, and animal populations, and helps 
provide a safe and healthy environment for the general populace. It also aims to 
develop and nurture competent, ethical, globally competitive and well-rounded 
professionals who shall observe the highest standard of excellence through a credible 
and relevant licensure examination. 
ARTICLE II 
DEFINITION OF TERMS AND SCOPE OF PRACTICE 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
a. 
Accredited Integrated Professional Organization (A/PO) refers to the 
professional organization established for the benefit and welfare of professionals 
of microbiology, the advancement of the microbiology profession and attainment 
of 11 other professional ends. 
b. 
Archaeal Biology – refers to the scientific discipline that concerns with the study 
of the biology of archaea, a domain of organisms consisting of single, nucleus-
free cells, distinct from bacteria and eukaryotes. 
c. 
Bacteriology – refers to the branch of microbiology that specifically deals with the 
biochemistry, physiology, morphology, evolution, genetics, and ecology of 
bacteria which is the large domain of single-celled prokaryotic microorganisms. 
Bacteriology also deals with the study of medically- and industrially-significant 
bacteria, such as those which cause major infectious diseases, food spoilage, 
and those which are able to ferment food or produce valuable pharmaceuticals 
and enzymes. 
d. 
Clinical Microbiology – refers to the branch of microbiology that relates to the 
diagnosis, treatment, management, and prevention of infectious diseases in 
patients in hospital and clinical laboratories. It also includes hospital facility 
environmental surveillance and monitoring in support of infection control and 
safety programs as well as quality control. This field of practice encompasses 
several different sciences applied to hospital and clinical laboratories, including 
bacteriology, mycology, virology, parasitology, immunology and molecular 
diagnostics. It involves culture, analysis and identification of pathogenic and 
other clinically relevant bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites isolated from 
clinical specimens or other non-biological specimens, or both. It also involves 
susceptibility testing to guide antimicrobial therapy and provide antibiograms to 
the health facility or local community, or both to demonstrate the prevalence of 
various pathogens and emerging antibiotic resistance. 
e. 
Environmental Microbiology – refers to the branch of microbiology that deals with 
study of indigenous microorganisms on earth, water, and air system and their 
interactions with organic and inorganic pollutants and the application of their 
products for the benefit of human health and welfare. It is the applied part of 
microbial ecology which deals with the study of the interactions of 
microorganisms with the biotic and abiotic environment. 


 
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f. 
Medical Microbiology – refers to the branch of microbiology that specifically deals 
with the study of characteristics of pathogens, their modes of transmission, 
mechanisms of infection and growth. It is also concerned with the interactions of 
pathogens to hosts and the environment and the applications of microorganisms 
for the improvement of health. For purposes of this Act, clinical microbiology is 
excluded from the definition and scope of medical microbiology. 
g. 
Microbiology – refers to a multi-disciplinary study of the structure, form and 
function of microorganisms such as bacteria, archaea, fungi, algae, protozoa, 
and acellular infectious agents. It covers several branches of biology such as 
physiology, molecular biology, genetics, ecology, evolutionary biology, 
systematics and other related fields. Such as cell biology, helminthology, 
immunology, molecular biology and biotechnology, parasitology, and plant 
pathology. 
h. 
Mycology – refers to the branch of microbiology that studies fungi such as yeasts, 
molds and mushrooms. It is concerned with the physiology, taxonomy, 
biochemistry, ecology, and genetic properties of fungi. Mycology also deals with 
the significance and application of fungal species in medicine and industry, from 
which antibiotics as well as other valuable secondary metabolites are produced. 
i. 
Phycology – refers to the branch of microbiology that studies algae, which is a 
large group of chiefly aquatic macroscopic and microscopic unicellular organisms 
similar to plants in terms of metabolism and structure. Phycology studies the 
ultrastructure, biochemistry, metabolism and ecology of these algae, such as 
different species of seaweeds, phytoplankton and a vast number of others. 
j. 
Protozoology – refers to the branch of microbiology that studies protozoa, a 
diverse group of eukaryotic, heterotrophic microorganisms. It is concerned with 
the taxonomy, physiology, evolution, biochemistry and metabolism of 
protozoans. As several protozoans are disease-causing, protozoology is also 
concerned with studying their modes of infection, transmission, life cycles, as 
well as their interaction with their host organisms. 
k. 
Registered Microbiologist – refers to a person who has been issued a certificate 
of registration and professional identification card by the Professional Regulatory 
Board for Microbiology created under Section 5 of this Act. 
l. 
Virology – refers to the branch of microbiology that specifically deals with viruses 
sub-microscopic obligate intracellular parasites—and virus-like particles, and 


 
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subviral particles such as prions and viroids, which usually cause disease in 
animals, plants, and humans. Virology is the study of the taxonomic classification 
and ultrastructure of these agents, their genetic make-up, mode of infection, as 
well as their interactions with their respective hosts. 
 
SECTION 4. Scope of Practice of the Microbiology Profession. – The practice of 
microbiology refers to the profession requiring the application of fundamental and 
known principles of microbiology pertinent to the conditions and requirements of food 
safety and manufacturing standards, disease prevention, environmental protection, 
conservation and quality management. It includes the following: 
a. 
Consultation, valuation, investigation and management services on the 
identification of microbial agents in food, feed, human, plant and animal 
diseases, and in environmental impact assessments; 
b. 
Management or supervision and the preparation of designs, plans, 
specifications, project studies and estimates for microbial-based processes and 
related manufacturing and waste management facilities; 
c. 
Conduct of research and development, training and extension work, and 
consultancy services on the various areas of microbiology, such as general 
microbiology, 
food 
microbiology, 
agricultural 
microbiology, 
industrial 
microbiology, 
veterinary 
microbiology, 
medical 
microbiology, 
aquatic 
microbiology and environmental microbiology, and on microbiological 
facilities/services, systems and technologies; 
d. 
Microbiological testing and inspection of food, pharmaceutical, agricultural, 
fishery and forest products; 
e. 
Management, manufacturing and marketing of microbial and microbial-based 
products. The marketing of the microbial and microbial-based products is not 
exclusive to the practice of microbiology and can be undertaken by other 
professions such as those acknowledged in Section 27; 
f. 
Quality control on microbiological concerns including the manufacture of foods, 
food additives, flavors, feeds, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, biofuels, and bio 
fertilizers. 
g. 
Teaching microbiology subjects and offering degree programs and training 
courses in microbiology in higher educational institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines 
in conjunction with Section 11 of Republic Act No. 8981, otherwise known as the 


 
7
PRC Modernization Act of 2000, and the rules and regulations of the Commission 
of Higher Education (CHED); and 
h. 
Employment with the government or with a private institution which requires the 
knowledge and expertise of a registered microbiologist. 
 
ARTICLE Ill 
CREATION OF THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATORY BOARD FOR 
MICROBIOLOGY 
SECTION 5. Creation and Composition of the Professional Regulatory Board for 
Microbiology. – There is hereby created a Professional Regulatory Board for 
Microbiology hereinafter referred to as the Board, under the administrative supervision 
and control of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), which is under the 
Office of the President (OP). The Board shall be composed of a Chairperson and two 
(2) Members, 2 of whom must have at least five (5) years of teaching experience in 
microbiology. They shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of the 
Philippines upon the recommendation of the PRC which shall select from a list of 
nominees submitted by the AIPO consisting of three (3) nominees for each position. 
The Board shall be organized not later than sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this 
Act. 
 
SECTION 6. Qualifications of the Chairperson and Members of the Board. – The 
Chairperson and Members of the Board shall, at the time of appointment, possess the 
following qualifications: 
a.  
Must be a Filipino citizen;  
b.  
Must not been convicted by a competent court of any offense involving moral 
turpitude; 
c.  
Must be a holder of at least a Master of Science Degree in Microbiology-related 
fields conferred by a CHED recognized Philippine HEI or foreign university; 
d.  
Must have at least ten (10) years of practice in microbiology, either in government 
or in any private institution; and 
e.  
Must not have any financial interest, directly and indirectly, in any HEI conferring 
academic degree necessary for admission to the practice of microbiology or 
where review classes in preparation for the microbiology licensure examination 


 
8
are being offered or conducted, nor shall one be a member of the faculty or the 
administration thereof. 
 
SECTION 7. Term of Office for the Chairperson and Members of the Board. – The 
Chairperson and Members of the Board shall hold office for a term of three (3) years 
from the date of appointment or until their successors shall have been qualified and 
appointed. They may be reappointed for a second term. They shall take the proper 
oath of office prior to assumption of office before a duly authorized officer. 
 
SECTION 8. Meetings of the Board. – The Board shall have a regular meeting once 
a month. Special meetings may also be held upon the call of the Chairperson or at the 
request of the other two (2) of its Members. Reasonable notice of all meetings shall 
be given in the manner prescribed by the rules of the Board. 
 
SECTION 9. Compensation and Allowances of the Board. – The Chairperson and 
Members of the Board shall receive compensation and allowances equivalent to those 
being received by the Chairpersons and Members of existing professional regulatory 
boards under the PRC as provided for in the General Appropriations Act. 
 
SECTION 10. Powers and Functions of the Board. – The Board shall be vested with 
the following powers and functions. 
a.  
Promulgate, administer and enforce rules and regulations necessary to carry out 
the provisions of this Act; 
b.  
Prescribe the subjects in the licensure examination and their relative weights, 
determine the syllabi and Table of Specifications (TOS) for the subjects on which 
the examination questions shall be based on, and to submit the examination 
results to the PRC; 
c.  
Evaluate and approve applications for licensure examination; 
d.  
Administer oaths and, issue certificates of registration and the professional 
identification card to persons admitted to the practice of the profession of 
microbiology; 
e.  
Monitor trends in and conditions affecting the practice of microbiology and adopt 
such measures as may be deemed necessary for the enhancement of the 
profession and the maintenance of the highest professional, ethical and technical 


 
9
standards, and for these purposes, inspect and monitor establishments where 
microbiologists are practicing and HEIS where the microbiology courses are 
being offered, in coordination with the CHED;  
f.  
Submit to the PRC an annual report at the close of each fiscal year on the 
proceedings and accomplishments of the Board during the year as well as 
recommendations for the purpose of upgrading and improving the conditions 
affecting the practice of microbiology in the Philippines; 
g.  
Oversee the conduct of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) 
program for microbiologists; 
h.  
Recommend 
measures 
necessary 
for 
the 
upgrading, 
enhancement, 
development and growth of microbiology in the Philippines; 
i.  
Approve registration of microbiologists without examination; and 
j.  
Issue special temporary permits to microbiologists of foreign nationalities subject 
to the requirements and conditions prescribed by the Board. 
 
The policies and resolutions, rules and regulations, orders, or decisions issued 
or promulgated by the Board shall be subject to the review and approval of the PRC: 
Provided, That the decisions, resolutions, and orders rendered by the Board which are 
interlocutory in nature shall be subject to review on appeal. 
 
SECTION 11. Removal of Board Members. – The Chairperson or any Member of 
the Board may be suspended or removed from office by the President of the Republic 
of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the PRC for neglect of duty, 
incompetence, tolerance of irregularities in any examination given by the Board, 
unprofessional or unethical conduct. Any such person shall be afforded due process 
according to the laws of the Republic of the Philippines. 
 
SECTION 12. Supervision of the Board, Custodian of the Records, Secretariat 
and Support Services. – The Board shall be under the general supervision and 
administrative control of the PRC. The PRC shall keep all the records of the Board, 
including applications for examination papers and results, minutes of deliberations, 
administrative cases and other investigative cases involving microbiologists. 
 
ARTICLE IV 


 
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EXAMINATION AND REGISTRATION 
SECTION 13. Licensure Examination. – Unless otherwise provided in the Act, every 
applicant seeking to be registered and licensed as microbiologist shall take and pass 
a written licensure examination to be given by the Board at least once a year in such 
places and dates as the PRC may designate. 
 
SECTION 14. Qualifications for Examination. – Any person applying for admission 
to the licensure examination for microbiologist must be: 
a.  
A citizen and resident of the Philippines: Provided, That citizen of a foreign 
country may be allowed to take the examination, subject to the requirement of 
reciprocity as approved for in Section 31 of this Act; 
b.  
A person with good moral character; 
c.  
A person who has not been convicted by a competent court of any offense 
involving moral turpitude; and 
d.  
A holder of a baccalaureate degree in Microbiology or Biology major in 
Microbiology, or graduate degree in Microbiology, or any related field with twenty-
four (24) units of microbiology, to include the courses covered in the licensure 
exam. 
 
SECTION 15. Scope of Examination. – The licensure examination for microbiology 
shall cover six (6) subjects: 
a.  
General microbiology 
b.  
Code of Ethics for Microbiology Profession 
c.  
Microbial Physiology 
d.  
Microbial Ecology 
e.  
Medical Microbiology  
f.  
Applied Microbiology (Food and Industrial) 
The Board, subject to the approval of the PRC, may revise the scope of 
examination and any of the subjects and their syllabi to conform with technological 
advances brought about by trends and developments in the profession. 
 
SECTION 16. Release of the Results of Examination. – The Board shall release the 
licensure examinations results within a period of three (3) days from the date the 
examination, unless extended for a valid reason. 


 
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SECTION 17. Rating in Examination. – To pass the licensure examination for 
microbiology, an examinee must obtain a general average of at least seventy-five 
percent (75%) and no rating lower than fifty percent (50%) in any subject. An examinee 
with a general average of seventy five percent (75%), and with grade lower than fifty 
percent (50%) in any subject, may retake the examination on the subject(s) the 
examinee failed at, but not more than twice. If still unsuccessful after the second time, 
an examinee shall be required to retake the entire examinations in which a person 
failed, at most twice. If still unsuccessful after the second time, an examinee shall be 
required to retake the entire examination. There is no limit to the number of times an 
examinee who has failed the licensure examination can retake it. 
 
SECTION 18. Oath. – All qualified registrants, whether or not they have taken and 
passed the licensure examination shall take their oath of profession before the 
chairperson or any Member of the Board, or any authorized officer of the PRC prior to 
entering the practice of microbiology 
 
SECTION 19. Issuance of the Certificate of Registration and Professional 
Identification Card. – The certificate of registration and professional identification 
card shall be issued to a person who has complied with all the requirements for 
registration under this Act. The certificate of registration shall serve as evidence that 
the microbiologist can lawfully practice their profession. It shall remain in full force and 
effect until withdrawn, revoked, or suspended in accordance with this Act. 
A professional identification card bearing the registration number and date of 
issuance, its expiry date, and the signature of the Chairperson of the PRC shall 
likewise be issued to every qualified registrant. It shall be reissued after every three 
(3) years upon compliance with all the requirements as may be prescribed by the 
Board and the PRC. 
 
SECTION 20. Automatic Exemption from Examination for Microbiologists. – 
Holders of a Master's or Doctoral Degree in Microbiology or related fields from an HEI 
duly recognized by the CHED, may apply for exemption as microbiologists without 
examination from the Board. They must submit a copy of undergraduate and graduate 
diplomas, transcripts and cover pages of MS Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation: 


 
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Provided, That such individual must show proof of having actively practiced the 
microbiology profession for at least five (5) years. 
 
SECTION 21. Registration Without Examination. – The Board shall register without 
examination any person who can present evidence or proof satisfactory to the Board 
that: 
 
a. The person is a Filipino citizen; 
 
b. The person is of good moral character; 
c. The person has obtained at least twenty-four (24) academic units in 
microbiology related courses from an HEI duly recognized by the CHED, 
passed certification examination conducted by reputable, well established and 
long-standing professional organization in microbiology or its equivalencies in 
the practice of Microbiology as assessed by the Board and has been actively 
practicing microbiology for at least five (5) years. For this purpose, 
equivalencies shall refer to activities which may include participation or 
attendance in trainings, scientific conferences and symposia on microbiology in 
the last five (5) years, research publications as prescribed by the Board or 
national research awards in microbiology, recognized innovations or solutions 
to microbiological problems in industry. 
 
All qualified applicants must apply for registration within two (2) years from the 
effectivity of the rules and regulations issued to implement this Act. Thereafter, anyone 
who wants to be registered will have to take the examination, and those who are 
exempted under Section 27 of this Act. 
 
SECTION 22. Refusal to Register. – The Board may deny the application for 
registration of any applicant who has been: 
a.  
Convicted of any offense involving moral turpitude by a court of competent 
jurisprudence; 
b.  
Found guilty of immoral or dishonorable conduct after due investigation by the 
Board;  
c.  
Summarily adjudged guilty for violation of the general instructions to examinees 
by the Board; and 
d.  
Declared to be of unsound mind by a court of competent jurisprudence. 


 
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In refusing to register an applicant, the Board shall issue a written notice setting 
forth the reasons for its action, duly keeping a copy of such notification in its records. 
 
SECTION 23. Revocation or Suspension of the Certificate of Registration. – The 
Board shall have the power, after giving proper notice and hearing to the party 
concerned, to suspend or revoke the practitioner's certificate of registration, or to 
cancel the special temporary permit granted to a foreigner microbiologist, for any of 
the grounds or causes cited in Section 22 of this Act, on any of the following grounds: 
a.  
Violation of any provision of this Act, and the rules and regulations issued to 
implement it, The Code of Ethics for the practice of microbiology profession, 
Code of Good Governance, Code of Technical Standards for the Practice of 
 
Microbiology, or other policy measure of the Board or the PRC; 
b.  
Perpetration or use of fraud in obtaining one's certificate of registration, 
professional identification card, or special temporary permit; 
c.  
Gross incompetence, negligence or ignorance resulting to death, injury or 
damage; 
d.  
Aiding or abetting the illegal practice of a non-registered and non-licensed person 
by allowing another to use one's certificate of registration or professional 
identification card, or both, or special temporary permit; 
e.  
Practicing the profession during suspension from the practice; or 
f.  
Proven addiction to drug or alcohol, impairing one's ability to practice the 
profession, or declared with unsound mind by a court of competent jurisdiction. 
In case of drug or alcohol addiction, a finding to this effect of a medical or drug 
testing facility shall be sufficient. 
 
Any person, firm or association may file charges in accordance with the provision 
of this section against any registrant, or the Board may, on its own, investigate any of 
the above-mentioned violations. An affidavit-complaint shall be filed together with the 
affidavits of witnesses and other documentary evidence with the Board, through the 
Legal Service Office. The Board may conduct an investigation, motu proprio, on a 
matter relating to the commission of a violation: Provided, That such decision to 
investigate shall be embodied in a formal charge to be signed by at least majority of 
its members. The rules on administrative investigation issued by the PRC shall govern 


 
14
the hearing or investigation subject to applicable provisions of this Act, Republic Act 
No. 8981 and the Rules of Court. 
 
SECTION 24. Reinstatement, Reissuance of Revoked Certificate of Registration, 
Replacement of Lost or Damaged Certificate of Registration, Professional 
Identification Card or Special Temporary Permit. – The Board may, upon 
application and for reasons deemed proper and sufficient, reinstate any suspended or 
revoked certificate of registration and professional identification card of a registered 
microbiologist two (2) years after the date of revocation, and in so doing, may, in its 
discretion, exempt the applicant from taking another examination: Provided, That the 
suspended microbiologist has established fitness to practice anew. The Board shall 
issue a resolution to effect such reinstatement subject to the approval by the PRC. 
 
In the case of a lost or damaged certificate of registration, professional 
identification card or special temporary permit, the replacement may be issued upon 
application of the valid license holder in accordance with the prescribed procedure and 
subject to the payment of the prescribed fees. 
 
SECTION 25. Renewal of Professional Identification Card. – A professional 
identification card shall be renewed every three (3) years upon compliance of the 
license microbiologist with the requirements imposed by the Board, such as the CPD 
and payment of the corresponding fees. 
 
SECTION 26. Roster of Microbiologists. – The Professional Registry Division of the 
PRC shall keep a roster of duly registered and licensed microbiologists, indicating their 
names, registration numbers, and other pertinent information. The Board shall 
regularly update such roster and make it available to all interested parties subject to 
the provisions of Republic Act No. 10173, otherwise known as the Data Privacy Act of 
2012. 
 
SECTION 27. Practice of Microbiology in other Professions Registered with the 
Professional Regulation Commission. – In synergy and convergence with other 
professions regulated by the PRC where microbiology is an essential component of 
their practice, Doctors of Medicine, Doctors of Veterinary Medicine, Medical 


 
15
Technologists, Agriculturists, Pharmacists, and Food Technologists, among others, 
shall continue to practice microbiology without need of registering under this Act. 
 
SECTION 28. Practice through issuance of Special Temporary Permits. –  Without 
prejudice to the existing laws on the practice of professions by foreigners in the 
Philippines, and subject to the approval of the PRC and payment of fees, the Board 
may issue a special temporary permit to practice microbiology in the Philippines to the 
following. 
a.  
Foreign registered or licensed microbiologists, or a recognized expert in 
microbiology called in by the Philippine government or private institutions for 
consultation or for any specific activity; and 
b.  
Foreign registered or licensed microbiologists who have distinguished 
themselves in their respective fields of specialization, and who are either directly 
hired or employed as professors, lecturers or instructors in Microbiology by 
Philippine schools, colleges, universities or research institutions: Provided, That 
their practice of the profession shall be limited to the particular work for which 
they have been commissioned: Provided further, that the special temporary 
permit shall be valid for a maximum period of one (1) year, subject to renewal at 
the discretion of the Board and the PRC. 
 
ARTICLE V 
PRACTICE OF MICROBIOLOGY 
SECTION 29. Prohibitions and Limitations in the Practice of Microbiology. – No 
person shall represent one's self in the Philippines as a microbiologist without a valid 
certificate of registration and valid professional identification card, or a valid special 
temporary permit; or make use of any word, letter, figure or sign whatsoever, tending 
to convey the impression that one is a microbiologist, or advertise as qualified to 
perform the work as such, without holding a valid certificate of registration in 
accordance with the provisions of this Act, except as provided under Section 27 
hereof. However, persons currently employed as microbiologists or holding positions 
that require them to perform the functions of a microbiologist shall be allowed to 
practice for two (2) years after the promulgation of this Act, after which, they shall take 
the licensure examinations required by existing law, before they can continue to 
practice the microbiology profession. 


 
16
 
SECTION 30. Code of Ethics. – The Board, in consultation with the AIPO, shall 
formulate the Code of Ethics for the practice of the microbiology profession. 
 
SECTION 31. Foreign Reciprocity. – No foreigner who is a licensed microbiologist 
shall be allowed to practice the profession in the Philippines unless the country of such 
licensed microbiologists grants the reciprocal authority to Filipino microbiologists to 
practice the profession in that country, and to enjoy the same employment status and 
privileges of its own citizens. 
 
ARTICLE VI 
PENAL AND GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SECTION 32. Penal Clause. – Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of 
this Act shall, upon conviction, be imposed with a fine of not less than Fifty thousand 
pesos (Php 50,000.00) but not more than One hundred thousand pesos (Php 
100,000.00), or with imprisonment of not less than six (6) months nor more than five 
(5) years, or both, at the discretion of the Court. 
 
SECTION 33. Funding Provisions. – The Chairperson of the PRC shall immediately 
include the agency's program the implementation of this Act, the initial funding of which 
shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the PRC and thereafter 
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
 
SECTION 34. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days from 
the effectivity of this Act, the Board shall, subject to the approval of the PRC formulate 
the necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation. 
 
SECTION 35. Separability Clause. – If any provision, section, or part of this Act shall 
be declared unconstitutional or invalid, such judgment shall not affect, invalidate or 
impair any other provision, section, or part hereof, but shall be merely confined to the 
provision, section, or part there of that is directly involved in the issue upon which 
judgment has been rendered. 
 


 
17
SECTION 36. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof which are in conflict with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly: Provided, however, That nothing in this Act 
shall be construed as repealing or amending any portion of the laws of other 
professions regulated by the PRC. 
 
SECTION 37. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,