SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Third Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.B.NO. 
2931 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
'15 
SEP --3 P2 :57 
MANDATING THE INTEGRATION OF PROFESSIONS BY CREATING AN ACCREDITED 
INTEGRATED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (AIPOs) FOR EVERY PROFESSION, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
While the duty to regulate the practice of each profession is vested by law in the various 
Professional Regulatory Boards (Boards) created to govern the different professions, the 
complementary role of the professional organizations in this respect cannot be 
overemphasized. Hence, our regulatory laws for the various professions define not only 
the mandate and functions of the Boards but also those of the professional organizations to 
be accredited by the Professional Regulation Commission (Commission) upon the 
recommendation by the Boards. 
Included among these functions is their duty to submit nominations to vacancies in the 
Boards pursuant to pertinent laws and regulations. Likewise, national policies directly 
affecting the practice of professions, including the Code of Ethics and Code of Technical 
Standards for the Profession are developed and promulgated in close consultation and 
coordination with the accredited professional organizations (APOs). 
The Boards also conduct inspection and monitoring of firms, establishments and higher 
educational institutions with the assistance of the APOs. The latter also take part in the 
implementation of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programs for each 
profession as members of the CPD Councils. Even in technical discussions and in 
consultations on bills relating to the practice of profession, the APOs are normally invited 
to send representatives as resource persons. 
The PRC began to accredit professional organizations in the different professions in 1975. 
One of the first professional regulatory laws which mandate the integration of the 
profession was Republic Act No. 7836, also known as the Philippine Teachers 
Professionalization Act of 1994, as amended. There are at present seventeen (17) 
professions whose laws provide for the integration of the profession. 
This measure will institutionalize and streamline the concept of integration across all 
profeSSions with the creation of an Accredited and Integrated Professional Organization 
(AIPO) for each of the regulated professions that will be national in scope. Membership in 
the AIPO for each profession shall be also compUlsory. 
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The proposed set-up will also provide a stable platform for the expeditious discussion and 
resolution of all issues and concerns relating to the practice of each profession, as well as 
allow easier collaboration and cooperation between the Commission, the Board and the 
professionals they are supposed to regulate. 
For the foregoing reasons, the expeditious approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
o "SON Y" F~~LJb­
Sewto; Ttl 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Third Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.B.NO. 2931 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
'15 
SEP -3 P2 :57 
MANDATING THE INTEGRATION OF PROFESSIONS BY CREATING AN ACCREDITED 
INTEGRATED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (AIPOs) FOR EVERY PROFESSION, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
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ARTICLE I 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Integration of the 
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Professions Act of2015". 
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Section 2. Statement of Policy. - The State, thru the Professional Regulation 
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Commission (Commission) and the Professional Regulatory Boards (Boards) for each 
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profession, recognizes the vital role of professionals in nation-building by promoting the 
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sustained development of a reservoir of quality and competent professionals through the 
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administration of the licensure examinations and the provision of the highest standards of 
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professional practice. 
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In pursuance thereof, the different professional organizations shall be tapped to provide 
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assistance and support to the Commission and the Boards; and to further strengthen and 
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empower these professional organizations, their integration into a single, accredited 
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national organization for each profession shall be considered a priority thrust of the 
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government. 
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Section 3. Objectives. - This Act provides for the: 
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(a) Institutionalization of the concept of integration of professionals in each professions 
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into an Accredited Integrated Professional Organization (AIPO) for said profession 
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across all professions; 
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(b) Mandate and functions of the AIPO; 
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(c) Criteria and procedure in the creation of the Accredited Integrated Professional 
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Organization (AI PO) in each profession; and 
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(d) Regulation and supervision of the operations of the AIPOs. 
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Section 4. Definition of Terms. - The following terms, as used in this Act, shall 
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mean: 
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(a) Accreditation refers to the power of the Commission to certify or recognize an entity 
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as the AIPO for a certain profession; 
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(b) Integration refers to the process of unification of all registered and licensed 
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professionals into a single national professional organization through their 
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automatic and mandatory membership thereto; 
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(c) Boards refer to the Professional Regulatory Boards; 
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(d) Commission refers to the Professional Regulation Commission; 
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(e) Accredited Integrated Professional Organization (AIPO) refers to the single national 
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organization representing a particular profession and to which membership by all 
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registered and licensed professionals is automatic and mandatory by express 
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provision oflaw; and 
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(I) Professional Regulatory Laws (PRLs) refer to the legal charter creating and governing 
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the various Boards, defining their functions and providing for the rules and policies 
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that govern the practice of a specific profession. 
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Section 5. Functions of the AIPO. - The AIPO shall have the following powers, 
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functions and responsibilities: 
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(a) To submit nominations to vacant positions in the Boards in accordance with the 
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provisions of Executive Order No. 496 and other relevant laws as well as rules and 
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regulations; 
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(b) To engage in consultations with the Board and the Commission on any and all 
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matters affecting the practice of professions; 
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(c) To assist the Boards in the conduct of inspection and monitoring of firms, 
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establishments and corporations organized for the practice of professions, as well as 
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higher educational institutions offering academic courses for the licensure 
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examinations; 
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(d) To participate in the preparation of the Tables of Specification (TOS) of the licensure 
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examination subjects, Codes of Ethics and Code of Technical Standards of 
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Professional Practice, among others; 
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( e) To encourage and oversee its members in pursuing and participating in Continuing 
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Professional Development programs and other activities aimed to uplift and 
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advance the standards of the profession; 
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(I) To maintain an updated registry of its members; 
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(g) To provide its members with all the benefits and privileges appurtenant to their 
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AIPO membership pursuant to its constitution and by-laws; 
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(h) To issue Certificates of Good Standing to its members upon payment of the 
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prescribed fees and dues; 
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(i) To exercise supervisory powers over the other professional organizations under it; 
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CD To represent the interests of its members on all issues and concerns pertaining to or 
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affecting the profession; and 
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(k) To assist the Board and the Commission, as may be required under the 
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circumstances. 
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Section 6. Mechanics for lnteoration. - The following are the criteria and 
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procedure to be observed in the integration of the various professions: 
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6.1 Creation of an Umbrella Organization. All existing professional organizations 
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shall unify and integrate into a single national organization under the supervision of 
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the Commission, thru the concerned Board. Stakeholder consultations shall be 
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undertaken for this purpose. 
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6.2 Composition of the Board of Trustees. This new organization shall be 
incorporated or registered as a non-stock and non-profit organization to be 
governed by a Board of Trustees. The initial Board of Trustees shall be composed of 
representatives from the existing professional organizations on the basis of the 
number of their total membership. 
There shall be a minimum of five (5) to a maximum of fifteen (15) members of the 
Board of Trustees that will be chosen depending on the number of professional 
organizations existing at the time of integration. 
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The members of the subsequent Board of Trustees shall be elected annually or as 
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often as provided by the constitution and by-laws in the manner provided therein. 
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6.3 Articles of Incorporation and By-laws. The Commission shall come up with a 
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standard Articles of Incorporation and By-laws that will govern the operations of all 
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AIPOs. The Articles of Incorporation and By-laws, as adopted by each profession, 
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shall, upon approval by the Commission, be submitted to the Securities and 
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Exchange Commission (SEC) for registration. 
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The Articles of Incorporation and By-laws referred to above shall be adopted by all 
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the other AIPOs that will be subsequently created after the approval of this Act. 
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6.4 Accreditation by the Commission. The umbrella organization shall apply for 
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accreditation with the Commission. Should the applicant meet the conditions to be 
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certified and recognized as the AIPO for a given profession, the corresponding 
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Certificate of Accreditation shall then be issued by the Commission. 
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The accreditation to be granted by the Commission shall be permanent in nature. 
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Section 7. Supervisory Powers of the Commission over the AIPOs. - The 
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Commission shall exercise supervisory powers over the operation of the AIPOs and, thus, 
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may call upon its Board of Trustees and/or other officers who, under this Act, shall be 
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accountable for all the activities and programs undertaken by the AIPO. 
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Section 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from 
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the effectivity of this Act, the Commission, in consultation with the Boards for the different 
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professions and all relevant professional organizations, shall issue the rules and 
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regulations to implement the provisions thereof. 
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Section 9. Appropriations. - The funding necessary to enforce the provisions of 
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this Act shall be included in the annual budget of the Commission pursuant to the General 
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Appropriations Act. 
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Section 10. Separability Clause. - If any section or provision of this Act or any part 
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hereof be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the same shall not affect the remaining 
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sections and/or provisions otherwise considered as valid and legal. 
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Section 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
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resolutions, and other administrative issuances or part/s thereof which are inconsistent or 
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in conflict with this Act are hereby repealed, amended and/or modified accordingly. 
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Section 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation 
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in the Philippines. 
Approved, 
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