EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Second Regular Session
SENATE 
S. B. NO. 1762
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BY
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
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”
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The institutionalization of the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) or 
Republic Act No. 10968 underscores the need for lifelong learning of Filipinos. In this 
regard, programs for the mandatory continuing professional development or CPD of 
workers and professionals are encouraged for their career progression and to upgrade 
their professional qualification levels.
The CPD will also ensure the mobility and competitiveness of Filipinos, not only 
in the global labor market but also in their professional practice and career 
development. In fact, the CPD is a recognition and eligibility requirement in bilateral, 
regional or international agreements, such as in the ASEAN Mutual Recognition 
Agreements (MRAs) that facilitate mobility and cross border practice.
However, the implementation of Republic Act No. 10912 or the CPD Law has 
been met with so much resistance from workers and professionals, most especially 
teachers, engineers, accountants, physicians and nurses. In an online survey 
conducted by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) on the CPD 
implementation in 2018, 95 percent of respondents said that the CPD law should be 
stopped.1
1 "Anti-CPD professionals give 95% vote for repeal” August 1, 
2018 retrieved from
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/419610/Anti-CPD-professionals-give-95-vote-for-repeal (date last accessed: August 2,2020).


Unfortunately, a big part of the resistance from workers and professionais stems 
from the unwiiiingness and incapacity of the government to provide for the necessities 
demanded by the authentic and competitive Phiiippine CPD program.
The exorbitant fees, difficuit requirements, confusing processes, and most of aii, 
iack of accredited training providers, nuiiify the noble intentions of this legislation, 
rendering It instead as a heavy burden to our professional workforce. If a 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.
Sadly, due to some difficult yet avoidable circumstances, the same important 
legislation has become a burden to ordinary workers and professionals. 
Circumstances make it seem like a hindrance, instead of the tool that it really is, to the 
attainment of the aspirations of our people.
Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought limitations to the continued 
implementation of CPD primarily due to the prohibition on mass gatherings and face- 
to-face trainings/seminars. In the post-pandemic future, however, the CPD will even 
be more necessary for the welfare and livelihood of many Filipino families. The 
implementation of CPD Programs will ensure that our professionals are not only the 
best in their fields but also equipped with knowledge, skills and attitude required in the 
“new normal”.
Thus, this measure seeks to amend Section 10 of RA 10912 to qualify the 
mandatory requirement of CPD in the renewal of the PICs of all registered and 
licensed professionals under the regulation of the PRC. Licensed professionals will be 
exempted from the CPD requirement within five years after obtaining their licenses 
and the CPD requirement will only apply for renewal of PIC after the lapse of the five- 
year period. Meanwhile, OFWs shall be exempted from the CPD requirement during 
their stay in a foreign country for purposes of employment.
This bill also provides that in the event of a declaration of a state of emergency 
or state of calamity, the CPD shall be automatically suspended. The PRC shall also 
grant CPD credit units to all registered professionals who are providing essential 
services during the state of emergency or state of calamity.
This measure also seeks to amend Section 13 of RA 10912 on the credit units 
required for the renewal of PICs. Accordingly, professionals shall be required to obtain 
not more than 36 CPD credit units within each 5-year compliance period. Under certain 
circumstances, the PRC and the Professional Regulatory Boards may dispense with 
the CPD requirement for the renewal of the PIC. This amendment aims to extend the 
consideration given to OFW’s to other professionals who may find themselves under 
some unusual circumstances. In addition, this measure also mandates that no 
additional fees shall be collected for PIC renewal.


Lastly, this measure seeks to amend Section 16 of the CPD Law by enjoining ali 
concerned government agencies and private firms and organizations empioying 
professionais to include CPD as part of their human resource development plan and 
program. Likewise, Professional Regulatory Boards and their stakeholders are 
encouraged to take a pro-active role in identifying institutions and/or establishing 
programs for CPD.
In summary, this bill seeks to ensure that our workers and professionals are 
given the necessary provisions and avenues to empower them towards the realization 
of the dreams enshrined at the conception and implementation of the CPD Law. 
Indeed, the enhancement of the CPD Law will warrant, sustain, and support the 
Filipino professional’s desire for excellence and distinction, for personal and 
professional development, and consequently, for social and economic recovery after 
COVID-19.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATOR/JOEL VILLANUEVA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Second Regular Session
SENATE 
S. B. NO. 1762
2020 m
DATE
TJME
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
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 Phiiippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Section 10 of Republic Act No. 10912, otherwise known as the
2 
"Continuing Professional Development Act of 2016” is hereby amended to read as
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follows:
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“SEC. 10. CPD as Mandatory Requirement in the Renewai of Professionai
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License and Accreditation System for the Practice of Professions. - The
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CPD is hereby made as a mandatory requirement in the renewal of the PICs of
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all registered and licensed professionals under the regulation of the PRC;
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PROVIDED, THAT REGISTERED AND LICENSED PROFESSIONALS ARE
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EXEMPTED FROM COMPLIANCE WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS AFTER
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OBTAINING THEIR LICENSES; PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT FAILURE TO
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COMPLY WITH CPD SHALL ONLY BE A BASIS TO DENY RENEWAL OF
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PICs AFTER THE LAPSE OF THE COMPLIANCE PERIOD PROVIDED
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HEREIN; PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT LICENSED PROFESSIONALS WHO
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ARE OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS (OFWS) SHALL BE EXEMPTED
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FROM THE REQUIREMENT UNDER THIS SECTION FOR THE PERIOD OF
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THEIR OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT; PROVIDED FINALLY, THAT IN THE
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EVENT OF A DECLARATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY OR STATE OF
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CALAMITY, THE CPD SHALL BE AUTOMATICALLY SUSPENDED, AND THE
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PRC SHALL GRANT CPD CREDIT UNITS TO ALL REGISTERED
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PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE PROVIDING ESSENTIAL SERVICES DURING


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THE STATE OF EMERGENCY OR STATE OF CALAMITY.
SEC. 2. A 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 PROVIDED UNDER THIS ACT; PROVIDED, THAT THE 
FAILURE TO OBTAIN THE REQUIRED CPD CREDIT UNITS IS SOLELY DUE 
TO THE FAILURE OF THE 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 REQUIREMENT 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 COLLECTED BY PRC OTHER THAN REASONABLE FEES 
FOR THE VERIFICATION OF REQUIRED DOCUMENTS AND FOR THE 
PROCESSING AND PRINTING OF THE PRC ID.
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. THE PROFESSIONAL 
REGULATORY BOARDS (PRBS) AND THEIR RESPECTIVE 
STAKEHOLDERS SHALL ALSO TAKE A PRO-ACTIVE ROLE IN 
IDENTIFYING INSTITUTIONS AND/OR ESTABLISHING PROGRAMS FOR 
CPD. IN THE EVENT THAT SEMINARS AND/OR TRAININGS UNDER THE 
CPD ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE AND/OR AVAILABLE, THE PRC SHALL 
PROVIDE A REASONABLE TRANSITION PERIOD TO DEVELOP THE 
NECESSARY STANDARDS, PROCESSES, CAPACITY AND


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INFRASTRUCTURE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE APPROPRIATE SEMINAR 
AND/OR TRAINING, WHILE MINIMIZING THE COST AND INCONVENIENCE 
TO PROFESSIONALS COVERED BYTHE CPD REQUIREMENT.
IN ADDITION TO THE PENALTIES PRESCRIBED IN EXISTING LAWS, ANY 
COMPANY THAT FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING SHALL BE 
METED WITH A FINE OF UP TO FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS 
(P500,000.00) DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY AND FREQUENCY OF 
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT UNDER THIS SECTION. 
IN CASE OF CONTINUOUS OR BLATANT DISREGARD OF THE 
PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION DESPITE NOTICE, THE PENALTY OF 
SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION 
AND/OR PERMIT TO OPERATE MAY ALSO BE IMPOSED.
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 other relevant 
stakeholders, shall promulgate the rules and regulations to effectively carry out the 
provisions of this Act.
SEC. 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional 
or otherwise invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall not be affected thereby.
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,