FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'11 
NOV 22 
I) 3 :20 
SENA~ 
S.No. 3Ub8 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1987 Constitution, under Article XII, Section 14, provides that: 
The sustained development of a reservoir of national talents consisting of 
Filipino scientists, entrepreneurs, professionals, managers, high-level 
technical manpower, and slalled workers and craftsmen in all fteld5 shall 
be promoted by the State. 
In line with this Constitutional mandatc, Republic Act No. 8981 created the Professional 
Regulation Commission to administer, implement, and enforce regulatory policies of the 
national government with respect to the regulation and licensing of the various professions 
and occupations under its jurisdiction, including the enhancement and maintenance of 
professional and occupational standards and ethics and the enforcement of the rules and 
regulations relative thereto. 
Moreover, the Professional Regulatory Boards which are under the administrative supervision 
of the PRC are tasked to monitor the conditions affecting the practice or occupation under 
their respective jurisdictions and whenever necessary, adopt such measures as may be deemed 
proper for the enhancement of the profession or occupation and/or the maintenance of high 
professional, ethical and technical standards. 
As can be seen from the foregoing, continuing professional education is vital and necessary to 
enhance and maintain high professional and occupational, ethical and technical standards in 
the practice of the different professi ons in the Philippines. 
Hence, there is an urgent need to institute measures that will strengthen the Continuing 
Professional Education Program of the government. 
Accordingly, the immediate passage of this act is hereby enjoined. 
1 


FIFTHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 3068 
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Introduced by Sen. Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTIONALIZING AND STRENGTHENING CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL 
EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR ALL PROFESSIONALS IN THE PHILIPPINES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Continuing Professional 
2 
Education Act of 2011." 
3 
4 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
5 
promote and upgrade the practice of professions in the country. Towards this end, the state 
6 
shall institute measures that will continuously improve the competence of Filipino 
7 
professionals in accordance with international standards of practice, thereby ensuring their 
8 
contribution to the upliftment of the general welfare, economic growth and development of 
9 
the nation. 
10 
11 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - The following terms shall be defined under this Act: 
12 
a. "APO" refers to the Accredited Professional Organization; 
13 
b. "Continuing Professional Education" or "CPE" refers to the inculcation, 
14 
assimilation and acquisition of knowledge, skills, proficiency and ethical and 
15 
moral values, after the initial registration of a professional, that raise and enhance 
16 
the professional's technical skills and competence; 
17 
c. "CPE Provider" refers to a natural person or a juridical entity which include 
18 
among others, accredited or non-accredited professional organization, firm, 
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partnership, corporation or institution which offers, organizes or arranges CPE 
2 
programs, activities or resources for implementation or administration; 
3 
d. "CPE Programs, Activities or Resources" refers to the regime of CPE which 
4 
enhance the competence of the professional by upgrading or updating knowledge 
5 
and skills for the profession as brought about by modernization and scientific and 
6 
technical advancements in the profession. The scope shall be beyond the basic 
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preparation for admission to the practice of the regulated profession. Its content 
8 
shall be related to the practice of the profession. 
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e. "Conventions" refers to the gathering of registered and licensed professionals 
10 
which shall include, among others, conferences, symposia or assemblies for round 
11 
table discussions; 
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f. "Post Graduate Degree Program" refers to masteral or doctorate degree in which 
13 
the professional is currently enrolled; 
14 
g. "PRC" refers to the Professional Regulation Commission; 
15 
h. "PRBs" refers to the Professional Regulatory Boards; 
16 
1. 
"Self-Directed Learning Package" refers to learning which uses course manuals or 
17 
accredited learning modules. Accredited learning modules include self-
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instructional materials or programs which may be in the form of printed manual, 
19 
audio and video cassette tapes, films, computer-assisted learning, study kits, 
20 
learning aids and modules or the use of information highway and has defined 
21 
objectives and adequate content relative to professional practice. 
22 
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SEC. 4. Strengthening the CPE Program. -- The existing CPE Program of the PRC is 
24 
hereby institutionalized and strengthened, and along with this, there shall be formulated and 
25 
implemented a CPE Program in each of the regulated professions with the following 
26 
objectives: 
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1 
2 
3 
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a. To provide and ensure the continuous education of registered and licensed 
professionals in accordance with the latest trends in their profession brought about 
by modernization as well as scientific and technological advancement; 
b. To raise and maintain the professionals' capability 
in 
delivering quality 
5 
professional services; 
6 
c. To attain and maintain the highest standards and quality III the practice of 
7 
professions; 
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d. To address the professionals' need for continuing ethical education and values 
9 
formation; 
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e. To make the Filipino professionals globally competitive; and 
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f. 
To promote the general welfare of the public. 
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SEC. 5. Nature of CPE Programs. - The CPE programs shall consist of properly 
14 
planned and structured educational activities, the implementation of which requires the 
15 
participation of a determined group of professionals to meet the requirements of maintaining 
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and improving the occupational, technical and ethical standards of professions. These shall 
17 
include but not be limited to the following: 
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a. Trainings and seminars to enhance the practice of profession; 
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b. Conduct of conventions of accredited professional organizations; 
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c. Academic Post Graduate Degree Programs; 
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d. Self-Directed learning packages such as the preparation and authorship of 
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technical papers, teaching manuals and books; and 
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e. Technical tours and workshops; 
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f. 
Professional exchange programs. 
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SEC. 6. Program Implementation. -
The over-all implementation of the CPE 
27 
Program shall be undertaken by the PRC and the PRB for each profession which shall: 
28 
a. formulate and review of CPE Program in each of the regulated professions; 
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b. formulate, adopt and promulgate guidelines and procedures for the implementation 
2 
of the CPE Program; 
3 
c. organize CPE Councils for each of the regulated professions and promulgate 
4 
guidelines for their operation; and 
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d. coordinate with concerned government agencies and private organizations in the 
6 
implementation of CPE Program and other measures provided under this Act. 
7 
8 
SEC. 7. CPE Council. - There is hereby created a CPE Council in every regulated 
9 
profession which shall be under the supervision of the Professional Regulatory Board and 
10 
shall be composed of a Chairman and two (2) Members. 
II 
The Chairman of each of the CPE Councils shall be the Chairman of the PRE; the first 
12 
member shall be the President or Officer of the APO; and the second member shall be the 
13 
President or Officer of the national organization of deans or the department chairman of 
14 
schools, colleges or universities offering the course of the regulated profession, and in case of 
15 
the absence of this organization, the second member shall be appointed by PRC chosen from 
16 
the recommendees of the PRB of the professionals from the academic sector. 
17 
The term of office of the Chairman and Members of the CPE Council shall be co-
18 
terminus with their respective term of office in the PRE, APO and the national organization of 
19 
deans and department chainnan of schools, colleges or universities. 
20 
The PRE shall also determine the CPE council's budget, including travel expenses, 
21 
allowances and per diems when attending official CPE council meetings or attending to 
22 
matters assigned to them. 
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SEC. 8. Functions of the CPE Council. - The CPE Council for each profession shaH 
25 
have the following functions: 
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a. evaluate and approve applications for accreditation of CPE providers; 
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b. evaluate and approve application for accreditation of CPE programs, activities or 
28 
sources as to their relevance to the profession and determine the number of CPE 
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1 
credit units (CUs) to be earned on the basis of the contents of the program, activity 
2 
or resource submitted by the CPE providers; 
3 
c. evaluate and approve applications from exemption from CPE requirements; 
4 
d. monitor the implementation of the CPE providers of their program, activities and 
5 
resources; 
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e. Periodically access and upgrade criteria for accreditation of CPE providers and 
7 
CPE programs, activities and resources; and 
8 
f. 
Perform such other functions that may be necessary, desirable and incidental to the 
9 
proper implementation and execution ofCPE programs and policies. 
10 
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SEC. 9. Secretariat. - A CPE Council Secretariat is hereby created under the PRC, 
12 
which shall be headed by an Executive Director to be appointed by the Chairman ofPRC. The 
13 
CPE Council secretariat shall provide technical, administrative and operational support to the 
14 
CPE Councils and the PRB in the implementation of CPE programs. 
15 
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SEC. 10. CPE as a Mandatory Requirement in the Renewal of Professional License 
17 
and in the Accreditation System for the Practice of Professions. - The CPE for every 
18 
professional registered under the PRC is hereby declared a mandatory requirement in the 
19 
renewal of professional license and in the accreditation system for the practice of professions. 
20 
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SEC. 11. Applications and Incentives. - CPE credit units earned by a professional 
22 
may be applied as equivalent to the training requirements for promotion in positions in 
23 
government agencies and private firms and in teaching positions in academic institutions. 
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SEC. 12. Role of the Accredited Professional Organization. - The APO shall assist 
26 
the PRC and PRB in the implementation of the CPE Program and for this purpose, organize a 
27 
CPE Committee ofthe APO. 
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SEC. 13. Role of Concerned Government Agencies and tlte Private Sector. - All 
2 
concerned government agencies and private firms and organizations employing professionals 
3 
shall include the CPE as part of their human resource development plan and program and 
4 
allocate the necessary funding requirement for the attendance of their professionals in CPE 
5 
programs. 
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SEC. 14. Funding. - ( a) The amount necessary to carry out this Act shall be 
8 
incorporated under the appropriation of the Professional Regulation Commission in the 
9 
General Appropriations Act; and (b) The annual funding requirement for the implementation 
10 
of this Act shall be sourced from the annual income of the PRC. 
11 
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SEC. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -
The PRC together with the 
13 
Professional Regulatory Boards in consultation with the APOs shall promulgate the rules and 
14 
regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this Act within six months upon the 
15 
enactment ofthereof. 
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SEC. 16. Separability Clause. - The provisions of this Act are hereby declared 
18 
separable, and if any clause, sentence, provision or section hereof, should be declared invalid, 
19 
such invalidity shall not affect the other proviSions of this Act which can be given force and 
20 
effect without the provisions which have been declared invalid. 
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SEC. 17. Repealing Clause. -
All laws, decrees, executive orders and other 
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administrative issuances and parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this 
24 
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 18. Effectivity. _. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
27 
in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
6