Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by REP. JOSE FRANCISCO “KIKO” B. BENITEZ, Ph.D. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Professionals play an important role in nation-building, providing essential or basic 
services that underpin the safety, health, welfare and development of our communities. 
Accordingly, Sec. 14, Art. XII of the Constitution mandates the State to promote the 
development of Filipino professionals. The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) was 
established for this purpose – to ensure the competence and competitiveness of Filipino 
professionals. Under Republic Act No. 8981, the PRC is to regulate the practice of professions 
by conducting licensure examinations, and certifying and registering successful examinees. 
Under the same law, the PRC is also authorized to create regional offices to perform its 
functions. Currently, the Regional Office of the PRC for Western Visayas is located in Iloilo 
City. The PRC Regional Office VI supervises four (4) off-site Service Centers - three (3) in 
Iloilo City and one (1) in Bacolod City - that process applications for licensure examinations, 
issuance of identification cards, and certification and authentication. 
Iloilo City hosts a total of four (4) PRC offices that serve applicants for licensure 
examinations, and licensed professionals in the entire Panay and Guimaras, and its 4.7 million 
population – or a PRC office for every 1.2 million people. Meanwhile, Negros Occidental, 
including Bacolod City, and its 3.2 million population only has one (1) PRC office.   
The growing demand for PRC services arising from an increasing population and number 
of college graduates1 thus necessitate the establishment of at least one (1) additional Service 
Center in Negros Occidental.  
A PRC Service Center in Victorias City will decongest the workload of PRC Service 
Center in Bacolod City, and will benefit not only the Third District of Negros Occidental but 
also local government units in the north of the province. This will enhance efficiency in the 
processing of applications. This will make transactions faster, and will lower travel cost for 
PRC clients. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
JOSE FRANCISCO “KIKO” B. BENITEZ, Ph.D. 
1  From  50,246  college  degree  holders  in  2000  to  171,339  in  2015,  according  to  the  Philippine  Statistics  
Authority.  
July 26, 2022
1:20 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by REP. JOSE FRANCISCO “KIKO” B. BENITEZ, Ph.D. 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING 
A 
PROFESSIONAL 
REGULATION 
COMMISSION 
(PRC) 
SERVICE CENTER IN THE CITY OF VICTORIAS, PROVINCE OF NEGROS 
OCCIDENTAL, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. There shall be established a Service Center of the Professional Regulation 
Commission (PRC) in the City of Victorias, Province of Negros Occidental. 
SEC. 2. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Chairperson of the 
PRC shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement its provisions. 
SEC. 3. The Chairperson of the PRC shall immediately include in the Commission's 
programs the operationalization of the PRC Service Center in the City of Victorias, the funding 
of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official 
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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