EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
276
S. No.
tD llirr o( ilic i: 
i
'19 JUL-8 P2 51
Introduced by SENATOR MANUEL''LTrO" M. LAPID 
reCHIVELi L;
AN ACT
PROVIDING A MECHANISM FOR FREE PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATIONS AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
Education is a key driver of socio-economic development. With the recently passed 
Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, the youth has now been given a chance 
at having a better future by being able to acquire a college degree.
Furthermore, better employment opportunities await those graduates who are 
holding a professional license. The grant of professional license is only extended to select 
individuals who shall undergo specific examinations prescribed by the law.
Thus, another hindrance for graduates from poor Filipino families are the fees they 
need to pay in order to take these professional examinations. To a regular graduate, the 
schedule of fees required to take the examination are minimal but to some, particularly 
indigents who finished their degrees without spending a dime as scholars or as students in 
state-run institutions, the fees may seem restrictive that they would forego taking the 
examination altogether for lack of funds to pay the exam fees.
With this, the Government should open up more opportunities to a better 
employment for those qualified indigents. This measure seeks to exempt them from paying 
the examination fees to government administered professional examinations.
Early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
EL "Lin 0 " M. LAPID
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
i i u i ' ' 
of riK ^■r'';rr,: ' i'
S E N A T E  
S. No. 
2 7 6
•19 J li-8  P2 51
RECEiVED BY;
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
f
AN ACT
PROVIDING A MECHANISM FOR FREE PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATIONS
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it  enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Free Professional
2 
Examinations Act".
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to promote
4 
full employment and to provide equai opportunities for employment for all. Corollary
5 
to this is the concomitant responsibility of the state to ensure that there are no
6 
inroads that may effectiveiy hinder the professional growth of the citizens.
7 
Furthermore, it is the policy of the State to promote a just and dynamic social
8 
order that will free the people from poverty through policies and programs that
9 
provide adequate social services and improve the quality of life for all. In this regard,
10 
efforts should be initiated so as we may afford the poor access to mechanisms that
11 
may expand opportunities for better employment.
12 
Sec. 3. Definition o f Terms. - As provided for in this Act;
13 
a) 
"Professional Examination^' 
shaii 
refer to 
the 
iicensure 
examinations
14 
conducted by Professional Regulations Commission leading to the issuance of
15 
a professionai iicense. It shall also include examinations conducted by the
16 
Civii Service Commission leading to eligibility for employment to the


1 
government as a civil service professional or sub- professionals and the Bar
2 
Examinations conducted by the Supreme Court of the Philippines.
3 
b) "Qualified Indigent' refers to a person who has no visible means of income or
4 
support, or whose income is insufficient for the subsistence or basic needs of
5 
his family, as may be determined by the Department of Social Welfare and
6 
Development (DSWD).
7 
Sec. 4. Requirements fo r Avaiiment - For purposes of availing of the benefits
8 
of this Act, an examinee shall secure a certification from the DSWD that he/she is a
9 
qualified 
indigent. 
Such certification shall 
be 
presented to the Professional
10 
Regulations Commission (PRC), the Civil Service Commission (CSC) or the Supreme
11 
Court of the Philippines as the case maybe, in lieu of the payment of examination
12 
fees.
13 
|vj0 other fee shall be charged against the qualified indigent for purposes of
14 
the professional examination.
15 
Sec. 5. Limitations on Avaiim ent Benefits of this Act may be availed of only
16 
by a qualified indigent once for every year.
17 
Sec. 6. Information, Education and Communication (iEC) Campaign. - The
18 
DSWD, PRC, CSC and the Supreme Court of the Philippines, in cooperation with the
19 
Philippine Information Agency (PIA), is hereby mandated to conduct an annual IEC
20 
campaign in order to inform the people of the procedures and guidelines in availing
21 
the benefits of this Act.
22 
Sec. 
7. 
Reportoriai Requirement 
- 
For purposes of determining the
23 
effectiveness and social impact of the provisions of this Act, the DSWD, PRC, CSC
24 
and the Supreme Court of the Philippines shall submit an annual report to both
25 
Houses of Congress indicating therewith the number of parties who benefited from
26 
this Act.


1 
The report shall state in detail, among others, the geographic location,
2 
demographic characteristics and socioeconomic profile of the beneficiaries of this
3 
Act.
4 
Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within ninety (90) days
5 
from the date of effectivity of this Act, the DSWD, PRC, CSC and the Supreme Court
6 
of the Phiiippines shaii formulate the necessary rules and regulations for the proper
7 
and effective implementation of the provisions of this Act.
8 
Sec. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
9 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not affected by such deciaration shall
10 
remain in fuil force and effect.
11 
Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, decree, ordinance or administrative
12 
circular not consistent with any provision of this Act is hereby amended, repealed or
13 
modified accordingiy.
14 
Sec. 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
15 
its complete publication in the Officiai Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of generai
16 
circuiation.
17
Approved,