NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Third Regular Session 
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SENATE
s. No. 2884
r;
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7836, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
THE 'PHILIPPINE TEACHERS PROFESSIONALIZATION ACT OF 1994' AS 
AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9293
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Republic Act No. 7836 or the Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994 
was enacted in recognition of the "vital role of teachers in nation-building and 
development through a responsible and literate citizenry" In fulfilling this objective, 
the law established the Board for Professional Teachers (Board), under the 
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), which is tasked to regulate and supervise 
the teaching profession through the licensure examination and teacher 
professionalization.
The teachers are considered as the largest group of professionals. Of which, 
more than 850,000 are employed in the public school system. They play a role not 
only in the nurturing of the minds of the youth, but also, in the bigger scheme of 
things, in the shaping of the future of this nation.
Acknowledging the significance of this role, it is imperative that teachers, similar 
to all professionals, be accorded with opportunities for professional development to 
improve their skills. For it cannot be denied, that the professional gains of our teachers 
ultimately redound to the benefit of the Filipino youth on whose hands the Philippines 
of tomorrow rely.


Through the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) administered by the PRC 
and the Board the level of preparedness of future educators is defined. However, data 
from Philippine Institute for Deveiopment Studies shows that LET performance has 
been dismal - with the average passing rate at 33% and 40% for elementary and 
secondary levels, respectively. Correspondingly, a number of studies have emphasized 
that teacher effectiveness is the "most important school-based predictor of student 
learning." Considering all of these contexts, there is more opportune time than now 
to revisit the "Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994".
This measure seeks to amend Republic Act No. 7836 or the Philippine Teachers 
Professionalization Act, as amended by Republic Act No. 9293, by extending the 
responsibility to nominate members of the Board of Professional Teachers to Teachers 
Education Council, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, among 
others. It likewise tasks the PRC to issue appropriate rules in order to address conflict 
of interest in the conduct of licensure examinations, including releasing of results.
Furthermore, under this measure, additional qualifications will be implemented 
for those who will take the LET. Once enacted into law, those who fail in the licensure 
exam will be required to take a refresher course.
In view of ensuring that the existing policy on teacher professionalization is 
aligned with the current context, the passage of this measure is hereby earnestly 
sought.
RAMONN^NG REVILLA, JR^


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
Third Regular Session 
)
2- ;l
SENATE
S. No. 2884
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7836, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
THE 'PHILIPPINE TEACHERS PROFESSIONALIZATION ACT OF 1994' AS 
AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9293
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Section 5 of Republic Act No. 7836 is hereby amended as follows:
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"SEC. 5. Creation and Composition of the Board. - There is hereby
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created under this Act a Board for Professional Teachers, hereinafter called the
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Board, a collegial body under the general supervision and administrative control
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of the Professional Regulation Commission, hereinafter referred to as the
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Commission, composed of five (5) members who shall be appointed by the
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President of the Philippines from among the recommendees chosen by the
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Commission.
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The recommendees, WHO MUST POSSESS THE QUALIFICATION
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STIPULATED IN SECTION 3 OF THIS ACT, shall be chosen from the list of
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nominees [selected by] SCREENED, EVALUATED AND SHORTLISTED BY
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THE TEACHER EDUCATION COUNCIL (TEC), DEPARTMENT OF
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EDUCATION (DEPED), COORDINATING COUNCIL OF PRIVATE
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EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS (COCOPEA), COMMISSION ON
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HIGHER EDUCATION (CHED), ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL COLLEGES
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AND UNIVERSITIES (ALCU), PHILIPPINE ASSOCIATION OF STATE


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UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES (PASUC), AN ACCREDITED 
ASSOCIATION OF TEACHERS, AND AN ASSOCIATION OF TEACHER 
EDUCATION STUDENTS [and accrGditcd association of teachers, who duly 
poGGGss aH the qualifications pr-eser-ibod in Section 8 of this Act.]
"THE FINAL LIST OF NOMINEES SHALL BE MADE PUBLIC AND 
POSTED IN THE WEBSITE OF THE COMMISSION."
"The chairperson and the vice-chairperson of the Board shall be 
appointed from these five (5) members by the President: Provided, That the 
members of the first Board appointed under this Act shall be automatically 
registered as professional teachers and issued with the certificate of registration 
and professional license upon payment of the fees for examination, registration, 
and other fees prescribed by the Commission."
Sec. 2. Section 7 of the same Act is hereby amended as follows:
"SEC. 7. Term of Office. - The members of the Board shall hold office for 
a term of three (3) years from the date they assume office: Provided, That the 
[first oppointcGG to the Board under this Act shall hold office according to the
following terms: one (1) mombor shall servo for one (t->year; one (1) mombor
fer- two (2) years; the chairman, vice chairman, and one (1) membeF-for three
(3) years.] CHAIRPERSON SHALL NOT BE REAPPOINTED.
Vacancies shall be served for the unexpired term only. No person who 
has served AS MEMBER OF THE BOARD for two (2) consecutive terms shall 
be eligible for reappointment. Appointment to fill an unexpired term shall be 
considered an appointment to a complete term.
XXX"
Sec. 3. Section 8 of Republic Act No. 7836 is hereby amended as follows:


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"SEC. 8. Qualifications of Board Members. - Each Board member must 
at his OR HER appointment:
"(a) Be a citizen and resident of the Philippines;
"(b) Be at least thirty-five (35) years of age, of proven integrity, and possessed 
of high moral values in his OR HER personal as well as professional conduct 
and has not been convicted of any offense involving moral turpitude;
"(c) Be a holder of [the dcgroe-of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of ScioncG in 
Education and preferably a holder of a master's or doctorate degree in
education, or their oquivalonts,] AT LEAST A MASTER'S DEGREE, 
PREFERABLY EARNED A DOCTORATE DEGREE, IN EDUCATION OR 
ALLIED FIELDS, from a [university, school, college, academy or institute duly 
constituted, recognized and/or accredited by the Philippine government;]
DULY RECOGNIZED AND ACCREDITED EDUCATION INSTITUTION BY 
THE GOVERNMENT;
"(d) Be a professional teacher with a valid certificate of registration and valid 
professional license, save those members who shall compose the first Board for 
Professional Teachers;
"(e) Has been a professional teacher in the active practice of the teaching 
profession for at least ten (10) years in the elementary [and] OR secondary
LEVELS OR A FACULTY IN A TEACHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS 
FOR AT LEAST TEN (10) YEARS; and
"(f) Not be an official or member of the faculty of, nor have pecuniary interest 
in any university, college, school, or institution conferring a bachelor's degree 
in education or its equivalents [-for at least three (3) years prior to his 
appointment,] and neither connected with a review center or with any group 
or association where review classes or lectures in preparation for the licensure 
examination are offered or conducted, NOR HAVE PECUNIARY INTEREST 
IN SUCH.
"PROVIDED, THAT THE COMMISSION SHALL ISSUE THE 
APPROPRIATE GOVERNING RULES ON THE PRACTICE OF MEMBERS 
OF THE BOARD TO ENSURE THAT NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST SHALL


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ARISE IN THEIR FUNCTIONS RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF THE 
LICENSURE EXAMINATION AND THE RELEASE OF THE RESULTS.
"Provided, [however]FURTHER, That the membership to the Board 
shall be evenly distributed to cover all levels of education, including equitable 
representation of the different fields of specialization.
"PROVIDED, FINALLY, THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD 
SHALL ALSO HAVE THE NECESSARY EXPERTISE IN IMPLEMENTING 
TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT ARE MANDATED BY CHED.r
Sec. 4. Section 13 of Republic Act No. 7836 is hereby amended as follows:
"SEC. 13. Examination, Registration and License Required. [Except as 
otherwise specifically allowed under the provisions of-thts Act, all applicants for
registration as professional teachers shall be required to undergo a written
examination which shall be given-at-teast once-a year in such places and dates
as the Board may determine upon approval by the Commission,-a valid
certificate of registration and a valid professional license from the Commission
are required before any person is allowed to practice as a professional teacher
tn-the Philippines, except as otherwise allowed under this Act.]
"APPLICANTS FOR REGISTRATION AS PROFESSIONAL 
TEACHERS SHALL BE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO:
"A WRITTEN LICENSURE EXAMINATION WHICH SHALL BE 
GIVEN AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR IN SUCH PLACES AND DATES AS THE 
BOARD MAY DETERMINE UPON APPROVAL BY THE COMMISSION. A 
WRITTEN EXAMINATION WILL BE REQUIRED FOR:
"(A) GRADUATES OF EDUCATION COURSES, CONSISTENT 
WITH SECTION 4 OF THIS ACT;
"(B) GRADUATES OF NON-EDUCATION COURSES WHO HAVE 
COMPLETED 18 UNITS OF CERTIFICATION IN PROFESSIONAL 
EDUCATION (CPE)."


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A VALID CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION AND A VALID
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PROFESSIONAL LICENSE FROM THE COMMISSION ARE REQUIRED
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BEFORE ANY PERSON IS ALLOWED TO PRACTICE AS A
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PROFESSIONAL TEACHER IN THE PHILIPPINES, EXCEPT AS
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OTHERWISE ALLOWED UNDER SECTION 8 OF R.A. NO. 10533, OR THE
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ENHANCED BASIC EDUCATION ACT OF 2013": PROVIDED, THAT THEY
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PASS THE LICENSURE EXAMINATION WITHIN THREE (3) YEARS
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FROM THE DATE OF HIRING."
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Sec 5. Section 15 of Republic Act No. 7836, as amended, is hereby further 26
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amended as follows:
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"SEC. 15. Qualification Requirements of Applicant. - No applicant shall
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be admitted to take the examination unless, on the date of the filing of the
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application, [ho or she] THE APPLICANT shall have complied with the
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following requirements:
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"(a) A citizen of the Philippines or an alien whose country has reciprocity
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with the Philippines in the practice of the teaching profession:
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"(b) At least eighteen (18) years of age;
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"(c) In good health and of good reputation with high moral values;
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"(d) Has not been convicted by final judgment by a court for an offense
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involving moral turpitude;
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"(e) A graduate of a school, college or university recognized by the
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government and possesses the minimum educational qualifications IN LINE
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WITH THE STANDARDIZED TEACHER 
EDUCATION CURRICULUM;
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AND [as follows:
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(1) For teachers in preschool, a bachelor's dogroo in early childhood
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education (BECED) or its equivalent;
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(2) For teachers in the elementary grades, a bachelor's degree in
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elementary education (BSEED) or its equivalent;
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(3) For teachers in the secondary grades, a bachelor's degree in
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education or its equivalent with a major and-minor, or a bachelor's degree in
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arts and sciences with at least eighteen (18> units in professional education;


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(4)-For teachers-of vocational and two-yGar technical courgos, a
bachelor's degree in the fidd of Gpccialization or its equivalent, with at least
eighteen (18) units in professional education;]
n(F) HAS COMPLETED A REFRESHER COURSE IN A CHED- 
RECOGNIZED TEACHER EDUCATION INSTITUTE, WITHIN ONE YEAR 
PRIOR TO THE DATE OF THE EXAMINATION FOR APPLICANTS WHO 
FAILED TO PASS THE LICENSURE EXAMINATION THREE (3) TIMES, 
BEFORE BEING ALLOWED TO RETAKE THE EXAMINATION."
Sec. 6. Section 16 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows:
"SEC. 16. RELEASE OF THE QUESTIONS AND Report of the Results
of the Examination. - THE BOARD SHALL, IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE 
EXAM ADMINISTRATION, RELEASE THE QUESTIONS, ANSWERS AND 
RELEVANT INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC."
THE EXAM SHALL BE VALIDATED THROUGH A THIRD-PARTY 
ASSESSMENT BEFORE AND AFTER ADMINISTRATION. ITEM 
ANALYSIS IS RECOMMENDED TO BE DONE AFTER EXAM 
ADMINISTRATION.
"ADDITIONALLY, the Board shall, within one hundred twenty (120) 
days after the examination, report the ratings obtained by each candidate by 
exam component to the Commission for approval and appropriate action.
"THE BOARD SHALL ALSO MAKE PUBLIC THE LICENSURE 
EXAMINATION PERFORMANCE OF SCHOOLS WITH A TEN (10) YEAR 
TRACK RECORD ANALYSIS."
Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within sixty (60) days 
from the effective date of this Act, the Professional Regulation Commission shall 
update its IRR necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.


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Sec. 8. Transitory Provision. - The Professional Regulation Commission and the
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Board of Professional Teachers shall update its existing policies and issuances relevant
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to this Act and ensure its alignment with the same within a period of six (6) months
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from the effectivity of this Act and report the same to Congress, through the Senate
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Committee on Higher Education and on the first year of its implementation.
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Sec. 9. Separabiiity Ciause. - If any part, section, or provision of this Act is held
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invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full
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force and effect.
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Sec 9. Repeaiing Ciause. - All laws, decrees, circulars, administrative orders,
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rules and regulations, and other issuances which are inconsistent with the provisions
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of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette ov in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,