REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
We have always believed that education is the foundation upon which one 
builds a future. Realizing this, the government has endeavored on ways to 
provide its youth with every opportunity to access free primary, secondary, and 
even tertiary education, so as to assure that the young will have greater chance 
to become professionals themselves. 
However, it should be realized that finishing school is not the be-all-end-
all to a promising career in an employment environment where title equates to 
proficiency. bears stressing that a college diploma does not confer one title but 
rather, it is after hurdling a professional examination may an individual claim to 
be a medical doctor, nurse, engineer, teacher or lawyer, among others. And these 
professional examinations come at a steep price particularly for those indigent 
students who may not afford the cost of a review, much less the fee required to 
undertake professional examination. 
For an indigent graduate who had pinned all hopes for a brighter future in 
this journey to a professional career, the government as the administrator of 
these professional examinations should not make this exercise of regulation a 
hindrance. For someone who may consider these examination fees restrictive, it 
should be afforded for free and with no dime for cost. In that manner, we can 
better assure that those who deserve and are qualified may proceed unhampered 
in their pursuit of a means that may eventually help them eke out of poverty. 
Early passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
MICHAEL L. ROMERO
September 26, 2022
8:35 am
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
AN ACT  
PROVIDING FOR FREE PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATIONS 
TO QUALIFIED INDIGENTS
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act shall be known as the "Free Professional 
Examinations Act." 
SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY. It is declared policy of the State to 
promote full employment and to provide equal opportunities for employment for 
all. 
Corollary to this is the concomitant responsibility of the State to ensure that 
there are no inroads that may effectively hinder the professional growth of the 
citizens. 
Furthermore, it is the policy of the State to promote a just and dynamic 
social order that will free the people from poverty through policies and programs 
that provide adequate social services, and improve the quality of life for all. In 
this regard, efforts should be initiated so as we may afford the poor access to 
mechanisms that may expand opportunities for better employment. 
SECTION 3. DEFINITION OF TERMS. As provided for in this Act: 
a) "Professional Examinations" shall refer to the licensure examinations
conducted by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC) leading to
the issuance of a professional license. It shall also include examinations
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conducted by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) leading to eligibility for 
employment to the government as a civil service professional or sub 
professionals and the Bar Examinations conducted by the Supreme Court 
of the Philippines. 
b) "Qualified Indigents" refers to a person who has no visible means of income 
or support, or whose income may not be sufficient for the subsistence or 
basic needs of his family, as may be determined by the Department of 
Social Welfare and Development (DSVVD). 
SECTION 4. REQUIREMENTS FOR AVAILMENT. For purposes of availing of the 
benefits of this Act, an examinee shall secure a certification as a qualified 
indigent from the DSNA|DSuch certification shall be presented to the 
Professional Regulations Commission (PRC), the Civil Service Commission (CSC) 
or the Supreme Court of the Philippines, as the case may be, in lieu of the 
payment of examination fees. 
No other fee shall be charged against the qualified indigent for purposes of 
the professional examination. 
SECTION 5. LIMITATIONS ON AVAILMENT. Benefits of this Act may be availed 
of by a qualified indigent only once for every year. 
SECTION 6. INFORMATION, EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION (IEC) 
CAMPAIGN. The DSWD, PRC, CSC and the Supreme Court of the Philippines, in 
cooperation with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), is hereby mandated to 
conduct an annual IEC campaign in order to inform the people of the procedures 
and guidelines in availing the benefits of this Act. 
SECTION 7. REPORTORIAL REQUIREMENT. For purposes of determining the 
effectiveness and social impact of the provisions of this Act, the DSWD, PRC, CSC 
and the Supreme Court of the Philippines shall submit an annual report to both 
Houses of Congress indicating therewith the number of parties who benefited 
from this Act. 
SECTION 8. REPEALING CLAUSE. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
regulations or other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions 
of this Act are hereby repealed and modified accordingly. 


SECTION 9. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. If any provision or part hereof is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of 
other provisions. 
SECTION 10. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general 
circulation. 
Approved,