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Republic of the Philippines 2 UL 04 209
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HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1520

HOUSE BILL No.

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Introduced by REPRESENTATIVES ALFREDO A. GARBIN, Jr. and
ELIZALDY S. CO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The passage of this bill seeks to amend the RA 8981 or the Professional
Regulation Commission (PRC) Modernization Act of 2000, by increasing the powers of
the PRC to regulate the establishment and operation of licensure examination review
centers and similar entities.

The State has the mandate to protect the right of all citizens to quality education
at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make education accessible to all
(Section 1, Article XIV of the1987 Constitution). Pursuant to this provision, the State has
the obligation to ensure and promote quality education through the proper supervision
and regulation of the licensure examinations given through the various Boards of
Examiners under the Professional Regulation Commission.

At present, there exists no regulatory framework or mechanism that oversees
and administers the establishment and operation of review centers and similar entities
The recent cases of cheating, fraud, and estafa involving review centers have led to
unfavorable effects to the various professions, students, professionals, and the public
interest and welfare, in general.

There is a prevailing need to protect the public against substandard review
centers and unethical practices committed by some review centers. This can only be
achieved through a regulatory framework by the PRC, which is best equipped in
enforcing the establishment and operation of review centers and similar entities

The bill was filed in the 15" Congress but for lack of time, its progress was halted
at the committee level. In light of all these circumstances, the swift passage of this bill is
eamestly sought.

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1520

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVES ALFREDO A. GARBIN, Jr. and
ELIZALDY S. CO

AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 7 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8981, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE PRC MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2000, PROVIDING FOR THE
INCLUSION IN THE PRG POWERS, FUNCTIONS, AND RESPONSIBILITIES THE
REGULATION OF THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF LICENSURE
EXAMINATION REVIEW CENTERS AND SIMILAR ENTITIES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 7 of the Republic Act No. 8981 is hereby amended to read as
follows.

“Sec. 7. Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of the Commission. ~ The
powers, functions, and responsibilities of the Commission are as follows

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(qg) TO DEVELOP A FRAMEWORK FOR THE REGULATION OF REVIEW
CENTERS AND SIMILAR ENTITIES, WHICH CONDUCT REVIEW COURSES ON
LICENSING OF THE VARIOUS PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS UNDER
PRC JURISDICTION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE FORMULATION
AND ESTABLISHMENT OF POLICIES, STANDARDS, AND RULES FOR THE
ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF REVIEW CENTERS AND SIMILAR

ENTITIES;

(r) TO ISSUE ACCREDITION TO APPLICANT REVIEW CENTERS AND
SIMILAR ENTITIES FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS; NO REVIEW CENTER
OR SIMILAR ENTITIES SHALL BE ESTABLISHED AND/OR OPERATE REVIEW
CLASSES WITHOUT THE ISSUANCE OF THE NECESSARY PERMITS OR
AUTHORIZATIONS TO CONDUCT REVIEW CLASSES;

(s) TO SUPERVISE, MONITOR, AND EVALUATE THE COMPETENCE,
TRANSPARENCY, PERFORMANCE, AND ETHICAL PRACTICES OF THE
OPERATIONS OF REVIEW CENTERS AND SIMILAR ENTITIES:

[a] (t) To implement the program for the full computerization of ail licensure
examinations given by the various professional regulatory boards including the
registration of professionals not later than the year 2003 and other operations of the
Commission;


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[(1)] (u) To investigate and decide administrative matters involving officers
and employees under the jurisdiction of the Commission;

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LUs)1(v) To investigate motu proprio or upon the filing of a verified cor
any member of the Professional Regulatory Boards for neglect of duty
incompetence, unprofessional, unethical, immoral or dishonourable conduct,
commission of irregularities in the licensure examinations which taint or impugn the
integrity and authenticity of the results of the said examinations and, if found guilty,
to revoke or suspend their certificates of registration and professional
licenses/identification cards and to recommend to the President of the Philippines
their suspension or removal from office as the case may be;

[(t)]_(w) To issue summons, subpoena and subpoena duces tecum in
connection with the investigation of cases against officials and employees of the
Commission and the members of the Professional Regulatory Boards:

[w)L (x) To hold in contempt in erring party or person only upon application
with a court of competent jurisdiction;

Lv) (y) To call upon or request any department, instrumentality, office
bureau, institution or agency of the government including local government units to
render such assistance as it may require, or to coordinate or cooperate in order to
carry out, enforce or implement the professional regulatory policies of the
government or any program or activity it may undertake pursuant to the provisions of

this Act;

[Ww)1_(z) To initiate an investigation, upon complaint under oath by an
aggrieved party, of any person, whether a private individual or professional, local or
foreign, who practices the regulated profession or occupation without being
authorized by law, or without being registered with and licensed by the concerned
regulatory board and issued the corresponding license/professional identification
card or temporary or special permit, or who commits any of the prohibited acts
provided in the regulatory laws of the various professions, which acts are criminal in
nature, and if the evidence so warrants, to forward the records of the case to the
office of the city or provincial prosecutor for the filing of the corresponding
information in court by the lawyers of the legal services of the Commission who may
prosecute said case/s upon being deputized by the Secretary of Justice:

[0] (aa) To prepare an annual report of accomplishments on the programs
projects and activities of the Commission during the year for submission to Congress
after the close of its calendar year and make appropriate recommendations on
issues and/or problems affecting the Commission, the Professional Regulatory
Board, and the various professions under its jurisdiction; and

[(v)L(bb) To perform such other functions and duties as may be necessary to
carry out the provisions of this Act, the various professional regulatory laws,
decrees, executive orders and other administrative issuance.

SECTION 2. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within ninety (90) days after the
approval of this amendment, the PRC shall prepare and promulgate the necessary rules
and regulations needed to implement the amendatory provisions.


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SECTION 3. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication in at least one (1) newspaper of general circulation

Approved.