Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT  
PROVIDING A MECHANISM FOR FREE PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATIONS AND OTHER 
PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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 is the fees they need to pay to 
take these professional examinations. To a regular graduate, the schedule 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 for better employment for those 
qualified indigents. This measure seeks to exempt them from paying the examination fees for 
government-administered professional examinations. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
September 1, 2022
9:40 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT  
PROVIDING A MECHANISM FOR FREE PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATIONS AND OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – “This Act shall be known as the ''Free Professional Examinations 
Act”. 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the declared policy of the State to promote full employment 
and to provide equal opportunities for employment for all. The 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 that we may afford 
the poor access to mechanisms that may expand opportunities for better employment. 
Sec. 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 leading to the issuance of a professional license. It
shall also include examinations conducted by the Civil Service Commission 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 Indigent” refers to a person who has no visible means of income or support, or
whose income is insufficient for the subsistence or basic needs of his family, as may be
determined by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Sec. 4. Requirements for Availment. – For purposes of availing of the benefits of this Act, an 
examinee shall secure a certification from the DSWD that he/she is a qualified indigent. Such 
certification shall be presented to the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC), the Civil Service 
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Commission (CSC), or the Supreme Court of the Philippines as the case may be, instead of the 
payment of examination fees. 
 
No other fee shall be charged against the qualified indigent for purposes of the professional 
examination. 
 
Sec. 5. Limitations on Availment. – Benefits of this Act may be availed of only by a qualified 
indigent once every year. 
 
Sec. 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), are hereby mandated to conduct an annual IEC campaign to inform the people of 
the procedures and guidelines in availing the benefits of this Act. 
 
Sec. 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. 
 
The report shall state in detail, among others, the geographic location, demographic 
characteristics, and socioeconomic profile of the beneficiaries of this Act. 
 
Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). – Within ninety (90) days from the 
date of effectivity of this Act, the DSWD, PRC, CSC, and the Supreme Court of the Philippines 
shall formulate the necessary rules and regulations for the proper and effective implementation 
of the provisions of this Act. 
 
Sec. 9. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, 
the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. – Any law, decree, ordinance, or administrative circular not 
consistent with any provision of this Act is hereby amended, repealed, or modified accordingly. 
 
Sec. 11. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
publication in the Official Gazette or two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,