NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
S. No.
SENATE
2631
24 APR 15 A 9 31
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A FIVE-YEAR VALIDITY PERIOD OF THE PROFESSIONAL 
IDENTIFICATION CARDS OF ALL PROFESSIONALS UNDER THE 
PROFESSIONAL REGULATION COMMISSION
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) was created by virtue of 
Presidential Decree No. 223 (PD No. 223) and among the powers of the Commission 
was to keep and maintain a register of professionals, issuing certificates of registration 
or licenses to the same. In 1977, pursuant to Letter of Instruction No. 567, the PRC 
started issuing registration cards valid for three (3) years. On 05 December 2000 
Republic Act No. 8981 otherwise known as the PRC Modernization Act of 2000 was 
enacted into law, repealing PD No. 223, as amended and empowered the PRC to admit 
successful examinees to the practice of the profession or occupation, register their 
names in its registry book and computerized database, and issue certificates of 
registration and professional license. The PRC was likewise given the authority to 
determine and fix the amount of fees to be charged and collected for the exams, 
registrations, and professional identification cards, among others. At present 
Professional Identification Cards (PICs) still have a validity period of three (3) years 
for all professions and are renewable during the birth month of the professional.
Renewal of PICs are done initially through the online services of the PRC to 
secure an appointment. The renewal fees of PICs with a validity of three years range


from P420.00 to P450.00, with professions requiring non-baccalaureate degree at 
P140.00 per year or a total of P420.00 for three years (3) years, and for professions 
requiring baccalaureate degree at P150.00 per year or a total of P450.00 for three (3) 
years. A surcharge of P28.00 for non-baccalaureate degree and P30.00 for 
baccalaureate-degree is added if the PIC of the professional is renewed twenty (20) 
days after their birth month.
Professionals have encountered issues in securing an appointment through the 
online services of the PRC, with some having to resort to a farther PRC satellite office 
or service center from their residence or place of work which have an available slot 
for their preferred renewal date. While the issuance of the PIC on site does not take 
very long, since renewals can only be on weekdays, professionals who would have to 
renew at a farther PRC office or service center may have to take a minimum of half a 
day off to process their PICs.
This bill seeks to extend the validity of the PICs from three (3) to five (5) years. 
This will be beneficial as this will reduce the number of annual renewal transactions, 
thereby alleviating the strain in securing an appointment at the professionals' 
preferred date and satellite office or service center. Furthermore, this will reduce the 
expenses entailed in renewing the PIC and will provide professionals more time to 
undertake their Continuing Professional Development compliance.
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
3IWGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session
S. No.
)
SENATE
2631
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24 |\PR 15 A 9 31
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Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejerdto Estrada
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A FIVE-YEAR VALIDITY PERIOD OF THE PROFESSIONAL 
IDENTIFICATION CARDS OF ALL PROFESSIONALS UNDER THE 
PROFESSIONAL REGULATION COMMISSION
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Extension of the Validity of the Professional Identification Cards
2 
issued by the Professional Regulation Commission. - All Professional Identification
3 
Cards (PICs) issued by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) shall be valid
4 
for five (5) years, subject to the compiiance with all the legal and procedural
5 
requirements for its issuance.
6 
The Information and Communication Technology Service of the PRC and other
7 
concerned offices and divisions shall complete the necessary systems enhancements
8 
and other administrative processes, including the finaiization of the revised
9 
assessment of application and renewal fees.
10 
.; Sec. 2. Fees. - Reasonable fees shall be collected for the processing and
11 
issuance of PICs: Provided, That application and renewal fees shall not be increased
12 
more than once every three (3) years.
13 
Sec. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the
14 
approval of this Act, the PRC shall promulgate and issue the rules and regulations to
15 
effectively implement the provisions of this Act.
16 
Sec. 4. Separability Clause. - Should any provision herein be declared
17 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.


1 
Sec. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
2 
other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
3 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
4 
Sec. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
5 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,