evausun

14
15

16
7

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )

Third Regular Session )
SENATE 18 UN 20 P1:22
s.no._1853 tex. Sp

Introduced by SENATOR LEILA M. DE LIMA

AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION 10 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10912, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE “CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACT
OF 2016”

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Constitution, Article XII, Section 14, provides:

Section 14, The sustained development of a reservoir of national
talents consisting of Filipino scientists, entrepreneurs, professionals,
managers, high-level technical manpower and skilled workers and
craftsmen in all fields shall be promoted by the State. The State shall
encourage appropriate technology and regulate its transfer for the
national benefit. The practice of all professions in the Philippines shall
be limited to Filipino citizens, save in cases prescribed by law.

When Republic Act No. 10912, otherwise known as the Continuing Professional
Development Act of 2016 (R.A. No. 10912), was enacted, the intent was to make our
professionals more competitive. However, what was originally a well-meaning
legislation has turned out to be a costly bureaucratic nightmare for both the
Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) and the licensed professionals.

The implementing rules of R.A. No. 10912 required the following credit units
for the following professionals for every three (3) years of compliance period:

1, Accountancy — 120 credit units
2. Aeronautical Engineering — 45 credit units
3. Agricultural Engineering — 45 credit units



eo eVvanueune

1
12
13
14
15
16
7
18
19
20
2a
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34

4. Agriculture - 45 credit units

5. Architecture — 45 credit units

6. Chemical Engineering — 45 credit units
7. Chemistry — 45 credit units

8. Civil Engineering — 45 credit units

9. Criminology — 45 credit units

10. Customs Brokers — 45 credit units

11. Dentistry — 60 credit units

12. Electrical Engineering — 45 credit units
13. Electronics Engineering — 45 credit units
14. Environmental Planning — 45 credit units
15. Fisheries — 45 credit units

16. Forestry — 45 credit units

17. Geodetic Engineering — 45 credit units
18. Geology — 45 credit units

19. Guidance and Counseling — 45 credit units
20.Interior Design — 45 credit units

21. Landscape Architecture — 45 credit units
22. Librarian — 45 credit units

23. Master Plumber ~ 30 credit units

24. Mechanical Engineering — 45 credit units
25. Midwifery — 45 credit units

26.Mining Engineering — 45 credit units

27. Naval Architecture - 45 credit units
28.Nursing — 45 credit units

29.Nutrition and Dietetics — 45 credit units
30.Occupational Therapy — 45 credit units
31. Optometry — 45 credit units

32. Pharmacy — 45 credit units

33. Physical Therapy — 45 credit units

34. Professional Teachers — 45 credit units
35. Psychology — 45 credit units

36. Radiologic Technology — 45 credit units
37. Real Estate Service — 45 credit units



we ene

ware

10
ote
12
13

14
15
16
7
18

19
20

21
22
23

24
25
26
27

28
29
30

38.Respiratory Therapy — 45 credit units
39. Sanitary Engineering — 45 credit units
40.Social Work — 45 credit units

41. Veterinary Medicine — 45 credit units

The cost of some Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programs can be
as low as PHP 2,500 for a 15-unit module for Real Estate Brokers to as high as PHP
20,384 for a 100-unit program for Certified Public Accountants. The costs can be even
higher for highly specialized professions with few training providers.

To ease the costs, the PRC has provided alternative modes of getting the credit
units such as accrediting in-company training for professional companies, granting
credit units for self-directed trainings, higher education, and participation in
accredited professional activities.

However, even granting that the cost of training is free, the professionals still
need to devote time, away from work, to attend trainings, gather the proper
documentation, and apply with the PRC to have the units credited. That translates to
added costs for professionals who will lose income opportunities just to navigate
through the bureaucratic processes required by the present law.

This can be even more problematic for professionals who practice away from
the cities or abroad as the cost of compliance is even higher and more prohibitive.

It should be noted that a significant number of these professionals earn only
just above the minimum salary. To impose too heavy a burden on CPD credit units
upon them is tantamount to a significant deprivation of their income.

On the part of the government, implementing this program represent a high
cost in terms of providing the personnel who will process the accreditation and
verification of required documentation. By simplifying the process we can minimize
the cost for our taxpayers.

The PRC should take into consideration these costs when determining the
required units and balance the same to the public interest in maintaining the
standards for our professionals.



ween

earn

10
1
12

The lawyers are required 36 units of Mandatory Continuing Legal Education
(MCLE) for every three-year compliance period. The MCLE is a simplified process
where lawyers can attend a four-day training program once every three years where
the provider handles the bureaucratic requirements. The PRC can use this as a
guidance to ease the burden among our professionals.

Beyond requiring certified training by legislation, we can look into collaborating
with private professional organizations to augment the state-required trainings to
ensure that all necessary knowledge are disseminated among their members. By doing
so, we can significantly reduce the bureaucratic costs of complying with the CPD law.

This bill provides a cap for the CPD credit units which may be required by the
PRC in order to moderate the burden upon the professionals who are already serving
our country by practicing their professions for the benefit of our countrymen.

Pe rertneer Cr
ILA M. DE Li



w

ey awe

10
un

12
13
14
15

16
17

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) te

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )

Third Regular Session ) ,
18 JUN 20 P1 22

SENATE
s.NO. 1853 Ra ee +

Introduced by SENATOR LEILA M. DE LIMA.

AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION 10 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10912, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE “CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACT
OF 2016”

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

Section 1. Section 10 of Republic Act No. 10912, otherwise known as the
“Continuing Professional Development Act of 2016” (R.A. 10912) is hereby
amended to read as follows:

Section 10. CPD as Mandatory Requirement in the Renewal of
Professional License and Accreditation System for the Practice of
Professions. - The CPD is hereby made as a mandatory requirement in
the renewal of the PICs of all registered and licensed professionals under
the regulation of the PRC.

HOWEVER, NO MORE THAN THIRTY SIX (36) CREDIT UNITS PER
PROFESSION MAY BE REQUIRED FOR EVERY THREE YEAR
COMPLIANCE PERIOD.

Sec. 2. Implementing rules. - Within one hundred and eight days (180) days
from the effectivity of this Act, the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC),
in consultation with all Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Councils,
shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act.

Sec. 3, Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees,
presidential proclamations, letters of instruction, rules and regulations or parts



thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed
or modified accordingly.

Sec. 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not affected thereby
shall continue to be in full force and effect.

Sec. 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation
in the Philippines.

Approved,