REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

82

House Bill No.

Introduced by HONORABLE RAMON JOLO B. REVILLA III,
HONORABLE LANI MERCADO-REVILLA, and
HONORABLE BRYAN B. REVILLA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The right to pursue a dignified life through decent employment is a promise
that must be made accessible to all—regardless of social or economic
background. For many young Filipinos, passing a licensure or civil service
examination is the final hurdle before entering the workforce as professionals.
However, for those who live in poverty, even this final step can be financially out

of reach.

This bill seeks to exempt qualified indigent Filipinos from paying the
examination fees required for government-administered professional and civil
service exams. By doing so, it eliminates a key barrier that prevents capable but
underprivileged individuals from practicing their chosen profession and earning

a livelihood based on merit and education.

The measure is grounded on Article II, Section 9 of the Philippine
Constitution, which provides that “[t]he State shall promote a just and dynamic

social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and


free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social
services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved

quality of life for all.”

As we continue to expand access to higher education, this bill serves as a
logical and compassionate complement. While current legislation helps students
enter and finish college, and new graduates begin looking for jobs, this proposal
focuses on that crucial in-between step—when a graduate must take a licensure

or eligibility exam to begin formal employment.

In addition, this bill mandates an inter-agency information and education
campaign to raise awareness about the benefit and outlines reporting
requirements to track its impact—ensuring that the program is transparent,

accountable, and attuned to the needs of its intended beneficiaries.

By institutionalizing this exemption, the State affirms its commitment to
equitable access to professional development. It ensures that talent and potential,

not poverty, determine a Filipino’s future.

In view of the foregoing, the early and immediate passage of this bill is

earnestly sought.

RAMON Be.

if -CADO-REVILLA Buss


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 82
Introduced by HONORABLE RAMON JOLO B. REVILLA III,

HONORABLE LANI MERCADO-REVILLA, and
HONORABLE BRYAN B. REVILLA

AN ACT
EXEMPTING QUALIFIED INDIGENT FILIPINOS FROM PAYMENT
OF PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATION FEES AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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

1 Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Free Professional
2. Examinations Act of 2025".

3 See. 2. Declaration of Policy. - \t is the declared policy of the State to
4 promote full employment and to provide equal opportunities for employment for
5 all. Corollary to this, the State shall promote a just and dynamic social order that
6 will free the people from poverty through policies and programs that provide
7 adequate social services and improve the quality of life for all. In this regard,
8 efforts should be exerted to provide the qualified indigent Filipinos access to
9 government certifications which will recognize their potential as professionals

10 and partners to nation-building.


10

ua
12
13
14
15
16
7

18

20
21
22
23

24

25
26
27

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As provided for in this Act;

a. "Professional Examination” shall refer to the licensure examinations
conducted by the Professional Regulations Commission leading to the
issuance of a professional license, and the examinations conducted by the
Civil Service Commission leading to eligibility for employment to the

government as a civil service professional or sub-professionals.

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 the benefits
of this Act, an examinee shall secure a certification from the DSWD that said
examinee is a qualified indigent. Such certification shall be presented to the
Professional Regulations Commission (PRC), or the Civil Service Commission
(CSC), 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.

Sec. 5. Limitations on Availment. - Benefits of this Act may be availed of

only by a qualified indigent once.

Sec. 6. Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign. -
The DSWD, PRC, and CSC, and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED),
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.

Sec. 7. Reportorial Requirement. - For purposes of determining the impact
of the provisions of this Act, the DSWD, PRC, CSC and CHED shall submit an

annual report to the Senate Committee on Civil Service, Government


10
1
12

13
14
15
16

7
18
19
20

21

22
23

24

25
26

27

Reorganization and Professional Regulation and House Committee on Civil
Service and Professional Regulation. The said report shall indicate the detail,
among others, geographic distribution, demographic characteristics and

socioeconomic profile of the beneficiaries of this Act.

See. 8. Non-Duplication of Benefits. - Examinees who are already covered
with similar benefits under other laws and programs of the government shall not
be entitled to the benefits of this Act.

Sec. 9. Harmonization with the CHED. - Unified Student Financial
Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) - The implementation of
this Act shall be harmonized with the the implementation of the Tertiary
Education Subsidy under Section 7 of Republic Act 10931, otherwise known as,
“Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.”

Sec. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within ninety (90)
days from the date of effectivity of this Act, the DSWD, PRC, CSC and CHED
shall formulate the IRR for the proper and effective implementation of the

provisions of this Act.

See. 11. Appropriations. - An amount necessary for the implementation of
this Act shall be charged against the respective budgetary allocations of the
concerned government agencies. Thereafter, an amount necessary for the proper
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
Act.

Sec. 12. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared
invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby

shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 13. Repealing Clause. — All laws, orders, decrees, rules and
regulations, and other parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act

are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.


1 Sec. 14, Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
2 publication either in the Official Gazette or in two a newspaper of general

3 circulation.

Approved,