IN a major push to open the doors of professional opportunity to poor and marginalized Filipinos, the House of Representatives on Wednesday night approved on third and final reading a bill granting free professional and civil service examinations to qualified indigents and members of indigenous peoples and indigenous cultural communities.
Under the leadership of Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III and House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos of Ilocos Norte, lawmakers overwhelmingly approved House Bill (HB) No. 8869, or the proposed “Free Professional Examinations Act,” with 266 affirmative votes, zero negative vote, and one abstention.
HB 8869 is a substitution of HB Nos. 82, 220, 453, 1810, 1914, 2488, 2892, 3832, 4067, 4491, 4504, and 5731 introduced by Reps. Ramon Jolo B. Revilla III, Lani Mercado-Revilla, Bryan B. Revilla, Crispin Diego D. Remulla, Omar Vincent Sangkola Duterte, Howard A. Guintu, Franz S. Pumaren, Roy M. Gonzales, Jesus “Jess” R. Marquez, Laarni Lavin Roque, Giselle Mary L. Maceda, Juan Carlos “Arjo” C. Atayde, Cheeno Miguel D. F. Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” C. Villanueva, Maria Cristina C. Angeles, Noel “Bong” N. Rivera, Javier Miguel Lopez Benitez, Claudine Diana D. Bautista-Lim, Ciriaco B. Gato Jr., MD, FPSO-HNS, Julius Cesar “Jay” V. Vergara, Arlyn P. Ayon, Patricia C. Calderon, Rolando Ledesma Macasaet, Richelle Singson, Binky April M. Tupas, Baby Aline Vargas-Alfonso, Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr., Carlos Andes Loria, Allan U. Ty, Adrian E. Salceda, Felimon M. Espares, Franz Vincent F. Legaspi, Maria Rachel J. Arenas, Mercedes K. Alvarez, MNSA, Munir N. Arbison Jr., Reynaldo P. Salvacion, Niko Raul S.J. Daza, Rodolfo “Ompong” M. Ordanes, Doris E. Maniquiz, Ferdinand “B1” L. Beltran, Alfred D. Marañon III, Marlesa “Doc Marly” Hofer-Hasim, Dennis “Tom” L. Hernandez, Sittie Aminah Q. Dimaporo, Jennifer A. Lagbas, Lolita T. Javier, Francisco “Lalo” T. Matugas, Jude A. Acidre, Florabel C. Yatco, Jefferson F. Khonghun, Sun Judal Shimura, Carl Nicolas C. Cari, Maximo Y. Dalog Jr., Wilton “Tonton” T. Kho, Ching B. Bernos, Mark Cholo I. Violago, Anna York P. Bondoc MD, Munir M. Arbison, Eleanor C. Bulut-Begtang, Isidro D. Lumayag, Jesus Manuel “Bong” C. Suntay, Dibu S. Tuan, Ramil Laurel Hernandez, Roy M. Loyola, Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon, Manuel “ManMan” O. Ko, Monique Yazmin Maria Q. Lagdameo, Adrian Jay C. Advincula, Elisa “Olga” T. Kho, Tsuyoshi Anthony “Hori” G. Horibata, Reynolds Michael T. Tan, Ma. Isabel L. Sagarbarria, Stephen James T. Tan, JC M. Abalos, JB Bernos, Girlie E. Veloso, Janice Degamo, Edgar R. Erice, Sonny “SL” L. Lagon, and John Tracy F. Cagas.
The measure seeks to remove one of the biggest barriers preventing many Filipinos from becoming licensed professionals or entering government service — the cost of examinations administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
Majority Leader Marcos said the bill recognizes that many deserving Filipinos have the talent and determination to succeed but are held back by poverty and lack of access to opportunities.
“Marami tayong kababayan na matalino, masipag at may pangarap, pero hindi man lang makapag-exam dahil kapos sa pera. Hindi dapat pera ang maging hadlang para makapagtrabaho at umasenso ang isang Pilipino,” Marcos said.
“This measure is about giving every qualified Filipino a fair chance to become a professional, secure better employment, and uplift their families through education and hard work,” he added.
Under the bill, qualified indigents would be exempted from paying written examination fees for PRC licensure examinations and CSC eligibility examinations.
Members of indigenous peoples and indigenous cultural communities may also avail themselves of the benefit upon certification by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
To qualify, indigent applicants must secure a Certificate of Indigency issued free of charge by their barangay or local social welfare office. Indigenous applicants may instead present certification from the NCIP confirming their membership and qualification.
The measure covers only written examination fees, while practical examination fees and other miscellaneous charges, if applicable, would still be collected.
The bill also mandates the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), PRC, CSC and NCIP, in coordination with the Philippine Information Agency, to conduct annual information and education campaigns to ensure that eligible beneficiaries are informed about the program.
In addition, the agencies concerned would be required to submit annual reports to Congress detailing the number of beneficiaries and the social impact of the measure.
Marcos said the approval of the bill reflects the House’s commitment to making education, employment and professional advancement more accessible to ordinary Filipinos.
“Kapag nabigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang mas maraming Pilipino na maging propesyonal, mas marami rin tayong pamilyang matutulungan makaahon sa hirap. Investment ito sa tao, sa trabaho, at sa kinabukasan ng bansa,” Marcos said.
