THE House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on second reading a measure seeking to extend the validity of Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) identification cards from three years to five years to ease renewal burdens on millions of Filipino professionals.
Approved via voice voting was House Bill (HB) No. 8876, which seeks to lengthen the validity period of Professional Identification Cards (PIC) currently renewed every three years, usually during the birth month of the professional.
“Sa panahon ngayon, mahalaga na mapagaan natin ang gastos at abala ng ating mga propesyonal. Sa pagpapalawig ng validity ng PRC IDs mula tatlo tungo sa limang taon, mas mabibigyan natin sila ng panahon para mag-focus sa kanilang trabaho, kabuhayan, at serbisyo sa bayan kaysa sa paulit-ulit na proseso ng renewal,” Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, one of the authors, said.
“Ang mga guro, nurse, engineer, architect, accountant, at iba pang professionals ay kabilang sa haligi ng ating ekonomiya. Nararapat lamang na gawing mas simple, mas mabilis, at mas makatao ang proseso para sa kanila. Ang panukalang ito ay konkretong hakbang para bawasan ang red tape at gawing mas maginhawa ang serbisyo ng gobyerno,” Romualdez, a lawyer from the University of the Philippines (UP), added.
HB 8876 consolidates nine previously filed measures authored by Reps. Romualdez, Angelo Marcos Barba, Kristine Alexie B. Tutor, Eric L. Olivarez, Mercedes K. Alvarez, Emilio Bernardino L. Yulo, Niko Raul S. J. Daza, Laarni Lavin Roque, Eric Go Yap, Edvic G. Yap, Ivan Howard A. Guintu, Rolando L. Macasaet, Giselle Mary L. Maceda, Richelle Singson, Ciriaco B. Gato Jr., Patricia C. Calderon, Cheeno Miguel D. Almario, Binky April M. Tupas, Arlyn P. Ayon, Noel “Bong” N. Rivera, Julius Cesar “Jay” Vergara and Jesus “Jess” R. Marquez.
Under the guidance of Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III and House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos, and in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s push to modernize government services, the House has been advancing measures to reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens on the public.
The bill provides that all PICs issued by the PRC shall be valid for five years, subject to compliance with existing legal and procedural requirements.
Marcos said the measure would help professionals save time, money and effort spent on repeated renewals and long appointment queues.
“Professionals should not have to spend unnecessary time and money on frequent renewals when we can provide a more efficient system without compromising professional standards and regulation,” Marcos said.
He added that the bill would also help decongest the PRC appointment system by reducing annual renewal transactions.
“This is a practical and people-centered reform that will make government services faster, more efficient, and more convenient for millions of Filipino professionals,” Marcos said.
HB 8876 also directs the PRC’s Information and Communication Technology Service to complete the necessary upgrades to the Licensure Examination Registration Information System and related administrative processes within six months from the law’s effectivity.
