Together with some other professionals around the Philippines, I support the call to amend the Republic Act No. 10912 or the Continuing Professional Development of 2016.
Senate Bill No. 2581 was authored by Senator Antonio F. Trillanes, IV and House Bill No. 6423 of Representatives Rufus B. Rodriguez ( 2nd District, Cagayan de Oro City ) and Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr. ( Party-list, Abante Mindanao) and then supported by some other legislators. The purpose of the bill was to continuously update and develop the professional growth of the professionals in the country by attending seminars, trainings, and workshops accredited by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). Indeed, the bill's purpose is for the betterment of the professionals.
Republic Act No. 10912, also known as the Continuing Professional Development Law of 2016.
But there are some provisions in the law which makes it hard for professionals to renew their licenses due to the implementation of the CPD Law:
Not all government-organized seminars, trainings, workshops, and the like can be used in renewing their licenses though they are anchored towards their professional development as what CPD Law wants as they are not automatically considered as CPD Providers;
CPD Providers (those who have been accredited by PRC to conduct trainings, seminars, etc. to be used for renewal of licenses) are offering these workshops and conferences in big cities thus disabling those professionals who serve in the remote areas to comply with the CPD Law and sometimes results to take leaves and absences just to go attend these CPD trainings;
The process of renewing the PRC License costs thousands of pesos (including attending CPD-accredited seminars). A CPD-accredited seminar, training, or workshop ranges from P4500 and up (depending on the nature of the training). So it resorts to money making schemes of PRC and the CPD Providers just to renew the licenses of professionals.
Now that the CPD Law is in the eyes of the people after it has been reported that there are too many professionals who have not renewed their licenses because of the difficulties that they encountered, the principal author convened with PRC and to some other government agencies concerned on how to ease the burden of professionals in obtaining CPD units and have their PRC licenses renewed.
Processes on renewing a PRC license.
For some who still points out former President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino, III on the passage of the CPD Law, they must be barking at the wrong tree. The former President did not signed the bill as it lapsed into law in accordance with Article VI, Section 27 (1) of the Constitution.
Former Philippine President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino, III did not signed the CPD Law but it was enacted into law thru Article Vi, Section 27 (1) of the 1987 Constitution.
I must agree with those who drafted RA 10912 that professionals must have their own professional growth and development and in an continuous span of time. But they must not make it too hard for them to renew just a piece of plastic bearing the PRC logo and its Chairperson's signature. Instead, it must be hassle-free and convenient to ensure that they would not waste their time and money to continue serving the people by practicing their professions.
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Building at Sampaloc, Manila.
So I stand with my fellow professionals in their plea to our legislators to amend the CPD Law. We need CPD but it must be without any cost or additional burden for us.
PRC Professional ID. Photo courtesy of Manila Bulletin.
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