DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT

PROFESSIONAL REGULATION COMMISSION

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) was created by Presidential

Decree No. 223 dated 22 June 1973 which was repealed with the enactment of
Republic Act No. 8981 otherwise known as “PRC Modernization Act of 2000”.

On September 11, 2006, the PRC was attached to the Department of Labor
and Employment pursuant to Executive Order No. 565 Series of 2006. On October 9,
2006, Executive Order No. 565-A series of 2006, was issued delegating the
presidential power of control over the PRC to the DOLE Secretary. Being an
attached agency of the DOLE, the PRC works closely to the mandate of its mother
agency.

MANDATE
The Professional Regulation Commission administers, implements, and
enforces the regulatory laws and policies of the country with respect to the regulation
and licensing of the various professions and occupations under its jurisdiction,
including the enhancement and maintenance of professional and occupational
standards and ethics and the enforcement of the rules and regulations relative
thereto.

VISION
The Professional Regulation Commission is the instrument of the Filipino
people in securing for the nation a reliable, trustworthy and progressive system of
determining the competence of professionals by credible and valid licensure
examinations and standards of professional practice that are globally recognized.

MISSION
To deliberately, scientifically and consistently determine the competence of
professionals through the provision of professional standards and judicious issuance
of professional license.

CORE VALUES

P- Professionalism and Integrity

R- Responsibility, Unity and Accountability
C- Competence and Excellence
 AGENCY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
THRUST AND PRIORITIES

The PRC plays a significant role in the attainment of the 0+10 point socio
economic agenda and the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 under the
Duterte Administration, and the 8-Point Labor and Employment Agenda of the
Department of Labor and Employment. In order to align existing programs and
projects with the aforementioned agenda and in keeping with the new mandate and
policy direction under President Dutertes’s Social Contract with the Filipino people,
the PRC has continuously pursued the following thrusts and priority programs.

I. INSTITUTIONAL

A. PROGRAMS

1. CONTINUING IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF PRC/PRBs LAWS,

REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The Commission will continue impact assessment of rules, policies and

procedures. Regulations, policies and procedures shall be streamlined, updated,
and rationalized when necessary, to save man-hours and resources, as well as
to upgrade client satisfaction.

The Professional Regulatory Boards, in the full exercise of their

regulatory powers as mandated by their respective laws, shall continue to
undertake impact assessment of their existing rules, regulations and policies to
ensure that the same remain relevant and responsive to the needs of the time
and to align professional practice with international standards.

2. ENHANCEMENT OF TECHNOLOGY BY INVESTING IN EQUIPMENT,

CAPACITY BUILDING, AND COLLABORATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES
LIKE DICT

Technology and the use of it will be further enhanced by investing in

equipment, capacity building, and collaboration with other agencies like
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). This year,
areas of focus would be the online transactions which include the information
systems on Continuing Professional Development Accreditation System
(CPDAS), Test Questions Databank (TQDB) System, Correction and Releasing
System, Legal Management Information System (LMIS) and database
development and security, including records and archives.
3. PROVIDING PROACTIVE MEASURES FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND
INFORMATION DISSEMINATION INCLUDING THE PUBLICATION OF THE
PRC FOI MANUAL

The Commission, being an agency with significant frontline services, will

continue to adhere and support the principles of good governance and practices
by augmenting the public assistance information system. Proactive measures
shall be adopted, including the use of social media, to communicate and clarify
issues with the public.

Further, the PRC Freedom of Information Manual (Manual) which was

published on September 2017 will provide a process that will guide and assist
the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), including its offices, in dealing
with requests of information under Executive Order (E.O.) No. 2, series of 2016.

4. STRENGTHENING THE COMMISSION’S QUASI-JUDICIAL TO EXPEDITE

RESOLUTION OF CASES

With the commitment to expedite resolution of cases filed, at the rate of

four percent (4%) within three months, the quasi-judicial function of the
Commission shall be further strengthened. Consequently, rules and procedures
are being reviewed and amended, and manpower is being augmented. The Peer
Review Committee created by the Commission shall continue to review the
quarterly reports submitted by Hearing Officers/Lawyers to ensure that the year’s
targets are accomplished.

5. SUPPORTING PRBs PARTICULARLY IN LICENSURE, DISCIPLINARY, AND

VISITORIAL FUNCTIONS

The Professional Regulatory Boards (PRBs) are partners in professional

regulation whose undertakings are a priority and should have the support
needed such as in licensure examination activities like crafting an OBE-based
Table of Specification; peer review; item analysis; and stakeholder consultations,
disciplinary and inspections of firms and establishment, including higher
educational institutions.

6. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

(CPD)

The CPD which lapsed into a law on July 21, 2016 is now a mandatory
requirement in the renewal of professional identification cards (PICs) for all
professionals under the regulation of PRC.
 In order to implement the CPD Law and the general IRR, the CPD
Council of each regulated professions shall issue its Operational Guidelines. The
Commission has already issued Operational Guidelines for 14 professions to
implement such. Professions with CPD Operational Guidelines are the following:
1) Professional Teachers; 2) Electrical Engineering; 3) Landscape Architecture;
4) Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering; 5) Architecture; 6) Accountancy;
7) Chemistry; 8) Respiratory Therapy; 9) Interior Design; 10) Civil
Engineering; 11) Pharmacy; 12) Customs Brokers; 13) Nurses; and 14)
Environmental Planning.

The issuance of Operational Guidelines by the rest of the PRBs in the

implementation of the CPD Act of 2016, and the completion of the constitution of
CPD Council for each of the regulated profession shall be undertaken this year.

To encourage local and foreign individuals or entities to become

accredited CPD providers, continuous conduct of information drive /campaign
shall be held. More so, to better equip officials and employees in the
implementation of the said law, monthly monitoring meeting and capacity
building activities shall also be conducted.

Part of the eGovernance initiatives and streamlining efforts of the

Commission, a CPD Accreditation System (CPDAS), which is an online system,
was developed. This program shall enable online application of CPD
provider/program and hastens approval of the same. It shall also provide a
facility that will allow the CPD providers to upload the attendance of
professionals, and the professionals in turn, can also view their CPD units
earned through this system.

7. COMPLETING THE PRC REORGANIZATION

As part of the reorganization of PRC, the creation of six (6) regional

offices was approved as additions to the already existing 10 regional offices. In
effect, regular employees are promoted, contractual/job orders employees are
regularized, as well as hiring of additional personnel for the newly created
regional offices.

Various capacity building, training and seminars shall also be conducted

for the benefit of the officials and employees of the Commission.
B. PROJECTS

1. DOUBLE THE TEN (10) RENT-FREE AND REFURBISHED PRC SERVICE

CENTERS

In its effort to provide services closer to the public, more delivery

channels will soon be operational within this year in the cities of Quezon
(Novaliches), Las Piñas, Ormoc, Naga, Tagum, Iligan and in the provinces of
Pangasinan and Pampanga.

.
2. PARTNERING WITH MORE LGUS AND LEADING SCHOOLS FOR
EXPANDED MOBILE SERVICES

The Commission, through the regional offices and in partner with the
local government units, and leading schools shall increase the number of
mobile services to be conducted as a mean to provide services to the
unserved areas in the country.

3. ONE-STOP SERVICE CENTERS PRIMARILY FOR OFWS

In response to President Rodrigo Duterte's directive to make it easier

for OFWs to avail the services of the government, PRC will maintain its
presence at POEA in Mandaluyong, Clark, Pampanga, and in the Cities of
Zamboanga, Koronadal, Legazpi, Calamba, Cebu, Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro
and Palayan (Nueva Ecija).

4. RENOVATION OF THE PRC PAREDES BUILDING

With the increasing number of professionals and the creation of new

offices under the reorganization of the Commission, a need to rehabilitate the
old PRC building is paramount to its operation, as it will provide comfortable
and conducive working area.

The Commission has recently started the renovation of the Central

Office building. Renovation projects cover the following: Building Lot 1 -
Waiting Area, Info, Entry Foyer, Ground and Second Floor of Main Building,
and Building Lot 2 - Waiting Area, Kiosk, Documentary Stamp, Security
Office, Ground Floor of Annex Building, Bridge between Main and Annex
Building, and Roof of Rating Division.
II. INTER-AGENCY

A. PROGRAMS

1. ASSIST PRBs FOR THE COMPLETION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF

MRAS, MRPQS OR SIMILAR DOCUMENTS

The Commission and the PRBs shall continue to actively participate in

the negotiations and review of bilateral, multilateral or mutual recognition
arrangement. It shall also pursue the conduct of consultations, meetings,
negotiations and other fora (local or abroad) in order to help formulate policies,
negotiation positions and global market information system on professional
services.

2. PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL/BILATERAL TRADE IN SERVICES

DISCUSSIONS/NEGOTIATIONS WITH DTI, DFA, DOLE AND NEDA

The Commission will continue to participate and assist in

international/bilateral trade in services discussions/negotiations - such as,
WTO, JPEPA and DEU FTA talks as initiated by the DTI/DFA/DOLE.

3. CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR PQF AND AQRF INITIATIVES ALONG WITH

CHED/DEPED/TESDA/DOLE

The Philippine Qualifications Framework National Coordinating

Committee composed of DepEd, DOLE, TESDA, CHED and PRC has created
five (5) Working Groups to effectively carry out the proper implementation of
RA 10968, namely: 1) PQF Working Group on International Alignment, 2)
PQF Working Group on Qualifications Register, 3) PQF Working Group on
Pathways and Equivalencies, 4) PQF Working Group on Quality Assurance
and 5) PQF Working Group on Information Guidelines. The Commission has
designated PRB representatives to each of the PQF Working Group.

B. PROJECTS

1. STREAMLINE THE APPROVAL AND CONDUCT OF SPECIAL

PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE EXAMINATION (SPLE) WITH DOLE AND
DFA

Executive Order No. 835 dated October 6, 2009 institutionalizes the

conduct of board examination in the Middle East. The Department of Labor
and Employment through the PRC, in coordination with the Department of
Foreign Affairs through its Philippine Embassies and with the assistance of
the Philippine Professional Organizations, the Commission hold and conduct
 SPLE for the qualified overseas Filipino workers in the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and other Middle East countries with
which the Philippines have diplomatic relations.

In 2017, a total of 4,878 examinees took the SPLE in the Middle East,
Hong Kong and Bangkok, Thailand.

The Commission has adopted new rules to implement the request for,
approval and conduct of SPLEs. In 2017, the Commission has added two (2)
professions and two (2) cities (Oman and Tel Aviv, Israel) for the said
examinations.

2. EXPLORE ARRANGEMENTS WITH COUNTERPART FOREIGN

REGULATORY BODIES

The Commission will continue to explore entering into arrangements

with counterpart foreign regulatory bodies to address mutual concerns.

SPECIAL PROJECTS

The Commission will continue to reinforce its disaster preparedness program.

The operational protocol, which was adopted last year, will be observed in the PRC
main premises during emergencies, and which shall be duplicated in regional
premises.