P R C Law

Presidential Decree No. 223

Creating the Professional Regulation Commission and Prescribing Its Powers
and Functions

HISTORY
The Professional Regulation Commission was first created as a national government agency by
Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 223 dated June 22, 1973, signed by then President Ferdinand E.
Marcos, mandated to enforce the laws regulating the various professions. It was previously
called the Office of the Board of Examiners, which was created by Republic Act No. 546 on
June 17, 1950, under the aegis of the Civil Service Commission.
The PRC became operational on January 4, 1974. The office was attached to the Office of the
President for general direction and coordination. On December 9, 1974, the Implementing Rules
and Regulations of P.D. No. 223 were promulgated, paving the way for standardization of rules
and procedures for the thirty-three (33) professions then under the CSC.
On December 5, 2000, President Joseph Ejercito Estrada signed Republic Act No. 8981
otherwise known as the PRC Modernization Act of 2000. The Implementing Rules and
Regulations were adopted on February 15, 2001 through PRC Resolution No. 1 series of 2001.
With the passing of RA 8981, the Commission exercises three functions:
• executive functions;
• quasi-legislative functions; and
• quasi-judicial functions.
It had also set its new thrusts and priorities such as customer-focused service, modernization
through full computerization and re-structuring, integrity of licensure examinations, good
governance, protection and promotion of Filipino professionals and support to national
development priorities.
In fulfillment of its legal mandate, the PRC performs two important functions, which are:
 to conduct and administer licensure examinations to aspiring professionals, and
 to regulate and supervise the practice of the professions exercised in partnership with
the forty-three (43) Professional Regulatory Boards (PRBs) in the fields of health,
business, education, social sciences, engineering and technology. The PRBs govern
their respective professions’ practice and ethical standards and accredit the
professional organization representing the professionals.

On September 11, 2006, as supplemented by Executive Order No. 565-A, PRC was attached to
the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for administrative supervision and control.
Being an attached agency of the DOLE, the PRC works closely to the mandate of its mother
agency.
The PRC serves more than 4.3 million professionals from 43 various regulated professions and
the hundreds of thousands of aspiring professionals who take the licensure examinations every
year. Thus, PRC stakeholders include the professionals, would-be professionals, accredited
professional organizations, foreign professionals seeking temporary permit to practice their
professions in the country, schools and academe, and other government agencies.
To better carry out its mandate and in order to implement the PRC Modernization Act, the PRC
was given approval by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on April 20, 2013 to
implement a reorganization of its organizational structure.
On June 8, 2016, the new Organizational Structure and Staffing Pattern (OSSP) pursuant to
Republic Act (RA) No. 8981 was approved by DBM. The Notice of Organization, Staffing and
Compensation Action (NOSCA) formalizing the approved OSSP of PRC Central Office,
effective not earlier than June 8, 2016, has been transmitted by DBM on October 10, 2016.
Further, the Office of the President, through the Executive Secretary, issued a Memorandum on
May 16, 2017 on the approval of the creation of PRC new offices/services: Regional Offices in
NCR & Regions I, III, IV-B, XII and XIII, Legal Service, International Affairs Office,
Information and Communications Technology Service, and Planning, Management and Financial
Service. The NOSCA formalizing the approved OSSP of the approved new offices and positions
and the reclassification of key positions was issued by DBM on August 2, 2017.

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

P – rofessionalism and Integrity

R – esponsibility, Unity and Accountability
C – ompetence and Excellence

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.
 MALACAÑANG
Manila
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 223
CREATING THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATION COMMISSION AND
PRESCRIBING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS

WHEREAS, the regulations of the various profession presently regulated by the Office of the
Boards of Examiners is so extensive, practically covering all social and economic life of the
country;

WHEREAS, the existence of the Boards of Examiners is misconstrued for a number of years
now as nothing more than an examining unit, though all the professional laws creating the
various Boards have charged them with the supervision and regulation over the professional
practice in the Philippines; and

WHEREAS, to effectively enforce the laws regulating the various professions, there is an urgent
need to create a three-man Commission to administer, implement, coordinate and supervise the
various Boards of Examiners;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of

the powers vested in me by the Constitution as Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of
the Philippines, and pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081 dated September 21, 1972, and General
Order No. 1 dated September 22, 1972, as amended, do hereby order and decree:

Section 1. Professional Regulation Commission. There is hereby created a three-man

Commission to be known as the Professional Regulation Commission which shall be attached to
the Office of the President for general direction and coordination.

Section 2. Composition. The Commission shall be headed by one full time Commissioner and
two full time Associate Commissioners, all to be appointed by the President for a term of nine
(9) years without reappointment to start from the time they assume office, except the first two
Associate Commissioners who shall be appointed, one for six (6) years and the other for three (3)
years, and thereafter, any vacancy in the Commission shall be filled for the unexpired term only
with the most senior of the Associate Commissioners succeeding the Commissioner at the
expiration of his term, resignation or removal. No person shall be appointed chairman or member
of the Commission unless he is at least forty (40) years of age, familiar with the principles and
methods of professional regulation and/or licensing and has at least five (5) years of executive or
managerial experience.

Section 3. Exercise of powers and functions of the Commission. The Commissioner, who
shall be the Chairman of the Commission, and the Associate Commissioners as members thereof
shall, as a body, exercise general administrative, executive and policy-making functions for the
whole agency.

Section 4. Compensation. The Commissioner shall receive an annual compensation of forty-

eight thousand pesos (P48,000) with five hundred pesos (P500) commutable transportation and
representation allowances and the Associate Commissioners, thirty-six thousand pesos (P36,000)
each with three hundred fifty pesos (P350) commutable transportation and representation
allowances.
Section 5. Powers of the Commission. The powers of the Commission are as follows:

a) To administer, implement and enforce the regulatory policies of the National Government
with respect to the regulation and licensing of the various professions and occupations under its
jurisdiction including the maintenance of professional and occupational standards and ethics and
the enforcement of the rules and regulations relative thereto.

b) To perform any and all acts, enter into contracts, make such rules and regulations and issue
such orders and other administrative issuances as may be necessary in the execution and
implementation of its functions and the improvement of its services.

c) To review, coordinate, integrate and approve the policies, resolutions, rules and regulations,
orders or decisions promulgated by the various Boards with respect to the profession or
occupation under their jurisdictions including the results of their licensures examination but their
decisions on administrative cases shall be final and executory unless appealed to the Commission
within thirty (30) days from the date of promulgation thereof.

d) To administer and conduct the licensure examinations of the various Boards according to the
rules and regulations promulgated by it; determine and fix the places and dates of examinations;
appoint supervisors and room examiners from among the employees of the Government or
private individuals who have been trained by the Commission for that purpose who shall be
entitled to a daily allowance of not less than ten pesos (P10) for every examination day actually
attended; use the buildings and facilities of public and private schools for examination purposes;
and approve the release of examination results;
e) To keep and maintain a register of authorized practitioners of the profession or occupation;
issue certificates of registration or licenses signed by all the members of the Board concerned
and the Commissioner with the official seal of the Board affixed;

f) To have custody of all the records of the various Boards including their examination papers,
minutes of deliberation, records of administrative cases and investigations and examination
results;
g) To determine, fix and collect the amount to be charged for examination, registration,
registration without examination, licenses, annual registration fees, certifications, surcharges and
other fees not specified under the provisions of Republic Act No. 6511 or amend the rates
provided thereunder subject to approval by the Office of the President;

h) To appoint, subject to the provisions of existing laws, such as officials and employees of the
Commission as are necessary in the effective performance of its functions and responsibilities,
prescribed their duties and fix their compensation; and to organize or reorganize the structure of
the Commission, create or abolish positions, change the designations of existing positions to
meet changing conditions or as the need therefor arises; Provided, That such changes shall not
affect the employment status of the incumbents, reduce their ranks and/or salaries nor result
separating them from the services;

i) To submit and recommend to the President of the Philippines nominees for appointment as
members of the various Boards from among those nominated by the bona fide professional
organizations accredited by the Commission to fill existing or probable vacancies;
j) The Commission may, upon the recommendation of the Board concerned, approve the
registration of and authorize the issuance of a certificate of registration with or without
examination to a foreigner who is registered under the laws of his country: Provided, That the
requirement for the registration or licensing in said foreign state or country are substantially the
same as those required and contemplated by the laws of the Philippines and that the laws of such
foreign state or country allow the citizens of the Philippines to practice the profession on the
same basis and grant the same privileges as the subject or citizens of such foreign state or
country: Provided, finally, That the applicant shall submit competent and conclusive
documentary evidence, confirmed by the Department of Foreign Affairs, showing that this
country’s existing laws permit citizens of the Philippines to practice the profession under the
rules and regulations governing citizens thereof. The Commission is also hereby authorized to
prescribe additional requirements or grant certain privileges to foreigners seeking registration in
the Philippines if the same privileges are granted to or some additional requirements are required
of citizens of the Philippines in acquiring the same certificates in his country;

k) The Commission shall have general supervision over foreign nationals who are authorized by
existing laws or granted special permits to, practice their profession temporarily in the
Philippines to see that the terms and conditions for their employment are strictly observed and
adhered to;

l) To prescribe or revise, in conjunction with the Board concerned and the Secretary of Education
and Culture or his authorized representative, collegiate courses the completion of or graduation
from which shall be a prerequisite for admission into the practice of the profession concerned;
m) To exercise general supervision over the members of the various Boards;

n) To promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to effectively implement

policies with respect to the regulation and practice of the professions;
o) To perform such other functions and duties as may be necessary to carry out effectively the
various provisions of professional regulatory laws, decrees or orders;

Section 6. Powers, functions and responsibilities of various Boards. The various Boards shall
retain the following powers, functions and responsibilities:

a) To look from time to time into the condition affecting the practice of the profession or
occupation under their respective jurisdictions and whenever necessary, adopt such measures as
may be deemed proper for the enhancement of the profession or occupation and/or the
maintenance of high professional, ethical and technical standards and for this purpose the
members of a Board may personally or through subordinate employees of the Commission
conduct ocular inspection or visit industrial, mechanical, electrical or chemical plants or works,
hospitals, clinics and other engineering works where registered practitioners of the profession or
occupation are employed or are working for the purpose of determining compliance with the
provisions of laws relative to the practice of the profession or occupation or as an aid in
formulating policies relative thereto in accordance with the established policies promulgated by
the Commission;
b) To investigate violations of their respective laws and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder and for this purpose may issue summons, subpoenas and subpoena duces tecum to
alleged violators or witnesses thereof and compel their attendance to such investigations or
hearings;

c) To delegate the hearing of investigation of administrative cases filed before them except in
cases where the issue involved strictly concerns the practice of the profession or occupation, in
which case the hearing shall be presided by at least one member of the Board concerned assisted
by a legal or hearing officer of the Commission;

d) To promulgate decisions on such administrative cases subject to review by the Commission. If

after thirty (30) days from the receipt of such decision no appeal is taken therefrom to the
Commission, the same shall become final and immediately enforceable;

e) Subject to review by the Commission to approve registration without examination and the
issuance of the corresponding certificates of registration;

f) After due process, to suspend, revoked or reissue certificates of registration for causes
provided for by law or by the rules and regulations promulgated therefore;

g) To determine and prepare the contents of licensure examinations; score and rate the
examination papers and submit the results thereof to the Commission within one hundred twenty
(120) days after the last examination day unless extended by the Commission; and, subject to
approval by the Commission determine the appropriate passing general rating if not provided for
in the law regulating the profession.
Section 7. Names of various Boards. The names of the various Boards shall be changed by the
Commission by deleting the word “Examiners.”
Section 8. Transfer of personnel, funds, records, etc. The present office of the Boards of
Examiners, its personnel, funds, records, supplies, equipment, materials, furniture, and fixture
are hereby transferred to the Commission.

Section 9. Repealing clause. The provisions of Republic Act No. 546 are hereby repealed as
well as those of other pertinent laws inconsistent herewith.

Section 10. Effectivity. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 22nd day of June, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and
seventy-three.

MALACAÑANG
Manila
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8981
AN ACT MODERNIZING THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATION
COMMISSION, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE
NUMBERED TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THREE, ENTITLED
"CREATING THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATION COMMISSION AND
PRESCRIBING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS," AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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

assembled:

Section 1. Title – This Act shall be called the "PRC Modernization Act of 2000.“

Section 2. Statement of Policy – The State recognizes the important role of professionals in
nation-building and, towards this end, promotes the sustained development of a reservoir of
professionals whose competence has been determined by honest and credible licensure
examinations and whose standards of professional service and practice are internationally
recognized and considered world-class brought about the regulatory measures, programs and
activities that foster professional growth and advancement.

Section 3. Professional Regulation Commission – There is hereby created a three-man

commission to be known as the Professional Regulation Commission, hereinafter referred to as
the Commission, which shall be attached to the office of the President for general direction and
coordination.

Section 4. Composition – The Commission shall be headed by one (1) full-time Chairperson and
two (2) full-time Commissioners, all to be appointed by the President for a term of seven (7)
years without reappointment to start from the time they assume office. Appointments to a
vacancy that occurs before the expiration of the term of a Commissioner shall cover only the
unexpired term of the immediate predecessor. At the expiration of the Chairperson, the most
senior of the Commissioners shall temporarily assume and perform the duties and functions of
the Chairperson until a permanent Chairperson is appointed by the President.
The Chairperson or Commissioner shall be at least forty (40) years of age, holding a valid
certificate of registration/professional license and a valid professional identification card or a
valid certificate of competency issued by the Commission or a valid professional license issued
by any government agency, familiar with the principles and methods of professional regulation
and/or licensing and has had at least five (5) years of executive or management
experience: Provided, That, one (1) of the Commissioners must be a past Chairperson/member of
a Professional Regulatory Board.

Section 5. Exercise of Powers and Functions of the Commission – The Chairperson of the
Commission, and the Commissioners as members thereof shall sit and act as a body to exercise
general administrative, executive and policy-making functions of the Commission. The
Commission shall establish and maintain a high standard of admission to the practice of all
professions and at all times ensure and safeguard the integrity of all licensure examinations.

The Chairperson shall act as the presiding and chief executive officer of the Commission. As
presiding officer, he/she shall preside over the meetings of the Commission sitting as a collegial
body. As chief executive officer of the Commission, he/she shall be responsible for the
implementation of the policies and the programs adopted by the Commission for the general
administration of the Commission. He/she shall perform such other activities which are
necessary for the effective exercise of the powers, functions and responsibilities of the
Commission.
Section 6. Compensation and Other Benefits – The Chairperson shall receive compensation and
allowances equivalent to that of a Department Secretary while the Commissioners shall receive
compensation and allowances equivalent to that of an Undersecretary. The Chairperson and the
members of the Commission shall be entitled to retirement benefits provided under Republic Act
Numbered Fifteen Hundred and Sixty Eight, as amended by Republic Act Numbered Three
Thousand Five Hundred and Ninety Five.

Section 7. Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of the Commission – The powers, functions,
and responsibilities of the Commission are as follows:

(a) To administer, implement and enforce the regulatory policies of the national government 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:
(b) To perform any and all acts, enter into contracts, make such rules and regulations and issue
such orders and other administrative issuance as may be necessary in the execution and
implementation of its functions and the improvement of its services;

(c) To review, revise, and approve resolutions, embodying policies promulgated by the
Professional Regulatory Boards in the exercise of their powers and functions or in implementing
the laws regulating their respective professions and other official actions on non-ministerial
matters within their respective jurisdictions;

(d) To administer and conduct the licensure examinations of the various regulatory boards in
accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission; determine and fix the
places and dates of examinations; use publicly or privately owned buildings and facilities for
examination purposes; conduct more than one (1) licensure examination: Provided, That, when
there are two (2) or more examinations given in a year, at least one (1) examinations shall be
held on weekdays (Monday to Friday): Provided, further, That, if only one (1) examination is
given in a year, this shall be held only on weekdays: Provided, finally, That, the Commission is
also authorized to require the completion of a refresher course where the examinee has failed to
pass three (3) times, except as otherwise provided by law; approve the results of examinations
and the release of the same; adopt measures to preserve the integrity and inviolability of
licensure examinations; appoint supervisors and room watchers from among the employees of
the government and/or private individuals with baccalaureate degrees, who have been trained by
the Commission for the purpose and who shall be entitled to a reasonable daily allowance for
every examination day actually attended, to be determined and fixed by the Commission; publish
the list of successful examinees; provide schools, colleges and universities, public and private,
offering courses for licensure examinations, with copies of sample test questions on
examinations recently conducted by the Commission and copies of the syllabi or terms of
specifications of subjects for licensure examinations; and impose the penalty of suspension or
prohibition from taking licensure examinations to any examinee charged and found guilty of
violating the rules and regulations governing the conduct of licensure examinations promulgated
by the Commission;
(e) To admit the successful examinees to the practice of the profession or occupation; cause the
entry of their names on its registry book and computerized database; issue certificates of
registration/professional license, bearing the registrant’s name, picture, and registration number,
signed by all the members of the Board concerned and the Chairperson, with the official seal of
the Board and the Commission affixed thereto which certificate shall be the authority to practice;
and at the option of the professional concerned, ministerially issue the professional identification
card, to be used solely for the purpose of identification, upon payment of the appropriate
amount: Provided, That, marine deck and marine engineer officers shall also be issued
endorsement certificates exclusively by the Commission pursuant to the 1978 and 1995
Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping (STCW) Convention, to the exclusion of
any other government agency, Section 1(2) of Executive Order No. 149, Series of 1999 and
provisions of other existing laws, executive orders, administrative issuance/regulations to the
contrary notwithstanding: Provided, further, That, once a certificate of registration/professional
license, or certificate of competency, in the case of marine deck and engine officers are issued,
this cannot be withdrawn, cancelled, revoked, or suspended except for just cause as may be
provided by law after due notice and hearing;

(f) To have custody of all the records of the various Boards, including examination papers,
minutes of deliberation, records of administrative cases and investigations and examination
results for control and disposition;

(g) To determine and fix the amount of fees to be charged and collected for examination,
registration, registration without examination, professional identification card, certification,
docket, appeal, replacement, accreditation, including surcharges and other fees not specified
under the provisions of Republic Act Numbered Four Hundred Sixty Five as amended by
Republic Act Numbered Sixty Five Hundred and Eleven or to charge and collect reasonable fees
at the rates higher than the rates provided thereunder subject to the approval by the Office of the
President.

(h) To appoint subject to the Civil Service laws, rules, and regulations, officials and employees
of the Commission necessary for the effective performance of its functions and responsibilities;
prescribe their duties and fix their compensation subject to the provisions of Republic Act
Numbered Six Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Eight and allowances including other fringe
benefits; and to assign and/or reassign personnel as the exigency of the service requires subject
to the Civil Service laws, rules and regulations; and to organize or reorganize the structure of the
Commission; and create or abolish positions or change the designation of existing positions in
accordance with a staffing pattern prepared by it and approved by the Office of the President
upon the recommendation of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to meet the
changing conditions or as the need arises: Provided, That, such changes shall not affect the
employment status of the incumbents, reduce their ranks and/or salaries nor shall result in their
separation from the service;

(i) To submit and recommend to the President of the Philippines the names of licensed/registered
professionals for appointment as members of the various Professional Regulatory Boards from
among those nominated to fill up vacancies pursuant to the provisions of Executive Order No.
496, Series of 1991;

(j) Upon recommendation of the Professional Regulatory Board concerned, to approve the
registration of and authorize the issuance of a certificate of registration/license and professional
identification card with or without examination to a foreigner who is registered under the laws of
his state or country and whose certificate of registration issued therein has not been suspended or
revoked: Provided, That, the requirements for the registration or licensing in said foreign state or
country are substantially the same as those required and contemplated by the laws of the
Philippines and that the laws of such foreign state or country allow the citizens of the Philippines
to practice the profession on the same basis and grant the same privileges as those enjoyed by the
subjects or citizens of such foreign state or country: Provided, further, That, the Commission
may, upon recommendation of the Board concerned, authorize the issuance of a certificate of
registration/license or a special temporary permit to foreign professionals who desire to practice
their professions in the country under reciprocity and other international agreements; consultants
in foreign-funded, joint venture or foreign-assisted projects of the government, employees of
Philippine or foreign private firms or institutions pursuant to law, or health professionals
engaged in humanitarian mission for a limited period of time: Provided, finally, That agencies,
organizations or individuals whether public or private, who secure he services of a foreign
professional authorized by law to practice in the Philippines for reasons aforementioned, shall be
responsible for securing a special permit from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)
and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), pursuant to PRC and DOLE rules:

(k) To authorize any officer of the Commission to administer oaths:

(l) To supervise foreign nations who are authorized by existing laws to practice their professions
either as holders of a certificate of registration and a professional identification card or a
temporary special permit in the Philippines; to ensue that the terms and conditions for their
practice or of their employment are strictly complied with; to require the hiring or employing
government agency or private entity/institution to secure a temporary special permit from the
concerned Board subject to approval by the Commission and to file a criminal complaint against
the head of the government agency or officers of the said private entity/institution, who shall be
liable under the penalty provided for in the concerned professional regulatory law or the penalty
imposed pursuant to this Act, when the professional was hired and allowed to practice his/her
profession without permit; to file upon due process request for deportation with the Bureau of
Immigration and Deportation (BID); and to supervise professionals who were former citizens of
the Philippines and who had been registered and issued a certificate of registration and a
professional identification card prior to their naturalization as foreign citizens, who may, while in
the country on a visit, sojourn or permanent residence, practice their profession: Provided, That,
prior to the practice of their profession they shall have first been issued a special permit and
updated professional identification card by the Board concerned subject to approval by the
Commission and upon payment of the permit and annual registration fees;

(m) To monitor the performance of schools in licensure examinations and publish the results
thereof in a newspaper of national circulation;
(n) To adopt and institute a comprehensive rating system for universities, colleges, and training
institutes based on the passing ratio and overall performance of students in board examinations;

(o) To exercise administrative supervision over the various professional regulatory boards and its
members;

(p) To adopt and promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to effectively
implement policies with respect to the regulation and practice of the professions;
(q) To implement the program for the full computerization of all licensure examinations given by
the various professional regulatory boards including the registration of professionals not later
than the year 2003 and other operations of the Commission;

(r) To investigate and decide administrative matters involving officers and employees under the
jurisdiction of the Commission;

(s) To investigate motu proprio or upon the filing of a verified complaint, any member of the
Professional Regulatory Boards for neglect of duty, incompetence, unprofessional, unethical,
immoral or dishonorable conduct, commission of irregularities in the licensure examinations
which taint or impugn the integrity and authenticity of the results of the said examinations and, if
found guilty, to revoke or suspend their certificates of registration and professional
licenses/identification cards and to recommend to the President of the Philippines their
suspension or removal from office as the case may be;

(t) To issue summons, subpoena and subpoena duces tecum in connection with the investigation
of cases against officials and employees of the Commission and the members of the Professional
Regulatory Boards;

(u) To hold in contempt in erring party or person only upon application with a court of
competent jurisdiction;

(v) To call upon or request any department, instrumentality, office, bureau, institution or agency
of the government including local government units to render such assistance as it may require,
or to coordinate or cooperate in order to carry out, enforce or implement the professional
regulatory policies of the government or any program or activity it may undertake pursuant to the
provisions of this Act;

(w) To initiate an investigation, upon complaint under oath by an aggrieved party, of any person,
whether a private individual or professional, local or foreign, who practices the regulated
profession or occupation without being authorized by law, or without being registered with and
licensed by the concerned regulatory board and issued the corresponding license/professional
identification card or temporary or special permit, or who commits any of the prohibited acts
provided in the regulatory laws of the various professions, which acts are criminal in nature, and
if the evidence so warrants, to forward the records of the case to the office of the city or
provincial prosecutor for the filing of the corresponding information in court by the lawyers of
the legal services of the Commission who may prosecute said case/s upon being deputized by the
Secretary of Justice;
(x) To prepare an annual report of accomplishments on the programs, projects and activities of
the Commission during the year for submission to Congress after the close of its calendar year
and make appropriate recommendations on issues and/or problems affecting the Commission, the
Professional Regulatory Board, and the various professions under its jurisdiction; and

(y) To perform such other functions and duties as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of
this Act, the various professional regulatory laws, decrees, executive orders and other
administrative issuance.

Section 8. Regional Offices – The Commission is hereby authorized to create regional offices as
may be necessary to carry out their functions mandated under this Act.

Section 9. Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of the Various Professional Regulatory

Boards – The various, professional regulatory boards shall retain the following powers, functions
and responsibilities:

(a) To regulate the practice of the professions in accordance with the provisions of their
respective professional regulatory laws; (x) To prepare an annual report of accomplishments on
the programs, projects and activities of the Commission during the year for submission to
Congress after the close of its calendar year and make appropriate recommendations on issues
and/or problems affecting the Commission, the Professional Regulatory Board, and the various
professions under its jurisdiction; and

(y) To perform such other functions and duties as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of
this Act, the various professional regulatory laws, decrees, executive orders and other
administrative issuance.

Section 8. Regional Offices – The Commission is hereby authorized to create regional offices as
may be necessary to carry out their functions mandated under this Act.

Section 9. Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of the Various Professional Regulatory

Boards – The various, professional regulatory boards shall retain the following powers, functions
and responsibilities:

(a) To regulate the practice of the professions in accordance with the provisions of their
respective professional regulatory laws;

(b) To monitor the conditions affecting the practice of the profession or occupation under their
respective jurisdictions and whenever necessary, adopt such measures as may be deemed proper
for the enhancement of the profession or occupation and/or the maintenance of high professional,
ethical and technical standards, and for this purpose the members of the Board duly authorized
by the Commission with deputized employees of the Commission, may conduct ocular
inspection in industrial, mechanical, electrical or chemical plants or establishments, hospitals,
clinics, laboratories, testing facilities, mines and quarries, other engineering facilities and in the
case of schools, in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED);

(c) To hear and investigate cases arising from violations of their respective laws, the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder and their Codes of Ethics and, for this purpose, may issue
summons, subpoena and subpoena duces tecum to alleged violators and/or witnesses to compel
their attendance in such investigations or hearings: Provided, That, the decision of the
Professional Regulatory Board shall, unless appealed to the Commission, become final and
executory after fifteen (15) days from receipt of notice of judgment or decision;

(d) To delegate the hearing or investigation of administrative cases filed before them except in
cases where the issue or question involved strictly concerns the practice of the profession or
occupation, in which case, the hearing shall be presided over by at least one (1) member of the
Board concerned assisted by a Legal or Hearing Officer of the Commission;
(e) To conduct, through the Legal Officers of the Commission, summary proceedings on minor
violations of their respective regulatory laws, violations of the rules and regulations issued by the
boards to implement their respective laws, including violations of the general instructions to
examinees committed by examinees, and render summary judgment thereon which shall, unless
appealed to the Commission, become final and executory after fifteen (15) days from receipt of
notice of judgment or decision;

(f) Subject to final approval by the Commission, to recommend registration without examination
and the issuance of corresponding certificate of registration and professional identification card;

(g) After due process, to suspend, revoke or reissue, reinstate certificate of registration or
licenses for causes provided by law;

(h) To prepare, adopt and issue the syllabi or tables of specifications of the subjects for
examinations in consultation with the academe; determine and prepare the questions for the
licensure examinations which shall strictly be within the scope of the syllabus or table of
specifications of the subject for examination; score and rate the examination papers with the
name and signature of the Board member concerned appearing thereon and submit the results in
all subjects duly signed by the members of the Board to the Commission within ten (10) days
from the last day of examination unless extended by the Commission for justifiable cause/s; and
subject to the approval by the Commission, determine the appropriate passing general average
rating in an examination if not provided for in the law regulating the profession; and
(i) To prepare an annual report of accomplishments on programs, projects and activities of the
Board during the year for submission to the Commission after the close of each calendar year
and make appropriate recommendations on issues or problems affecting the profession to the
Commission.

Section 10. Compensation of the Members of the Professional Regulatory Boards – The
members of the Professional Regulatory Boards shall receive compensation equivalent to, at
least, two salary grades lower than the salary grade of the Commissioners: Provided, That the
Chairperson of the Regulatory Board shall receive a monthly compensation of two steps higher
than the members of the Board, and: Provided, further, That they shall be entitled to other
allowances and benefits provided under existing laws.

Section 11. Person to Teach Subjects for Licensure Examination on all Professions – All
subjects for licensure examinations shall be taught by persons who are holders of valid
certificates of registration and valid professional licenses of the profession and who comply with
the other requirements of the CHED.
Section 12. Assistance of Law Enforcement Agency – Any law enforcement agency shall, upon
call or request of the Commission or of any Professional Regulatory Board, render assistance in
enforcing the regulatory law of the profession including the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder by prosecuting the violators thereof in accordance with law and the rules of court.
Section 13. Appropriations – The amount necessary to carry out the initial implementation of
this Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations of the Professional Regulation
Commission. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of
this Act shall be included in the succeeding General Appropriations Act.

Section 14. Authority to Use Income – In addition to the annual appropriations of the
Commission provided under the Annual General Appropriations Act, the Commission is hereby
authorized to use its income not exceeding the amount of Forty-five million pesos
(P45,000,000.00) a year for a period of five (5) years after the effectivity of this Act to
implement the program for full computerization of the operations of the Commission, subject to
the usual accounting and auditing requirements.

Section 15. Penalties for Manipulation and Other Corrupt Practices in the Conduct of
Professional Examinations

(a) Any person who manipulates or rigs licensure examination results, secretly informs or makes
known licensure examination questions prior to the conduct of the examination or tampers with
the grades in professional licensure examinations shall, upon conviction, be punished by
imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and one (1) day to not more than twelve (12) years or
a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) to not more than One hundred thousand
pesos (P100,000.00) or both such imprisonment and fine at the discretion of the court.
(b) In case the offender is an officer or employee of the Commission or a member of the
regulatory board, he/she shall be removed from office and shall suffer the penalty of perpetual
absolute disqualification from public office to addition to the penalties prescribed in the
preceding section of this Act;

(c) The penalty of imprisonment ranging from four (4) years and one (1) day to six (6) years or a
fine ranging from Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) to not more than Forty-nine thousand
pesos (P49,000.00), or both imprisonment and fine at the discretion of the court, shall be
imposed upon the accomplices. The penalty of imprisonment ranging from two (2) years and one
(1) day to four (4) years or a fine ranging from Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) to not more than
Nineteen thousand pesos (P19,000.00), or both imprisonment and fine at the discretion of the
court, shall be imposed upon the accessories.

Section 16. Penalties for Violation of Section 7 – Subparagraph (1) by Heads of Government
Agencies or Officers of Private Entities/Institutions – Any head of a government agency or
officer(s) of a private firm/institution who violates Section 7 – subpar. (1) of this Act shall be
punished by imprisonment of not less than six (6) months and one (1) day to not more than six
(6) years, or a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) to not more than Five
hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) or both at the discretion of the court.

Section 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations – Within ninety (90) days after the approval
of this Act, the Professional Regulation Commission, together with representatives of the various
Professional Regulatory Boards and accredited professional organizations, the DBM, and the
CHED shall prepare and promulgate the necessary rules and regulations needed to implement the
provisions of this Act.
Section 18. Transitory Provisions – The incumbent Commissioner and two (2) incumbent
Associate Commissioners shall serve as Chairperson and Commissioners respectively under the
terms for which they have been appointed without need of new appointments. The incumbent
Executive Director shall likewise serve as Assistant Commissioner without need of new
appointment.

Section 19. Separability Clause – If any provision of this Act or the application of such
provision to any person or circumstances is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of
this Act or application of such provisions to other persons or circumstance shall not be affected
by such declaration.

Section 20. Repealing Clause – Republic Act. No. 546, Presidential Decree No. 223, as
amended by Presidential Decree No. 657, Republic Act No. 5181, and Executive Order No. 266,
Series of 1995 are hereby repealed. Section 23 (h) of Republic Act No. 7836, Section 4 (m & s).
Section 23 of Republic Act No. 7920, and Section 29 of Republic Act No. 8050, insofar as it
requires completion of the requirements of the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) as a
condition for the renewal of the license are hereby repealed. All other laws, orders, rules and
regulations or resolutions and all part/s thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

Section 21. Effectivity – This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation, whichever is
earlier.
Approved: December 05, 2000

(Sgd.)JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA

President of the Philippines
About the Commission
The Commission Chairman, Teofilo S. Pilando, Jr. was law clerk to
a Supreme Court Justice, thereafter was policy consultant to the Senate
President, trustee of the Asset Privatization Trust, and Deputy Executive
Secretary in the Office of the President.

He also served as National President of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines,

arbitrator for the International Court of Arbitration, and consultant for World Bank and Asian
Development Bank projects.

He read economics and law, having attended the University of the Philippines, Dalhousie
University, Hague Academy of International Law, and was senior member of Oxford's St.
Antony's College.

His professional affiliation includes the American Bar Association, British Institute of
International and Comparative Law, Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in Social
Science, Union Internationale des Avocats, and the Chatham House.
 Architect Yolanda David Reyes specializes in architectural design and facility
planning. She obtained her BS in Architecture in 1975 and her Master in
Architecture in 1986 from the University of Santo Tomas , College of Architecture and
Fine Arts and the UST Graduate School. She completed her PhD academic units at
the School of Urban and Regional Planning of the University of the Philippines. She
was the Dean of the University of Santo Tomas College of Architecture and Fine
Arts for the period of nine years, during which time the College achieved the status of
“Center of Excellence” from the Commission on Higher Education of the Philippines.

Architect Reyes was the first woman to be Dean of University of Santo Tomas College of Architecture and
Fine Arts and to serve as National President of the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP). She also
projected the UAP and the Philippines in the international scene as the first woman architect to be
elected as Chairperson of the Architects Regional Council of Asia or ARCASIA composed of 19 member
countries in Asia. She is currently the Vice President for Region IV of the Union Internationale des
Architectes.

Dr. Jose Y. Cueto Jr. belonged to Class 1977 of the UP College of Medicine. He
finished hisResidency Training in General Surgery at the UP-PGH Medical Center, and
is a Fellow of the Philippine College of Surgeons and the Philippine Society of General
Surgeons. He holds a Master of Health Professions Education degree (MHPEd) from
the UP National Teacher Training Center for the Health Professions based in UP
Manila. He was a member of the Faculty of the DLSU College of Medicine, Chairman
of the Department of Surgery, the Medical Director of the DLSU Medical Center and
Vice-President for Medical Services of the DLSU Health Sciences Campus.

He served as Member of the Professional Regulatory Board of Medicine from 2009-2015, and was
Chairman of the Board in 2012. As member of the Board, he represented the medical profession in the
meetings of the ASEAN Joint Coordinating Committee for Medical Practitioners under the Healthcare
Services Sectoral Working Group which discussed the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangements. He was
also the Overall Coordinator for thePhilippine Qualifications Framework and the ASEAN Qualifications
Reference Framework at the PRC. He was the Founding Dean of the Mariano Marcos State University
College of Medicine from 2015-2017.

Quality Policy & Quality Objectives

Agency Programs & Projects
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) plays a significant role in the attainment of the
core and relevant agenda/ plans of the Duterte administration, such as the Social Development
Agenda under the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022, the 8-Point Labor and
Employment Agenda, and the 10-Point Socioeconomic Agenda.
In order to align the Commission’s existing programs and projects with the aforementioned
plans/ agenda and in keeping with the policy direction under President Duterte’s Social Contract
with the Filipino people, as well as in compliance with various policies that ensure the effective
and timely delivery of key services and availability of information to clients and the general
public, such as Republic Act No. 11032, otherwise known as the “Ease of Doing Business and
Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018” and Executive Order No. 02 (s. 2016) on
Freedom of Information, PRC has continuously pursued the following thrusts and priority
programs as its contribution to the achievement of the country’s macroeconomic goal of
inclusive growth through productive, efficient, and decent work.

I. INSTITUTIONAL

PROGRAMS:
Continuing Impact Assessment of PRC/ PRBs Rules and Procedures
• PRC, with the Professional Regulatory Boards (PRBs), perform licensure, regulatory and
disciplinary, and quasi-judicial functions per its mandate, and as such follows and
implements laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Review and regulatory impact assessment (RIA) of its existing rules, policies and
procedures governing/ guiding the execution of the Commission’s functions is conducted
to ensure that the same remain relevant, adequate, and responsive to the needs of the
time. Further, this will help assist the Commission identify lacks and develop, review,
and/or improve regulation practices in accordance with relevant laws.
• The process entails proper methodology, including the conduct of historical data analysis,
impact assessments, and stakeholders’ consultations to determine potential effects of
proposed policies, regulations, and rules, as well as to afford the agency other options or
interventions in achieving institutional targets and objectives.
• The program in its entirety is crucial to PRC as it issues and implements regulatory
policies affecting a major sector of our society, the professionals, who provide services
that affect the daily living of the public.
Implementation of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
The CPD is a significant component in the maintenance and enhancement of competence of all
professionals as it is primarily concerned with the inculcation of advanced knowledge, skills and
ethical values.
Pursuant to Republic Act No. 10912, otherwise known as the “Continuing Professional
Development (CPD) Act of 2016,” the CPD program strives to continuously improve the quality
of the country’s reservoir of registered and regulated professionals by updating them on the latest
and relevant scientific, technological, ethical, and other applicable trends, knowledge, skills, and
practices in the local and global practice of professions. It also provides support to lifelong
learning in the enhancement of competencies of Filipino professionals towards ethical delivery
of quality services and aligns these developmental activities with the Philippine Qualifications
Framework (PQF) for national relevance and global compatibility and competitiveness.
Now mandatory in the renewal of the Professional Identification Card (PIC) of the professions
regulated by the PRC, various activities are being done by the Commission, including: the
evaluation of qualifications and capability of applicant as accredited CPD provider and of the
quality of accredited CPD provider’s programs for accreditation and provision of credit units
therefor; the monitoring of CPD providers and of the CPD programs to ensure relevance and
compliance; and the evaluation of and granting of credit units for self-directed and/or life-long
learning.
In view of the issuance of PRC Resolution No. 2019-1146 (s. 2019) entitled “Amending
Relevant Provisions of Resolution No. 1032 (s. 2017) otherwise known as the “Implementing
Rules and Regulations (IRR) of R.A. No. 10912, known as the CPD Act of 2016”” providing for
a transition period for the implementation of the CPD Act of 2016, the following activities shall
also be undertaken this 2019:
• Conduct of capacity building and orientation on the implementation of the
aforementioned Resolution;
• Issue and disseminate guidelines on the implementation of the CPD program;
• Issue Operational Guidelines of the regulated professions during the transition period of
the CPD implementation; and
• Report on the number of accredited CPD Providers, Programs and number of
professionals attended for monitoring purposes.

Strengthening the Commission’s Quasi-Judicial Function

The Commission receives legal complaints against professionals and parties claiming to be
licensed professionals, and conducts investigations and hearings for the administrative cases
filed, as well as on incidents and matters arising from the conduct of licensure examinations and
other functions of the Commission and the PRBs.
To speedily resolve the numerous cases received and to effectively and efficiently execute the
activities relative to its quasi-judicial functions, the Commission, through the Legal Service,
shall embark on the following:
• Case Declogging Project, through streamlining of procedures and hiring of more lawyers,
to help decongest the abundant number of cases that the Commission has received and
accumulated through the years;
• Introduction of new Records Management System and implementation of the Legal
Management Information System to enhance the monitoring and security of case folders;
and
• On illegal practice, the Commission is set on working on an arrangement with the
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for the investigation and prosecution of
complaints.

Supporting the PRBs in Licensure, Disciplinary, and Visitorial

Functions
Republic Act No. 8981, otherwise known as the “PRC Modernization Act of 2000”, and the
Professional Regulatory Laws (PRLs) mandate the PRBs to execute licensure and regulatory and
disciplinary functions, as well as other laws that enjoins them to promote and implement policies
that would help enhance the skills, knowledge, and quality of service of licensed professionals
under their respective jurisdictions.
The PRBs, as partners of the Commission in the execution of the aforementioned, are
significantly involved in the processes and activities relative thereto and are therefore fully
supported in the discharge of their functions, especially in the following:
• Licensure - Includes crafting a Table Specification of Test Questions based on Outcome-
Based Education (OBE), conduct of peer review and item analysis, etc.
• Regulation/Disciplinary and Visitorial – Includes the issuance of PIC to new
professionals (Initial Registration), renewal of PIC of licensed professionals, duplicate of
PIC and Professional License, conduct of inspection and monitoring, issuance of
Certificate of Compliance/ Accreditation, issuance if Authority to Operate, etc.
II. INTER-AGENCY

PROJECTS:
Inter-Agency Collaboration
The Commission shall continue its collaboration with agencies of government on issues
concerning the professions and professionals, particularly on initiatives to enhance the practice
of Filipino professionals overseas, as well as to regulate domestic practice by foreign
professionals. It shall work with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Department of
Trade and Industry (DTI) for the inclusion of mutual recognition in their priority measures, and
with Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for the welfare of professionals working
here and abroad.

ISO Certification
The project is in compliance with Executive Order No. 605, series of 2007 and DOLE
Memorandum Order No. 42-18, series of 2013. Its implementation is in line with the
Commission’s compliance with the ISO 9001:2015 standards and its policy to continuously
improve the processes of its frontline and support services.
The Commission shall endeavor to maintain its certification under the 9001:2015 Quality
Management System (QMS), paving the way to further improving its systems for certification to
the latest ISO QMS.