Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 8981)
The Act shall be called the PRC Modernization Act of 2000.
The State recognizes the important role of professionals in nation-building and promotes the sustained development of a reservoir of competent professionals whose standards of professional service and practice are internationally recognized and considered world-class.
The PRC is composed of three members: one full-time Chairperson and two full-time Commissioners, all appointed by the President for a term of seven years without reappointment.
They must be at least 40 years old, hold a valid certificate of registration or professional license, be familiar with professional regulation and licensing methods, have at least five years of executive or management experience, and one Commissioner must be a past Chairperson or member of a Professional Regulatory Board.
To administer, implement and enforce regulatory policies on professional regulation and licensing; conduct licensure examinations; issue certificates of registration and professional licenses; supervise professional regulatory boards; and adopt policies to uphold professional standards and ethics among others.
The PRC conducts licensure examinations according to its rules and regulations, decides exam venues and schedules, appoints supervisors, publishes results, and can impose penalties including suspension from exams for violations of examination rules.
Conviction results in imprisonment of not less than six years and one day to twelve years, or a fine of P50,000 to P100,000, or both. Officers or employees involved will be removed from office and disqualified from public office permanently.
They may be punished by imprisonment from six months and one day to six years, or a fine of P50,000 to P500,000, or both, at the court's discretion.
They regulate practice of their professions, monitor professional conditions, conduct hearings and investigations, prepare syllabi and questions for exams, and recommend registration without examination among other functions.
The Act takes effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette or any two newspapers of general circulation, whichever is earlier.