Question & AnswerQ&A (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 223)
The purpose of Presidential Decree No. 223 is to create the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to administer, implement, coordinate, and supervise the various Boards of Examiners in regulating and licensing the various professions in the Philippines.
The Commission is composed of three members: one full-time Commissioner who serves as Chairman and two full-time Associate Commissioners. All are appointed by the President for a term of nine years, except for the initial Associate Commissioners who serve staggered terms of six and three years respectively.
A person must be at least forty years old, familiar with the principles and methods of professional regulation and/or licensing, and have at least five years of executive or managerial experience to be appointed as a Commissioner or Associate Commissioner.
The PRC administers and enforces regulatory policies on professions and occupations, issues rules and regulations, reviews and approves Board policies, conducts licensure examinations, maintains registers of practitioners, fixes fees, appoints officials and employees, supervises Boards, and may approve registration of foreign professionals under certain conditions, among others.
The Boards retain powers to oversee conditions affecting the practice of their professions, investigate violations, hear administrative cases, issue decisions subject to Commission review, approve registrations without examination, suspend or revoke registrations, and prepare and score licensure exams.
The term is nine years without reappointment, except for the first two Associate Commissioners who have terms of six and three years respectively.
The Commissioner receives an annual salary of 48,000 pesos with additional commutable transportation and representation allowances of 500 pesos. Each Associate Commissioner receives an annual compensation of 36,000 pesos with 350 pesos commutable transportation and representation allowances.
The PRC exercises general administrative, executive, and policy-making functions, supervises the Boards, reviews their policies and decisions, keeps custody of their records, and approves appointments to the Boards.
The Office of the Boards of Examiners, including its personnel, funds, records, supplies, equipment, and materials, is transferred to the Professional Regulation Commission.