Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 8981)
The title of Republic Act No. 8981 is the "PRC Modernization Act of 2000."
The main policy is that the State recognizes the important role of professionals in nation-building and promotes the development of competent professionals through honest and credible licensure examinations and maintaining high standards of professional service and practice.
The PRC is composed of a three-man commission headed by 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 forty years old, hold a valid certificate of registration/professional license and professional identification card or certificate of competency, be familiar with professional regulation and licensing, and have at least five years of executive or management experience. Additionally, one Commissioner must be a past Chairperson or member of a Professional Regulatory Board.
They are appointed by the President to serve a seven-year term starting from assumption of office without reappointment. Appointments to vacancies cover only the unexpired term of the predecessor. The most senior Commissioner temporarily acts as Chairperson upon expiration of the Chairperson's term until a new one is appointed.
The PRC is tasked to administer, implement, and enforce regulatory policies on professional regulation and licensing, conduct licensure examinations, issue certificates and licenses, supervise regulatory boards, investigate administrative cases, enforce penalties for violations, approve registrations, and perform other administrative and executive functions necessary for regulating professions.
Persons convicted of manipulating exam results face imprisonment from six years and one day to twelve years, fines from PHP 50,000 to PHP 100,000, or both. Officers or employees of the PRC involved will be removed from office and perpetually disqualified from public office. Accomplices and accessories face lesser penalties accordingly.
Upon recommendation of the Professional Regulatory Board, the PRC may approve the registration and issuance of certificates/licenses without examination to foreign professionals registered in their countries with comparable requirements and reciprocal privileges. They may also issue special temporary permits under specific conditions and supervise compliance with permit terms.
They retain the power to regulate practice within their professions, monitor conditions affecting the profession, investigate and hear administrative cases, determine exam content and results subject to PRC approval, suspend or revoke licenses for cause, and submit annual reports to the PRC.
Certificates and licenses issued by the PRC are authority to practice the profession and cannot be withdrawn, cancelled, revoked, or suspended except for just cause after due notice and hearing.