MANILA – The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved on the third and final reading a measure providing for a five-year validity period of the professional identification cards issued by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
In the plenary session, a resounding 234 lawmakers voted in favor of House Bill 9764, aiming to prolong the validity of professional IDs and Certificates of Registration issued by the PRC to five years for every professional. There were no votes against the bill, and no abstentions were recorded.
According to Northern Samar Rep. Paul Daza, the bill’s objective is to distribute the renewal of professional IDs over a span of five years instead of the existing three-year cycle.
“This will ease the pressure on the appointment system since there will be less professionals renewing every year and there will be a reasonable time interval between each renewal period,” he said.
Daza emphasized that extending the validity period would enable the PRC to improve its appointment system and address any shortcomings during slower periods.
Meanwhile, Ilocos Norte Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba, another proponent of the bill, highlighted that prolonging the validity of professional licenses would offer Filipino professionals greater efficiency and effectiveness in practicing their respective professions.
“It will likewise reduce the expenses of the renewal process and therefore, professional will have longer time to comply with other requirements needed for their continuity in service and professional development,” Barba said.
