Around 1.2 million Filipino professionals stand to benefit from a House-approved bill seeking to extend the validity of Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) licenses from three years to five years.
House Bill No. 8876 seeks to amend existing rules on the renewal of Professional Identification Cards issued by the PRC, a move intended to reduce the recurring cost, paperwork, and time spent by professionals in renewing their licenses.
The House of Representatives approved the measure on third and final reading last Wednesday. Its counterpart bill remains pending in the Senate.
Based on PRC data, there are currently 1,259,264 registered professionals in the country. Of this number, 1,195,936, or about 95 percent, already hold valid Professional Identification Cards.
Among those expected to benefit most from the proposed longer license validity are 562,369 professional teachers, 156,023 nurses, 111,692 criminologists, 49,458 civil engineers, 37,393 medical technologists, 24,700 physicians, 24,066 psychometricians, 22,677 mechanical engineers, 21,110 registered electrical engineers, and 20,529 certified public accountants.
Supporters of the measure said extending the validity period would help decongest renewal systems and allow professionals to devote more time to their work, continuing professional development, and public service instead of frequent compliance requirements.
House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III said professionals remain among the country’s most important workforce sectors, including teachers, nurses, engineers, accountants, doctors, and other licensed workers who help sustain public and private services.
“Sa pagpapalawig ng validity ng kanilang PRC licenses mula tatlong taon tungong limang taon, mababawasan ang paulit-ulit na gastos, abala, at oras na inuubos nila sa renewal process. Practical at makataong hakbang ito para suportahan ang ating workforce,” he said.
The measure is also seen as part of broader efforts to streamline government transactions, improve ease of doing business, and make regulatory processes more responsive to the needs of Filipino workers.
Lawmakers said the reform would ease the burden on professionals while maintaining standards of competence and professionalism across regulated fields.