Revised Rules on the Accreditation of Professional Organizations - Professional Regulation Commission Philippines PDF

Here is the conversion of the provided document image to a markdown format: # Republic of the Philippines # Professional Regulation Commission # Manila **RESOLUTION NO. 2018-1089** Series of 2018 ## REVISED RULES ON THE ACCREDITATION OF PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INTEGRATED PROFESSIONAL ORGAN...

Here is the conversion of the provided document image to a markdown format: # Republic of the Philippines # Professional Regulation Commission # Manila **RESOLUTION NO. 2018-1089** Series of 2018 ## REVISED RULES ON THE ACCREDITATION OF PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INTEGRATED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WHEREAS, Section 5 of Republic Act No. 8981, known as the "PRC Modernization Act of 2000", provides that "[T]he Chairperson of the Commission, and the Commissioners, as members thereof, shall sit and act as a body to exercise general administrative, executive and policy-making functions of the Commission"; WHEREAS, Section 8 (p) of Commission Resolution No. 2000-01 or the Rules and Regulations to Implement the Provisions of Republic Act No. 8981 provides that one of the powers, functions and responsibilities of the Professional Regulation Commission is "[T]o exercise administrative supervision over the various Professional Regulatory Boards (Boards) and its members"; WHEREAS, the Commission recognizes the existence of accredited professional organizations by virtue of Executive Order 496, Series of 1991, entitled "Instituting Procedures and Criteria for the Selection and the Recommendation of Nominees for Appointment to Vacant Positions in the Professional Regulatory Boards under the Supervision of the Professional Regulation Commission"; WHEREAS, relevant provisions in various Professional Regulatory Laws empower the Commission, together with the Boards, to accredit professional organizations for each of its regulated profession; WHEREAS, the Boards have regulatory jurisdiction over registered and licensed professionals who are or can be members of professional organizations belonging to their discipline or profession; WHEREAS, the PRC issued Resolution No. 2004-178, Series of 2004, entitled "Rules Governing the Status of the Present Accredited Professional Organizations, Accreditation of New/Future Professional Organizations, the Renewal of the Certificates of Accreditation, and their Cancellation/Suspension", which governs the accreditation process of Accredited Professional Organizations (APOs)/Accredited Integrated Professional Organizations (AIPOs); WHEREAS, there is a need to review and revise the present rules to address some implementation and operational gaps in the process of accrediting APOS/AIPOS; WHEREAS, the Commission and the Professional Regulatory Board, as the case may be, shall accredit only one (1) professional organization for each of the professions under its jurisdiction; WHEREAS, the Commission, in crafting the new rules on the accreditation of APOS/AIPOs, conducted consultations with the Boards, APOS, AIPOs, Philippine Federation of Professional Association, Inc. (PFPA) and other stakeholders; WHEREAS, the Boards, APOS, AIPOS, PFPA and other stakeholders favorably endorsed this Revised Rules on the Accreditation of Professional Organizations and Integrated Professional Organizations for the approval of the Commission. NOW, THEREFORE, the Commission RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to issue and promulgate this "Revised Rules on the Accreditation of Professional Organizations and Integrated Professional Organizations". ## RULE 1 ## DEFINITION OF TERMS Section 1. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Rules, the following terminologies shall be construed as: a. Accreditation - refers to the formal or official approval granted to an organization upon meeting the basic requirements and achievement standards, including qualifications, for a period of three (3) years; b. Certificate of Accreditation - refers to the document issued by the PRC, upon endorsement or recommendation of the Board, after the organization had complied with the requirements set forth in this Rules; c. Certificate of Registration (CoR) – refers to the document issued by the PRC and the Board signifying that the person named therein has complied with all the legal and procedural requirements for such issuance, including, in appropriate cases, passing the licensure examination; d. Professional Identification Card (PIC) - refers to the card bearing the registration number, dates of issuance and expiry, duly signed by the PRC Chairperson that is issued to a registered professional upon payment of the prescribed fee and compliance with Republic Act No. 10912 (CPD Act of 2016); e. APO - refers to the PRC Accredited Professional Organization where membership therein by professionals is only voluntary; f. AIPO - refers to the concerned Board and PRC Accredited Integrated Professional Organization for a given profession which is specifically mandated by the provision of the PRL to integrate the professionals into one national organization and where the membership therein by professionals is automatic and mandatory¹; g. ASEAN - Association of Southeast Asian Nations; h. BIR - refers to the Bureau of Internal Revenue; i. Board - refers to the Professional Regulatory Board; j. CPA - refers to the Certified Public Accountant; k. CPD - refers to the Continuing Professional Development; l. GIS - refers to the General Information Sheet; m. MRA - refers to the mutual recognition arrangement between or among states; n. PRC - refers to the Professional Regulation Commission; o. PRL - refers to the Professional Regulatory Law; and p. SEC - refers to the Securities and Exchange Commission. ## RULE 2 ## ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION (APO)— ## QUALIFICATIONS, DISQUALIFICATIONS, AND RENEWAL OF ACCREDITATION Section 2. Qualifications for Accreditation. - In order to be accredited by the PRC, a professional organization must, at the time of filing of its application for accreditation, possess all of the following qualifications: a. It is established for the promotion of the benefit and welfare of the professionals of one discipline, the advancement of their profession, and the attainment of other professional ends; b. Its membership is open to all registered professionals of the same discipline without discrimination; c. It is duly registered as a non-stock and non-profit corporation or association with SEC and duly registered with BIR; and d. Its membership in a particular discipline shall be comprised of at least fifty percent plus one (50% + 1) of the registered professionals possessing current and valid PICS. Section 3. Disqualifications for Accreditation. - A professional organization shall be disqualified from applying for accreditation as APO on any of the following grounds: a. It has committed act/s inimical to the interest of the profession or its members; b. It has failed to comply with the lawful orders and/or policies of the Board and/or the PRC; c. It has failed to comply with regulatory policies of other government agencies like the SEC, BIR and local government units; d. It has adopted discriminatory policies on membership; and e. It has committed other act/s analogous to the foregoing. Section 4. Documentary Requirements for Accreditation. - A professional organization seeking accreditation shall submit the following documents: a. A duly notarized Petition for Accreditation signed by the authorized representative of the professional organization with a statement that it possesses all of the qualifications and none of the disqualifications to become an APO and with verification; (Copy of Petition Form is hereto attached as Annex "A") b. Secretary's Certificate or Board Resolution granting authority to represent the professional organization; c. Complete list of incumbent officers of the professional organization, including its chapter officers (if any), with photocopies of their PICs; d. Authenticated copy of certificate of registration issued by SEC; e. Authenticated copy of certificate of registration issued by BIR; f. Authenticated copy of the professional organization's current Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws; g. Copy of the latest Audited Financial Statement/s submitted to SEC duly signed by a CPA authorized to practice public accountancy, including those of its chapter organizations, if applicable; h. Proof of payment of the prescribed processing fee; and i. Complete list of members in good standing, with the following details: Names of members in alphabetical order and numbered; i. Their respective CoR numbers; ii. Dates of registration; and iii. Status of PICs, whether valid or expired. Here is an example of an entry to the table below. | No. | Name of Member | CoR Number | Date of Registration | Status of PIC | Receipt No. of Membership Dues | | --- | --------------- | ---------- | ------------------ | ------------ | -------------------------- | | 1 | | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | The petitioner has the option of submitting soft copies of items c and i in PDF format. The items shall be saved in the CD separately with a file name corresponding to the name of the professional organization followed by the name of the document. (Example file name: PRC-List of Members) Section 5. Documentary Requirements for the Renewal of Accreditation. The APO seeking for the renewal of its accreditation shall submit the following documents: a. A duly notarized Petition for Renewal of Accreditation signed by the authorized representative of the professional organization (Copy of Petition Form is hereto attached as Annex "B") stating, among others, the following: i. That the professional organization continues to maintain the purpose/s for which it was established²; and ii. That the membership of the accredited professional organization does not fall below fifty percent plus one (50%+1) of the registered professionals with valid PICs for the current year; b. Secretary's Certificate or Board Resolution granting authority to represent the professional organization; c. Complete list of incumbent officers of the professional organization, including its chapter officers (if any), with photocopies of their PICs; d. Authenticated copy of the recent amended Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, if any; e. Proof of payment of the prescribed processing fee; f. Complete list of members in good standing, with the following details: i. Names of members in alphabetical order and numbered; ii. Their respective CoR numbers; iii. Dates of registration; and iv. Status of PICs, whether valid or expired. The petitioner has the option of submitting soft copies of items c and f in the manner provided under Section 4. The petition for renewal, with all the supporting documents, shall be submitted not later than three (3) months prior to the expiration of the APO's Certificate of Accreditation. ## RULE 3 ## ACCREDITED INTEGRATED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION (ΑΙΡΟ)— ## QUALIFICATIONS, DISQUALIFICATIONS, AND RENEWAL OF ACCREDITATION Section 6. Qualifications for Accreditation. In order to be accredited by the concerned Board and PRC, a professional organization must, at the time of filing of its application for accreditation, possess all of the following qualifications: a. Its Articles of Incorporation include as one of its purposes: to integrate the professionals of one discipline into one (1) national organization as mandated by their PRL; b. It promises to carry out the policies, objectives, and purposes pursuant to its mandate under the PRL; c. It is a duly registered non-stock and non-profit corporation or association with the SEC and duly registered with the BIR; and d. Its membership in a particular discipline shall be comprised of at least fifty percent plus one (50% + 1) of the registered professionals possessing current and valid PICs. Section 7. Disqualifications for Accreditation. A professional organization shall be disqualified from applying for accreditation as AIPO on any of the grounds provided under Section 3 of Rule 2. Section 8. Documentary Requirements for Accreditation. A professional organization seeking accreditation to become an AIPO shall submit the documents listed under Section 4 of Rule 2. (A Copy of Petition Form is hereto attached as Annex "C"). Section 9. Documentary Requirements for the Renewal of Accreditation. The AIPO seeking for the renewal of its accreditation shall submit the following documents: a. A duly notarized Petition for Renewal signed by the authorized representative of the professional organization stating, among others, that the professional organization continues to maintain the purpose/s for which it was established³; (Copy of Petition Form is hereto attached as Annex "D") b. Secretary's Certificate or Board Resolution granting authority to represent the professional organization; c. Complete list of incumbent officers of the professional organization, including its chapter officers (if any), with photocopies of their PICs; d. Authenticated copy of the recent amended Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, if any; and e. Proof of payment of the prescribed processing fee. The petitioner has the option of submitting soft copies of item c in the manner provided under Section 4. The petition for renewal, with all the supporting documents, shall be submitted not later than three (3) months prior to the expiration of the AIPO's Certificate of Accreditation. ## RULE 4 ## PROCESS, PUBLICATION, AND VALIDITY OF ACCREDITATION Section 10. Endorsement/Recommendation by the Board. Upon receipt of complete documents of the organization applying as APO, the Board shall evaluate the petition submitted and make an endorsement to the PRC within thirty (30) days from receipt thereof. The endorsement shall contain the reason for the approval or disapproval of the petition. (Endorsement Form is hereto attached as Annex "E") Upon receipt of complete documents of the organization applying as AIPO, the Board shall evaluate the petition submitted and make a Board Resolution recommending approval or denial, stating its reason/s, to the PRC within thirty (30) days. Section 11. Action on the Petition for Accreditation. - Upon granting of the petition, the PRC shall issue a Resolution which shall be published in any newspaper of general circulation at the expense of the petitioner. The accreditation shall take effect immediately upon the publication of the Resolution, and after which, the PRC shall issue the Certificate of Accreditation. If the petition for accreditation is denied, the PRC shall notify the petitioner in writing citing the reason/s provided in the Board or PRC Resolution, as the case may be. The decision denying the petition shall be final and executory. Section 12. Validity of Accreditation. The Certificate of Accreditation is valid for three (3) years from the completion of the Resolution's publication. Section 13. Processing Fee. The processing fee for the initial and renewal of accreditation shall be the amount prescribed in the processing sheet. (Processing Sheet is hereto attached as Annex "F" for new professional organizations and "G-1 and G-2" for the renewal of professional organizations) ## RULE 5 ## RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF APO/ΑΙΡΟ Section 14. Rights and Privileges of APO/AIPO. - The APO/AIPO shall enjoy, within the period of the validity of its accreditation, the following rights and privileges: a. To represent the profession for which such organization has been established and accredited; b. To submit nominees for vacant positions in the Board; c. To bid for the yearly award for the outstanding professional organization; d. To nominate for the annual outstanding professional of its profession; e. To designate a representative to sit as the 1st member of the CPD Council; f. To be part of the oath taking ceremony of the new professionals; g. To represent the profession in the Monitoring Committee for the ASEAN MRAs, if applicable; and h. To exercise analogous rights and privileges under the law. Section 15. Duties and Responsibilities of APO/AΙΡΟ. It shall be the duty and responsibility of the APO/AIΡΟ: a. To define the professional responsibilities of its members; b. To ensure that its members adhere to the Code of Ethics, Responsibilities, and highest professional and technical standards; c. To improve the standards of the profession through effective collaboration with the Board and the PRC; d. To look into the conditions affecting the practice of the profession and to propose policies or measures to the Board or the PRC for its improvement; e. To ensure the welfare, and best interest as well as harmonious relationship among its members; and f. To report violations of the PRL to the PRC, through the Office of the Legal Service, for possible prosecution or filing of complaint. Section 16. Annual Reportorial Requirements. - During the validity of accreditation, the APO/AIPO shall, in addition to the duties and responsibilities stated in the preceding section, submit the following: a. Yearly Audited Financial Statement (FS) of the organization and those of its chapters,