History of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) PDF

History The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC/Commission) is the licensing and regulatory agency of the national government for the practice of regulated professions. It was first created as a national government agency by Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 223 dated June 22, 1973, signed by then...

History The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC/Commission) is the licensing and regulatory agency of the national government for the practice of regulated professions. It was first created as a national government agency by Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 223 dated June 22, 1973, signed by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos, mandated to enforce the laws regulating the various professions. It was previously called the Office of the Board of Examiners, which was created by Republic Act No. 546 on June 17, 1950, under the aegis of the Civil Service Commission. The PRC became operational on January 4, 1974. The office was attached to the Office of the President for general direction and coordination. On December 9, 1974, the Implementing Rules and Regulations of P.D. No. 223 were promulgated, paving the way for standardization of rules and procedures for the thirty-three (33) professions then under the CSC. On December 5, 2000, President Joseph Ejercito Estrada signed Republic Act No. 8981 otherwise known as the PRC Modernization Act of 2000. The Implementing Rules and Regulations were adopted on February 15, 2001 through PRC Resolution No. 1 series of 2001. With the passing of RA 8981, the Commission exercises three functions: 1) executive functions; 2) quasi-legislative functions; and 3) quasi- judicial functions. It had also set its new thrusts and priorities such as customer-focused service, modernization through full computerization and re-structuring, integrity of licensure examinations, good governance, protection and promotion of Filipino professionals and support to national development priorities. In fulfillment of its legal mandate, the PRC performs two important functions, which are: 1) to conduct and administer licensure examinations to aspiring professionals, and 2) to regulate and supervise the practice of the professions exercised in partnership with the forty-six (46) Professional Regulatory Boards (PRBs) in the fields of health, business, education, social sciences, engineering and technology. The PRBs govern their respective professions’ practice and ethical standards and accredit the professional organization representing the professionals. On September 11, 2006, as supplemented by Executive Order No. 565-A, PRC was attached to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for administrative supervision and control. Being an attached agency of the DOLE, the PRC works closely to the mandate of its mother agency. The PRC serves more than 4.9 million professionals (as of October 2022) from 46 various regulated professions and the hundreds of thousands of aspiring professionals who take the licensure examinations every year. Thus, PRC stakeholders include the professionals, would-be professionals, accredited professional organizations, foreign professionals seeking temporary permit to practice their professions in the country, schools and academe, and other government agencies. To better carry out its mandate and in order to implement the PRC Modernization Act, the PRC was given approval by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on April 20, 2013 to implement a reorganization of its organizational structure. On June 8, 2016, the new Organizational Structure and Staffing Pattern (OSSP) pursuant to Republic Act (RA) No. 8981 was approved by DBM. The Notice of Organization, Staffing and Compensation Action (NOSCA) formalizing the approved OSSP of PRC Central Office, effective not earlier than June 8, 2016, has been transmitted by DBM on October 10, 2016. Further, the Office of the President, through the Executive Secretary, issued a Memorandum on May 16, 2017 on the approval of the creation of PRC new offices/services: Regional Offices in NCR & Regions I, III, IV-B, XII and XIII, Legal Service, International Affairs Office, Information and Communications Technology Service, and Planning, Management and Financial Service. The NOSCA formalizing the approved OSSP of the approved new offices and positions and the reclassification of key positions was issued by DBM on August 2, 2017. With the reorganization, the plantilla positions were increased from Four Hundred Eighty-Four (484) to One Thousand Sixty-Eight (1068) and the previous ten (10) field offices were converted into Regional Offices, in addition to the six (6) new Regional Offices. These changes led to reclassification and conversion of key positions resulting in upgrades in rank and salary. With the desire to continuously expand its reach and serve more clients, especially in the far-flung areas, PRC, at present, has established at least thirty (30) Service Centers, and One-Stop Service Center for OFWs (OSSCOs) nationwide. With a strong commitment to delivering its core processes by facilitating ease of access and bringing its services closer to the people, the Commission’s Service Centers has served more than three (3) million clients from FY 2016 to 2021. PROFESSIONAL REGULATION COMMISSION TIMELINE June 17, 1950 Civil Service Commission (CSC). June 22, 1973 Professional Regulation Commission was created by Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 223, signed by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos. Under P.D. No. 223, PRC was created as a three-man agency attached to the Office of The President for general direction and coordination. January 4, 1974 PRC became operational with the assumption of the first Commissioner, Architect Eric C. Nubla. June 14, 1974 Proclamation No. 1276 was issued declaring June 22 to 29, 1974 as "Professional Consciousness Week." December 9, The Implementing Rules and Regulations of P.D. No. 223 was promulgated. 1974 1975 Computerization of the database of registered professionals started with the assistance of the National Computer Center. October 11, Presidential Decree No. 839 was issued placing the PRC under the general 1975 direction and coordination of the CSC. August 1976 PRC entered into agreement with the Civil Service Commission to register all board examination passers as civil service eligibles pursuant to R.A. 1080, as amended. 1977 PRC started issuing registration cards valid for 3 years pursuant to Letter of Instruction No. 567. Proclamation No. 1646 was issued declaring June 22-29 of every year as "Professional Consciousness Week." June 4, 1987 President Corazon C. Aquino issued Proclamation No. 118 declaring June 16 to 22 of every year as Professional Regulation Week. 1991 The Commission had developed its first Test Questions Databank System. Partially-computerized licensure examinations started with the physician licensure examinations in August, followed by partially-computerized licensure examinations for midwives, accountants, medical technologists, and nurses President Corazon C. Aquino signed Executive Order No. 496 instituting procedures and criteria for the selection and recommendation of nominees to vacant positions in the Professional Regulatory Boards. 1992 The Commission implemented the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) for all professions and resumed the conferment of “Outstanding Professional of the Year” awards, which was discontinued from 1986 to 1991, and started conferring the “Outstanding Accredited Professional of the Year Award”. 1993 PRC returned to the Office of the President as an attached agency. September 20, President Fidel V. Ramos issued E.O. No. 200 which institutionalized the full 1994 computerization for all licensure examinations. December 16, Republic Act No. 7836 ("Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act") was 1994 enacted, transferring the regulation of the teaching profession from CSC to PRC. July 25, 1995 President Fidel Ramos issued E.O. No. 266 which institutionalized CPE and made it mandatory for the renewal of professional identification cards. 1996 Decentralization of agency operations began with the full operations of regional offices in the cities of Baguio and Cebu, Legazpi, Cagayan de Oro and Davao. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations Coordinating Council for Services approved the Mutual Recognition Agreement proposal of the PRC. June 18, 1996 First Conference of Professionals was held in Manila Hotel. 1997 The CPE was fully implemented for all professions with the issuance of Executive Order No. 266. 1998 PRC formally adopted its Vision and Mission and its first Commission Strategic Plan. Creation of PRC regional offices in Iloilo, Zamboanga, Tacloban and Tuguegarao. September 3, PRC was formally awarded the ISO 9002 Certification by the Anglo-Japanese- 1999 American Environmental Quality and Safety Certification for licensing of Marine Deck and Engineer Officers December 5, Republic Act No. 8981 or the PRC Modernization Act was enacted by 2000 President Joseph Ejercito Estrada June 23, 2003 Good governance among the professions was launched with the signing of Executive Order No. 220 ("Directing the Adoption of the Code of Good Governance for the Professions in the Philippines") September 11, PRC was attached to the Department of Labor and Employment pursuant to 2006 Executive Order No. 565. October 9, 2006 Executive Order No. 565-A was issued, delegating the Presidential power of control over the PRC to the DOLE Secretary. 2008 The PRC Hymn was adopted. 2009 PRC and the CHED signed a Memorandum of Agreement to monitor the performance of schools. January 15-16, The Commission adopted its new vision, mission and core values to reflect its 2009 mandate and aspirations. 2010 The PRC and CHED issued a circular requiring State and local universities and colleges to secure an authority from CHED to operate board programs and for PRC not to admit applicants for licensure examinations effective January 2011 from educational institutions which failed to comply. 2011 The Commission introduced the remote transmission of test packages to three (3) pilot regional offices in Cebu, Iloilo, and Davao, and eventually adopted in all the 10 regional offices of PRC nationwide. 2012 The Commission launched the Online Application System (OAS) an Online Registration System (ORS) which computerized the ID renewal process, reducing the process cycle time from the previous two months to seven (7) days. Commission, SM Malls and Bureau of Treasury signed a Memorandum for the Professional ID Renewal Center at the Malls. October 2, 2012 Proclamation No. 487 was issued by President Benigno S. Aquino III declaring the third week of October every year as “Philippine Professionals Competitiveness Week” in recognition of the important role that the Filipino professionals play in nation building and development. October 18-19, The Commission in collaboration with the Philippine Association of 2012 Professional Regulatory Boards, Inc. (PAPRB) held the First Professional Summit at the Manila Hotel July 25, 2013 The revised Continuing Professional Development Guidelines were issued through Resolution No. 2013-774 Resolution No. 2013-774 dated July 25, 2013. June 17, 2014 PRC Resolution 2014-841 was issued adopting the Official Medallion, Trinket and Sash for the Eric C. Nubla Excellence Awardee of the Year. The Eric Nubla Excellence Award intends to accord distinct honor to a professional who surpassed the qualification standard based on the criteria set forth to be an outstanding professional November 15, Republic Act No. 10635 was issued transferring the Maritime Profession to the 2014 Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA). July 21, 2016 The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) bill lapsed into law on July 21, 2016. The CPD Law or Republic Act No. 10912 – An Act Mandating and Strengthening the Continuing Professional Development Program for all Regulated Professions, Creating the Continuing Professional Development Council, and Appropriating Funds Therefor, and for other Purposes shall take effect on August 16, 2016