Lawmakers formally file a bill to repeal CPD Law

MANILA, Philippines - Several lawmakers have formally submitted a bill that aims to repeal the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Act of 2016.

Lawmakers formally file a bill to repeal CPD Law

Representatives Antonio Tinio and France Castro of the ACT Teachers Party-List have formally filed House Bill No. 7171 in the House of Representatives to help abolish the controversial CPD Law.


In the formal statement, the solons described the CPD Law as “geared to benefit foreign corporations—not the professionals themselves nor the Philippine economy, aside from imposing multiple financial, logistical, and psychological burdens on teachers and other professionals.”

A bill has been filed to repeal the CPD Law.
A bill has been filed to repeal the CPD Law.

“This government should no longer inconvenience our professionals in the name of business and foreign interests. We strongly urge the House of Representatives and the Senate to immediately hear and pass House Bill No. 7171 to repeal the CPD Act of 2016,” the representatives added.

UPDATE: Villanueva aims to amend CPD law, extend PRC license validity to 5 years

Under the CPD Law, all professionals are required to earn CPD units by joining formal and non-formal training for the renewal of their Professional Identification Card every three years, effective July 1, 2017.

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) explained that the law was enacted to conform with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Mutual Recognition Arrangements, the Philippine Qualifications Framework, and the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework to help Filipino professionals to be at par with other member countries’ standards.

Rep. Tinio pointed out that the law makes Filipinos “exported as cheap providers of professional services” and adds that it further promotes the “labor export policy, which already sends out of the country daily thousands of Filipinos, professionals among them.”

Rep. Castro also revealed that the law “relies mainly on the private provision of continuing professional development, treating professionals as milking cows for profit.”

They called the CPD Act as an “unnecessary law” because we already have existing laws and provisions "to ensure that professional standards are upheld, professional competencies are continuously developed, and public welfare is protected.”

Professionals unhappy with the CPD Act

Several professionals have already expressed with dissatisfaction over the CPD Act. Since last year, countless of petitions from various professions have been made.

A Facebook post from Hernando Bernal was answered by the Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, one of the authors of the law. Trillanes explained that they have forwarded his complaint to the PRC. He also gave an assurance that he asked the PRC to make their operations more “efficient, convenient and affordable for professionals.”

PRC clarifies and warns of fake news

PRC made clarifications that Sen. Trillanes never made mention that the CPD Law will be abolished but is is continually meeting with stakeholders to improve the law.

They also added that they practice “maximum flexibility” in the implementation of the CPD.

— Sally, The Summit Express


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