LOOK: Recto's bill to abolish CPD Law now filed in Senate

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATED) Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto made true to his promise that he will seek to abolish Republic Act 10912, or the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Law.

Recto's bill to abolish CPD Law now filed in Senate
Ralph Recto's bill to abolish CPD Law now filed in Senate.

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 Regulation Commission (PRC) Identification Card every three years, effective July 1, 2017.

Senate Bill No. 2073 introduced by Senator Ralph Recto seeks to repeal the controversial CPD Law.

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Recto outlined the main complaint against the CPD Law saying that, “Many professionals are against the law due to the costs of undergoing extensive training, seminars and other activities undertaken related to their profession to earn the necessary CPD units.”

UPDATE: Legislative process on how Senate Bill No. 2073 can abolish CPD law

The Senate bill further explained that while further professional development is necessary, “it does not come cheap” to those who are earning meager pay or still starting out in their careers.

Recto focused the issue of accessibility of CPD seminars to many Filipino professionals. He mentioned how professionals in the countryside are burdened with the cost of CPD seminars mostly centered in cities. He also wrote about the challenges of OFWs who do not have access to seminars abroad and also the professionals who work at graveyard shifts and don't have the luxury of time to spare.

Recto said that in a time when inflation rate is high, oil prices continues to increase and the peso is at weakest, our local professionals need not be burdened with additional costs.

Recto's bill to abolish CPD Law now filed in Senate

Recto's bill to abolish CPD Law now filed in Senate

Recto's bill to abolish CPD Law now filed in Senate

Last week, the senator issued a statement that he will work on abolishing CPD law. Recto commented how faulty the law was and they need to work in correcting it. He said, “Like many pieces of legislation, its intention was good, but not its implementation.”

Recto also called out to the lawmakers to act on abolishing the CPD law and help the Filipino professionals. He said, “It is time for Congress to heed the clamor of 3.2 million registered Filipino professionals to unburden them of this law.”

Legislative Procedure

To formally abolish the CPD law, the Senate bill 2073 still has to undergo the legislative procedure to become a law.

After Senator Recto introduced the bill, it will now be referred to the appropriate committee for debates.

The bill may be referred to more than one committee. In the case of Senate bill 2073, it may fall under Senate committee on labor, employment, and human resources development with Senator Joel Villanueva as chairman. Villanueva already issued a statement earlier that he supports the amending of the CPD law.

Another committee that possibly may hear the bill is the Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation with Senator Antonio Trillanes IV as chairman. Trillanes, the main author of the CPD law earlier expressed that he understands the sentiments against CPD but insists that it is necessary for professional development.

After committee hearings, it will have to pass the second and third readings before being submitted to the Lower chamber (House of Representatives). Once Congress approves the bill, it will be printed and sent to Malacañang for the President’s signature turning it into a law.

There is no definite time frame on how long a bill becomes a law since “Senate debate is unlimited unless cloture is invoked”. In the case of the CPD Law, it became a law on July 21, 2016 and took effect in less than one month on August 16, 2016. It’s implementation was not until a year after on March 15, 2017, upon the effectivity of Resolution No. 1032 or the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of R.A. No. 10912.

— Sally, The Summit Express


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