MANILA, Philippines – Albay 3rd District Representative-elect Raymond Adrian Salceda has announced plans to ease the burden on Filipino professionals by extending the validity of licenses issued by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and improving access to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programs.
In a media release on Tuesday, Salceda said that his proposed bill, the “Professional License Rationalization and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Access Act,” is already finalized and backed by economic studies. It will be formally filed when the new Congress opens.
License validity: from 3 years to 10?
The bill seeks to change the current 3-year license renewal system into a profession-based structure:
- Dynamic professions (e.g., healthcare, IT) would renew licenses every 5 years.
- Established professions (e.g., teaching, librarianship, criminology) would renew every 10 years.
“This is about cutting red tape,” Salceda said. “Not all professions evolve at the same pace. Forcing everyone to renew every three years is inefficient and costly.”
According to a 2019 PRC report, there are over 4 million registered professionals in the Philippines. Many of them have long expressed frustration over frequent renewals and expensive CPD requirements.
CPD access: cheaper or free for public servants
A major feature of the bill is the restructuring of CPD requirements. CPD units are currently required for PRC license renewal, but professionals often find them expensive and difficult to access.
SEE ALSO: PRC extends acceptance of CPD Undertaking for PRC License renewal
Key proposals in the bill:
- Free or subsidized CPD training for professionals in public service roles.
- This includes public school teachers under the Department of Education (DepEd), government nurses, and uniformed personnel such as the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Salceda explained, “We’ve offered free CPD sessions in Albay before, but it’s not enough. We need structural reform that lifts the burden nationwide.”
Cost breakdown: from PHP15,000 to under PHP2,000
Salceda cited anecdotal reports and stakeholder consultations showing that professionals spend an average of PHP15,000 over 10 years on license renewals and CPD compliance.
Under the proposed bill, total costs could drop to under PHP2,000, thanks to reduced renewal frequency and CPD subsidies.
A balanced approach
“This isn’t about lowering professional standards,” Salceda stressed. “It’s about making sure our professionals can focus on serving the public, rather than spending time and money chasing CPD certificates.”
Salceda added that the proposed reforms are supported by economic modeling, which shows they would improve productivity, reduce government administrative costs, and increase compliance among professionals.
“This is a practical reform,” he said. “It will save money, reduce hassle, and let professionals focus on what really matters—serving the country with integrity.”
International benchmarks
Salceda pointed to several international models that inspired the bill:
- Canada: Aircraft maintenance engineers are licensed for up to 10 years
- New Zealand: Teachers hold certification valid for up to 6 years, based on performance reviews and CPD
- Germany: Doctors hold lifetime licenses, but are required to participate in mandatory CPD and are regularly assessed by professional boards
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To uphold accountability, the bill includes a mandatory five-year ethical review for all professionals, regardless of license length.
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express