Amid growing number of complaints it has received in its implementation of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) law, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) on Wednesday said it undertake a review of the legislation’s operational guidelines (OG).
PRC said it has issued the instruction to the CPD Council of the 43 regulated professions.
“Some CPD Councils have already revised their respective OGs to further make CPD more accessible and affordable,” PRC said in a news statement.
The CPD Councils, which made such adjustments, are from accountancy; agriculture and biosystems engineers; architects; chemists and chemical technicians; civil engineers; customs brokers; professional electrical engineers, registered electrical engineers and registered master engineer; environmental planners; foresters; landscape architects; metallurgical engineers; professional teachers; midwives; nurses; radiologic engineers and x-ray technologists; and respiratory therapists.
The PRC reiterated it had also exercised “maximum flexibility” in enforcing the CPD law by granting professionals a grace period for them to fully comply with its provisions by accomplishing the undertaking embedded in their Professional Identification Card (PIC) application.
This will allow “the professional to complete and submit only the CPD units in the next renewal period [of] three years after his or her first renewal under the CPD law.”
PRC said this is an assurance that professionals were given enough time to comply with the CPD law.
“Since the implementation of the Continuing Professional Development in July 2017, no professional who applied for the renewal of his or her professional ID has ever been denied by PRC due to incomplete or lacking [of] CPD units,” the PRC said.
The CPD law took effect on 2016, but was only fully complied with by the professional regulatory boards (PRBs) on 2017 with the release of its implementing rules and regulations (IRR). It mandates professionals to obtain the necessary CPD units as prescribed by their respective PRB to renew their PIC.
Many professionals are against the legislation due to its costs since it will require them to undergo trainings, seminars or other activities related to their profession to earn the necessary CPD units.
A petition in Change.org seeking the revaluation of the CPD Law has already reached 125,554 signatures as of 4:25 p.m. on Wednesday.
Despite the protests against the CPD Law, PRC said the legislation is still in effect.
It issued the clarification after an “inaccurate and misleading” stories claiming the CPD Law has already been abolished by Sen. Antonio F. Trillanes IV circulated in social media last month.
“In a recent Senate hearing, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV never made mention of abolishing the CPD Law, but in fact, directed PRC and the CPD Councils to continue public hearings and consultations with stakeholders to improve implementation processes,” the PRC said.
“The Professional Regulation Commission is reminding the public to be vigilant by validating the veracity of news item circulating in the Internet and social media,” the commission added.
4 comments
“In a recent Senate hearing, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV never made
mention of abolishing the CPD Law, but in fact, directed PRC and the CPD
Councils to continue public hearings and consultations with
stakeholders to improve implementation processes,” the PRC said.
– an example of putting the cart before the horse.
stupidest law ever
money making venture
we study five years in college plus two years of working for architects…with cpd law we may not be able to practice anymore dahil ang mamahal ng cpd seminars. para ngang business n ito. while the intention of the law is good problem in a developing country like ours…it should be given by the government for free to ensure no corruptions.