2/10/25, 7:51 PM Republic Act No.

8981

Title
Republic Act No. 8981

Date
Dec 5, 2000

Law
AN ACT MODERNIZING THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATION COMMISSION,
REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NUMBERED TWO
HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THREE, ENTITLED "CREATING THE PROFESSIONAL
REGULATION COMMISSION AND PRESCRIBING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS,"
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

The Philippine Jurisprudence case involves the Republic Act No. 8981, which
aims to modernize the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) by
establishing a three-man commission with the power to regulate and license
various professions, conduct licensure examinations, and take disciplinary
action against professionals who violate regulations.

S. No. 1271 H. No. 7572 / 97 OG No. 9, 124 Supp. (Feb. 26, 2001) ; Today 12/14/00 ; 13 VLD 2d 180

[ REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8981, December 05, 2000 ]

AN ACT MODERNIZING THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATION COMMISSION, REPEALING

FOR THE PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NUMBERED TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY-
THREE, ENTITLED "CREATING THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATION COMMISSION AND
PRESCRIBING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS," AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be called the "PRC Modernization Act of 2000."

SEC. 2. Statement of Policy. - The State recognizes the important role of professionals in
nation-building and, towards this end, promotes the sustained development of a reservoir of
professionals whose competence has been determined by honest and credible licensure
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examinations and whose standards of professional service and practice are internationally
recognized and considered world-class brought about by regulatory measures, programs and
activities that foster professional growth and advancement.

SEC. 3. Professional Regulation Commission. - There is hereby created a three-man

commission to be known as the Professional Regulation Commission, hereinafter referred to
as the Commission, which shall be attached to the Office of the President for general
direction and coordination.

SEC. 4. Composition. - The Commission shall be headed by one (1) full-time Chairperson and
two (2) full-time Commissioners, all to be appointed by the President for a term of seven (7)
years without reappointment to start from the time they assume office. Appointments to a
vacancy that occurs before the expiration of the term of a Commissioner shall cover only the
unexpired term of the immediate predecessor. At the expiration of the term of the
Chairperson, the most senior of the Commissioners shall temporarily assume and perform
the duties and functions of the Chairperson until a permanent Chairperson is appointed by
the President.

The Chairperson or Commissioner shall be at least forty (40) years of age, holding a valid
certificate of registration/ professional license and a valid professional identification card or
a valid certificate of competency issued by the Commission or a valid professional license
issued by any government agency, familiar with the principles and methods of professional
regulation and/or licensing and has had at least five (5) years of executive or management
experience: Provided, That, one (1) of the Commissioners must be a past
Chairperson/member of a Professional Regulatory Board.

SEC. 5. Exercise of Powers and Functions of the Commission. - The Chairperson of the
Commission, and the Commissioners as members thereof shall sit and act as a body to
exercise general administrative, executive and policy-making functions of the Commission.
The Commission shall establish and maintain a high standard of admission to the practice of
all professions and at all times ensure and safeguard the integrity of all licensure
examinations.

The Chairperson shall act as the presiding and chief executive officer of the Commission. As
presiding officer, he/she shall preside over the meetings of the Commission sitting as a
collegial body. As chief executive officer of the Commission, he/ she shall be responsible for
the implementation of the policies and the programs adopted by the Commission for the
general administration of the Commission. He/she shall perform such other activities which

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are necessary for the effective exercise of the powers, functions and responsibilities of the
Commission.

SEC. 6. Compensation and Other Benefits. - The Chairperson shall receive compensation and
allowances equivalent to that of a Department Secretary while the Commissioners shall
receive compensation and allowances equivalent to that of an Undersecretary. The
Chairperson and the members of the Commission shall be entitled to retirement benefits
provided under Republic Act Numbered Fifteen Hundred and Sixty-Eight, as amended by
Republic Act Numbered Three Thousand Five Hundred and Ninety-Five.

SEC. 7. Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of the Commission. - The powers, functions
and responsibilities of the Commission are as follows:

a. To administer, implement and enforce the regulatory policies of the national government
with respect to the regulation and licensing of the various professions and occupations
under its jurisdiction including the enhancement and maintenance of professional and
occupational standards and ethics and the enforcement of the rules and regulations
relative thereto;
b. To perform any and all acts, enter into contracts, make such rules and regulations and
issue such orders and other administrative issuances as may be necessary in the
execution and implementation of its functions and the improvement of its services;
c. To review, revise, and approve resolutions, embodying policies promulgated by the
Professional Regulatory Boards in the exercise of their powers and functions or in
implementing the laws regulating their respective professions and other official actions
on non-ministerial matters within their respective jurisdictions;
d. To administer and conduct the licensure examinations of the various regulatory boards
in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission;
determine and fix the places and dates of examinations; use publicly or privately owned
buildings and facilities for examination purposes; conduct more than one (1) licensure
examination: Provided, That, when there are two (2) or more examinations given in a
year, at least one (1) examination shall be held on weekdays (Monday to Friday):
Provided, further, That, if only one (1) examination is given in a year, this shall be held
only on weekdays: Provided, finally, That, the Commission is also authorized to require
the completion of a refresher course where the examinee has failed to pass three (3)
times, except as otherwise provided by law; approve the results of examinations and the
release of the same; adopt measures to preserve the integrity and inviolability of
licensure examinations; appoint supervisors and room watchers from among the
employees of the government and/or private individuals with baccalaureate degrees,
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who have been trained by the Commission for the purpose and who shall be entitled to a
reasonable daily allowance for every examination day actually attended, to be
determined and fixed by the Commission; publish the list of successful examinees;
provide schools, colleges and universities, public and private, offering courses for
licensure examinations, with copies of sample test questions on examinations recently
conducted by the Commission and copies of the syllabi or terms of specifications of
subjects for licensure examinations; and impose the penalty of suspension or prohibition
from taking licensure examinations to any examinee charged and found guilty of
violating the rules and regulations governing the conduct of licensure examinations
promulgated by the Commission;
e. To admit the successful examinees to the practice of the profession or occupation; cause
the entry of their names on its registry book and computerized database; issue
certificates of registration/professional license, bearing the registrant's name, picture,
and registration number, signed by all the members of the Board concerned and the
Chairperson, with the official seal of the Board and the Commission affixed thereto
which certificate shall be the authority to practice; and at the option of the professional
concerned, ministerially issue the professional identification card, to be used solely for
the purpose of identification, upon payment of the appropriate amount: Provided, That,
marine deck and marine engineer officers shall also be issued endorsement certificates
exclusively by the Commission pursuant to the 1978 and 1995 Standards of Training,
Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention, to the exclusion of any other
government agency, Section 1(2) of Executive Order No. 149, Series of 1999 and
provisions of other existing laws, executive orders, administrative issuances/ regulations
to the contrary notwithstanding: Provided, further, That, once a certificate of
registration/professional license, or certificate of competency, in the case of marine deck
and engine officers are issued, this cannot be withdrawn, cancelled, revoked, or
suspended except for just cause as may be provided by law after due notice and hearing;
f. To have custody of all the records of the various Boards, including examination papers,
minutes of deliberation, records of administrative cases and investigations and
examination results for control and disposition;
g. To determine and fix the amount of fees to be charged and collected for examination,
registration, registration without examination, professional identification card,
certification, docket, appeal, replacement, accreditation, including surcharges and other
fees not specified under the provisions of Republic Act Numbered Four Hundred Sixty-
Five as amended by Republic Act Numbered Sixty-Five Hundred and Eleven or to charge
and collect reasonable fees at the rates higher than the rates provided thereunder subject
to the approval by the Office of the President;

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h. To appoint subject to the Civil Service laws, rules, and regulations, officials and
employees of the Commission necessary for the effective performance of its functions
and responsibilities; prescribe their duties and fix their compensation subject to the
provisions of Republic Act Numbered Six Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty-Eight and
allowances including other fringe benefits; and to assign and/or reassign personnel as
the exigency of the service requires subject to the Civil Service laws, rules and
regulations; and to organize or reorganize the structure of the Commission; and create
or abolish positions or change the designation of existing positions in accordance with a
staffing pattern prepared by it and approved by the Office of the President upon the
recommendation of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to meet the
changing conditions or as the need arises: Provided, That, such changes shall not affect
the employment status of the incumbents, reduce their ranks and/or salaries nor shall
rest in their separation from the service;
i. To submit and recommend to the President of the Philippines the names of
licensed/registered professionals for appointment as members of the various
Professional Regulatory Boards from among those nominated to fill up vacancies
pursuant to the provisions of Executive Order No. 496, Series of 1991;
j. Upon recommendation of the Professional Regulatory Board concerned, to approve the
registration of and authorize the issuance of a certificate of registration/license and
professional identification card with or without examination to a foreigner who is
registered under the laws of his state or country and whose certificate of registration
issued therein has not been suspended or revoked: Provided, That, the requirements for
the registration or licensing in said foreign state or country are substantially the same as
those required and contemplated by the laws of the Philippines and that the laws of such
foreign state or country allow the citizens of the Philippines to practice the profession on
the same basis and grant the same privileges as those enjoyed by the subjects or citizens
of such foreign state or country: Provided, further, That, the Commission may, upon
recommendation of the Board concerned, authorize the issuance of a certificate of
registration/license or a special temporary permit to foreign professionals who desire to
practice their professions in the country under reciprocity and other international
agreements; consultants in foreign-funded, joint venture or foreign-assisted projects of
the government, employees of Philippine or foreign private firms or institutions
pursuant to law, or health professionals engaged in humanitarian mission for a limited
period of time: Provided, finally, That, agencies, organizations or individuals whether
public or private, who secure the services of a foreign professional authorized by law to
practice in the Philippines for reasons aforementioned, shall be responsible for securing
a special permit from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) pursuant to PRC and DOLE rules;
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k. To authorize any officer of the Commission to administer oaths;

l. To supervise foreign nationals who are authorized by existing laws to practice their
professions either as holders of a certificate of registration and a professional
identification card or a temporary special permit in the Philippines; to ensure that the
terms and conditions for their practice or of their employment are strictly complied
with; to require the hiring or employing government agency or private entity/institution
to secure a temporary special permit from the concerned Board subject to approval by
the Commission and to file a criminal complaint against the head of the government
agency or officers of the said private entity/institution, who shall be liable under the
penalty provided for in the concerned professional regulatory law or the penalty
imposed pursuant to this Act, when the professional was hired and allowed to practice
his/her profession without permit; to file upon due process request for deportation with
the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID); and to supervise professionals who
were former citizens of the Philippines and who had been registered and issued a
certificate of registration and a professional identification card prior to their
naturalization as foreign citizens, who may, while in the country on a visit, sojourn or
permanent residence, practice their profession: Provided, That, prior to the practice of
their profession they shall have first been issued a special permit and updated
professional identification card by the Board concerned subject to approval by the
Commission and upon payment of the permit and annual registration fees;
m. To monitor the performance of schools in licensure examinations and publish the
results thereof in a newspaper of national circulation;
n. To adopt and institute a comprehensive rating system for universities, colleges, and
training institutes based on the passing ratio and overall performance of students in
board examinations;
o. To exercise administrative supervision over the various professional regulatory boards
and its members;
p. To adopt and promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to effectively
implement policies with respect to the regulation and practice of the professions;
q. To implement the program for the full computerization of all licensure examinations
given by the various professional regulatory boards including the registration of
professionals not later than the year 2003 and other operations of the Commission;
r. To investigate and decide administrative matters involving officers and employees under
the jurisdiction of the Commission;
s. To investigate motu proprio or upon the filing of a verified complaint, any member of the
Professional Regulatory Boards for neglect of duty, incompetence, unprofessional,

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unethical, immoral or dishonorable conduct, commission of irregularities in the

licensure examinations which taint or impugn the integrity and authenticity of the
results of the said examinations and, if found guilty, to revoke or suspend their
certificates of registration and professional licenses/identification cards and to
recommend to the President of the Philippines their suspension or removal from office
as the case may be;
t. To issue summons, subpoena and subpoena duces tecum in connection with the
investigation of cases against officials and employees of the Commission and the
members of the Professional Regulatory Boards;
u. To hold in contempt an erring party or person only upon application with a court of
competent jurisdiction;
v. To call upon or request any department, instrumentality, office, bureau, institution or
agency of the government including local government units to render such assistance as
it may require, or to coordinate or cooperate in order to carry out, enforce or implement
the professional regulatory policies of the government or any program or activity it may
undertake pursuant to the provisions of this Act;
w. To initiate an investigation, upon complaint under oath by an aggrieved party, of any
person, whether a private individual or professional, local or foreign, who practices the
regulated profession or occupation without being authorized by law, or without being
registered with and licensed by the concerned regulatory board and issued the
corresponding license/professional identification card or temporary or special permit, or
who commits any of the prohibited acts provided in the regulatory laws of the various
professions, which acts are criminal in nature, and, if the evidence so warrants, to
forward the records of the case to the office of the city or provincial prosecutor for the
filing of the corresponding information in court by the lawyers of the legal services of
the Commission who may prosecute said case/s upon being deputized by the Secretary
of Justice;
x. To prepare an annual report of accomplishments on the programs, projects and
activities of the Commission during the year for submission to Congress after the close
of its calendar year and make appropriate recommendations on issues and/or problems
affecting the Commission, the Professional Regulatory Board, and the various
professions under its jurisdiction; and
y. To perform such other functions and duties as may be necessary to carry out the
provisions of this Act, the various professional regulatory laws, decrees, executive orders
and other administrative issuances.

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SEC. 8. Regional Offices. - The Commission is hereby authorized to create regional offices as
may be necessary to carry out their functions mandated under this Act.

SEC. 9. Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of the Various Professional Regulatory

Boards. - The various professional regulatory boards shall retain the following powers,
functions and responsibilities:

a. To regulate the practice of the professions in accordance with the provisions of their
respective professional regulatory laws;
b. To monitor the conditions affecting the practice of the profession or occupation under
their respective jurisdictions and whenever necessary, adopt such measures as may be
deemed proper for the enhancement of the profession or occupation and/or the
maintenance of high professional, ethical and technical standards, and for this purpose
the members of the Board duly authorized by the Commission with deputized employees
of the Commission, may conduct ocular inspections in industrial, mechanical, electrical
or chemical plants or establishments, hospitals, clinics, laboratories, testing facilities,
mines and quarries, other engineering facilities and in the case of schools, in
coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED);
c. To hear and investigate cases arising from violations of their respective laws, the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder and their Codes of Ethics and, for this purpose,
may issue summons, subpoena and subpoena duces tecum to alleged violators and/or
witnesses to compel their attendance in such investigations or hearings: Provided, That,
the decision of the Professional Regulatory Board shall, unless appealed to the
Commission, become final and executory after fifteen (15) days from receipt of notice of
judgment or decision;
d. To delegate the hearing or investigation of administrative cases filed before them except
in cases where the issue or question involved strictly concerns the practice of the
profession or occupation, in which case, the hearing shall be presided over by at least
one (1) member of the Board concerned assisted by a Legal or Hearing Officer of the
Commission;
e. To conduct, through the Legal Officers of the Commission, summary proceedings on
minor violations of their respective regulatory laws, violations of the rules and
regulations issued by the boards to implement their respective laws, including violations
of the general instructions to examinees committed by examinees, and render summary
judgment thereon which shall, unless appealed to the Commission, become final and
executory after fifteen (15) days from receipt of notice of judgment or decision;

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f. Subject to final approval by the Commission, to recommend registration without

examination and the issuance of corresponding certificate of registration and
professional identification card;
g. After due process, to suspend, revoke or reissue, re-instate certificate of registration or
licenses for causes provided by law;
h. To prepare, adopt and issue the syllabi or tables of specifications of the subjects for
examinations in consultation with the academe; determine and prepare the questions for
the licensure examinations which shall strictly be within the scope of the syllabus or
table of specifications of the subject for examination; score and rate the examination
papers with the name and signature of the Board member concerned appearing thereon
and submit the results in all subjects duly signed by the members of the Board to the
Commission within ten (10) days from the last day of examination unless extended by
the Commission for justifiable cause/s; and subject to the approval by the Commission,
determine the appropriate passing general average rating in an examination if not
provided for in the law regulating the profession; and
i. To prepare an annual report of accomplishments on programs, projects and activities of
the Board during the year for submission to the Commission after the close of each
calendar year and make appropriate recommendations on issues or problems affecting
the profession to the Commission.

SEC. 10. Compensation of the Members of the Professional Regulatory Boards. -The members
of the Professional Regulatory Boards shall receive compensation equivalent to, at least, two
salary grades lower than the salary grade of the Commissioners: Provided, That the
Chairperson of the Regulatory Board shall receive a monthly compensation of two steps
higher than the members of the Board, and: Provided, further, That they shall be entitled to
other allowances and benefits provided under existing laws.

SEC. 11. Persons to Teach Subjects for Licensure Examination on all Professions. - All subjects
for licensure examinations shall be taught by persons who are holders of valid certificates of
registration and valid professional licenses of the profession and who comply with the other
requirements of the CHED.

SEC. 12. Assistance of Law Enforcement Agency. - Any law enforcement agency shall, upon
call or request of the Commission or of any Professional Regulatory Board, render assistance
in enforcing the regulatory law of the profession including the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder by prosecuting the violators thereof in accordance with law and the
rules of court.

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SEC. 13. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the initial implementation of
this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the Professional
Regulation Commission. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued
implementation of this Act shall be included in the succeeding General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 14. Authority to Use Income. - In addition to the annual appropriations of the
Commission provided under the annual General Appropriations Act, the Commission is
hereby authorized to use its income not exceeding the amount of Forty-five million pesos
(P45,000,000) a year for a period of five (5) years after the effectivity of this Act to implement
the program for full computerization of the operations of the Commission, subject to the
usual accounting and auditing requirements.

SEC. 15. Penalties for Manipulation and Other Corrupt Practices in the Conduct of
Professional Examinations. -

a. Any person who manipulates or rigs licensure examination results, secretly informs or
makes known licensure examination questions prior to the conduct of the examination
or tampers with the grades in professional licensure examinations shall, upon
conviction, be punished by imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and one (1) day to
not more than twelve (12) years or a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000)
to not more than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000) or both such imprisonment
and fine at the discretion of the court;
b. In case the offender is an officer or employee of the Commission or a member of the
regulatory board, he/she shall be removed from office and shall suffer the penalty of
perpetual absolute disqualification from public office in addition to the penalties
prescribed in the preceding section of this Act;
c. The penalty of imprisonment ranging from four (4) years and one (1) day to six (6) years
or a fine ranging from Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000) to not more than Forty-nine
thousand pesos (P49,000), or both imprisonment and fine at the discretion of the court,
shall be imposed upon the accomplices. The penalty of imprisonment ranging from two
(2) years and one (1) day to four (4) years or a fine ranging from Five thousand pesos
(P5,000) to not more than Nineteen thousand pesos (P19,000), or both imprisonment
and fine at the discretion of the court, shall be imposed upon the accessories.

SEC. 16. Penalties for Violations of Section 7 - Subparagraph (l) by Heads of Government
Agencies or Officers of Private Entities /Institutions. - Any head of a government agency or
officer(s) of a private firm/institution who violates Section 7 - subpar. (1) of this Act shall be
punished by imprisonment of not less than six (6) months and one (1) day to not more than

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six (6) years, or a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000) to not more than Five
hundred thousand pesos (P500,000) or both at the discretion of the court.

SEC. 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days after the approval of
this Act, the Professional Regulation Commission, together with representatives of the
various Professional Regulatory Boards and accredited professional organizations, the DBM,
and the CHED shall prepare and promulgate the necessary rules and regulations needed to
implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 18. Transitory Provisions. - The incumbent Commissioner and two (2) incumbent
Associate Commissioners shall serve as Chairperson and Commissioners respectively under
the terms for which they have been appointed without need of new appointments. The
incumbent Executive Director shall likewise serve as Assistant Commissioner without need
of new appointment.

SEC. 19. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act or the application of such provision
to any person or circumstances is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of this
Act or application of such provisions to other persons or circumstance shall not be affected
by such declaration.

SEC. 20. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 546, Presidential Decree No. 223, as amended
by Presidential Decree No. 657, Republic Act No. 5181, and Executive Order No. 266, Series of
1995 are hereby repealed. Section 23 (h) of Republic Act No. 7836, Section 4 (m & s), Section
23 of Republic Act No. 7920, and Section 29 of Republic Act No. 8050, insofar as it requires
completion of the requirements of the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) as a
condition for the renewal of the license are hereby repealed. All other laws, orders, rules and
regulations or resolutions and all part/s thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SEC. 21. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its publication
in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation, whichever is earlier.

Approved,

(Sgd.) FRANKLIN M. DRILON (Sgd.) MANUEL B. VILLAR JR.

President of the Senate Speaker of the House of Representatives

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This Act, which is a consolidation of House Bill No. 7572 and Senate Bill No. 1271 was passed
by the House of Representatives and Senate on October 25, 2000 and October 18, 2000
respectively.

(Sgd.) OSCAR G. YABES (Sgd.) ROBERTO P. NAZARENO

Secretary of the Senate Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved: December 5, 2000

(Sgd.) JOSEPH E. ESTRADA

President of the Philippines

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