MANILA — In a move expected to benefit over a million Filipino professionals, the House of Representatives has approved on its second reading a bill extending the validity of Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) license IDs from three to five years.
The bill, deemed non-controversial, is anticipated to receive smooth sailing and full support in both chambers of Congress.
The extension of the PRC license ID’s validity period aligns with the Ease of Doing Business and Anti-Red Tape Law, aiming to streamline processes for professionals registering and renewing their licenses. With approximately one million professionals renewing annually, this move is poised to significantly impact their lives and that of their families.
Rep. Joey Salceda, the bill’s proponent, expressed optimism for its swift approval in the Senate, projecting potential passage by May, contingent upon Senate workload and agenda. He emphasized coordination with Senate leaders to ensure timely deliberation.
Amid cybersecurity concerns, Salceda urged the PRC and Civil Service Commission (CSC) to bolster internet portal security to safeguard against potential breaches. He advocated for secure electronic interfaces between PRC and CSC databases and those of other key agencies like PhilSys National ID, SSS, GSIS, PAG-IBIG, BIR, and PhilHealth.
In parallel efforts, discussions on regulating the psychology and audiology professions progressed in a joint public hearing led by the House Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulation and the Committee on Health.
Technical working groups were established to refine substitute bills for the Philippine Psychology Act of 2009 and regulations governing audiology and audiometry practices.
Highlighting the urgency of addressing mental health challenges, Rep. Anna York P. Bondoc’s House Bill 9611 proposes expanding the role of psychometricians in mental health service delivery.
Bondoc stressed the need to capitalize on the significant number of licensed psychometricians to bolster mental health services, especially amid the pandemic’s impact.
Moreover, the bill seeks to rename psychometricians as “associate registered psychologists,” emphasizing their supportive role to registered psychologists and psychiatrists. While delineating areas of distinction, the bill empowers associate registered psychologists to undertake specified roles autonomously, underscoring their complementary function within the mental health sector.
As discussions on these bills advance, stakeholders anticipate broader access to mental health and audiological services, addressing critical gaps in these essential areas of healthcare provision.
(By el Amigo/MNM)
