MANILA, Philippines - The lengthy Facebook post of a professional teacher on the difficulties and alleged ‘corruption’ in the Professional Regulation Commission ( PRC) license renewal system is now going viral online.
Posted on Friday, February 2, Hernando Bernal clamors the unreasonable requirements for renewing his Professional Teachers’ license particularly the need to comply with the newly implemented Republic Act 10912 or known as the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Act of 2016.
Under the Law, all professionals must take additional formal and non-formal training through CPD for the renewal of their Professional Identification Card every three years, effective July 1, 2017. For teachers, compliance to CPD law, which requires them to have at least 45 credit units, started on December 1, 2017 per Resolution No. 11 s.2017 of the Board for Professional Teachers (READ: PRC requires CPD units before license ID renewal starting July 2017).
PRC said CPD Law was enacted to upgrade the practice of Filipino professionals in line with the integration of economies of the member countries of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as required by the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangements, the Philippine Qualifications Framework, and the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework.
The educator blamed the CPD Act, filed by Senators Antonio Trillanes, Cynthia Villar and Francis Escudero in January 2015, which requires them to attend seminars to accumulate CPD units.
“Truly, the Trillanes law (Republic Act 10912 or the Continuing Professional Development ‘CPD’ Act) subjects us to the money-making extortion tactics of CPD seminar providers in their attempt to strip us of our hard earned money in the process of obtaining CPD units for the renewal of our licenses.”
Bernal lamented that he is “more than willing to comply in a just and equitable process, but despite numerous visits to PRC, I am unable to meet their unreasonable expectations for license renewal.”
Aside from CPD and renewal fee, Bernal said other documents he needs to provide for the renewal of PRC license are the following: certified true copy of Transcript of Records (TOR) and diploma. He was also advised of the 60 days processing lead time.
Bernal called the support of his fellow professionals to boycott the renewal of their PRC license until the PRC makes the process “just and fair.”
In the end, he also asked President Rodrigo Duterte to make changes and states that the President “who hates corruption, should fire all PRC personnel.”
Bernal’s post amassed over 50,000 shares 60,000 Likes as of press time.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Undersecretary Mocha Uson, being tagged in the post, said she will raise the issue to the administration.
Trillanes to review implementation of professional development law
After getting a number of complaints from various stakeholders on the implementation of CPD Act, Trillanes in July last year, filed Resolution 441 seeking to conduct an inquiry on the law's implementation.
According to Trillanes, chairman of the Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation, "More than a year after the said law took effect, numerous stakeholders have raised pressing issues regarding its implementation, foremost of which are the affordability and accessibility in acquiring CPD units."
Trillanes explained that numerous professionals, especially those who are unemployed, underemployed or who receive low wages, and casual or contractual employees, may not be able to afford to pay the training, seminar, or courses needed to renew their licenses. He added that others have less access to PRC-accredited institutions, especially those assigned in far-flung areas who are compelled to travel to major cities just to process their applications and complete the required CPD units.
"Obviously, these problems are not the intention of the CPD law. It was created to help our professionals cope with their respective globalizing field; thus, we want to call the attention of the PRC and Professional Regulatory Boards, so they can review and amend their implementing or operational guidelines, which should not be burdensome to our professionals," Trillanes further explained.
— Sally, The Summit Express
Posted on Friday, February 2, Hernando Bernal clamors the unreasonable requirements for renewing his Professional Teachers’ license particularly the need to comply with the newly implemented Republic Act 10912 or known as the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Act of 2016.
Under the Law, all professionals must take additional formal and non-formal training through CPD for the renewal of their Professional Identification Card every three years, effective July 1, 2017. For teachers, compliance to CPD law, which requires them to have at least 45 credit units, started on December 1, 2017 per Resolution No. 11 s.2017 of the Board for Professional Teachers (READ: PRC requires CPD units before license ID renewal starting July 2017).
PRC said CPD Law was enacted to upgrade the practice of Filipino professionals in line with the integration of economies of the member countries of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as required by the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangements, the Philippine Qualifications Framework, and the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework.
“With a bitter and heavy heart, I am bidding farewell to my Professional Teacher’s PRC license,” Bernal shared.
The educator blamed the CPD Act, filed by Senators Antonio Trillanes, Cynthia Villar and Francis Escudero in January 2015, which requires them to attend seminars to accumulate CPD units.
“Truly, the Trillanes law (Republic Act 10912 or the Continuing Professional Development ‘CPD’ Act) subjects us to the money-making extortion tactics of CPD seminar providers in their attempt to strip us of our hard earned money in the process of obtaining CPD units for the renewal of our licenses.”
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| Hernardo Bernal laments the “corruption and unjust” requirements of PRC license renewal | Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Hernardo Bernal |
Bernal lamented that he is “more than willing to comply in a just and equitable process, but despite numerous visits to PRC, I am unable to meet their unreasonable expectations for license renewal.”
Aside from CPD and renewal fee, Bernal said other documents he needs to provide for the renewal of PRC license are the following: certified true copy of Transcript of Records (TOR) and diploma. He was also advised of the 60 days processing lead time.
Note: Since April 2016, PRC deployed new system for the online renewal of PRC license called "Licensure Examination and Registration Information System" or LERIS, a portal developed to enhance the process and avoid long waiting time. Instead of the usual 'assessment-scanning-processing-payment-issuance' process, the new hassle-free services involve online registration and payment and 'processing-issuance of card' at the PRC office. (READ: PRC License ID Renewal Online now Available in 9 easy steps)
Bernal called the support of his fellow professionals to boycott the renewal of their PRC license until the PRC makes the process “just and fair.”
In the end, he also asked President Rodrigo Duterte to make changes and states that the President “who hates corruption, should fire all PRC personnel.”
Bernal’s post amassed over 50,000 shares 60,000 Likes as of press time.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Undersecretary Mocha Uson, being tagged in the post, said she will raise the issue to the administration.
Trillanes to review implementation of professional development law
After getting a number of complaints from various stakeholders on the implementation of CPD Act, Trillanes in July last year, filed Resolution 441 seeking to conduct an inquiry on the law's implementation.
According to Trillanes, chairman of the Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation, "More than a year after the said law took effect, numerous stakeholders have raised pressing issues regarding its implementation, foremost of which are the affordability and accessibility in acquiring CPD units."
Trillanes explained that numerous professionals, especially those who are unemployed, underemployed or who receive low wages, and casual or contractual employees, may not be able to afford to pay the training, seminar, or courses needed to renew their licenses. He added that others have less access to PRC-accredited institutions, especially those assigned in far-flung areas who are compelled to travel to major cities just to process their applications and complete the required CPD units.
"Obviously, these problems are not the intention of the CPD law. It was created to help our professionals cope with their respective globalizing field; thus, we want to call the attention of the PRC and Professional Regulatory Boards, so they can review and amend their implementing or operational guidelines, which should not be burdensome to our professionals," Trillanes further explained.
— Sally, The Summit Express
