OFWs get temporary exemption from CPD compliance

PRC will give temporary exemptions to OFWs and some professionals from complying to CPD unit requirements.

MANILA - Overseas Filipino workers are among those given temporary exemption by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) from complying to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements in renewing their license cards.

PRC issued Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 07, Series of 2017 granting special consideration to some professionals who may be unable to gain enough CPD units required by their respective boards or councils due to 'justifiable reasons'.

Regional directors of PRC offices will determine these justifiable reasons, which may include medical reasons, unforeseen or uncontrolled events (e.g. Martial Law declaration, recent typhoon, fire, et. al.), professionals working overseas, unemployed or financially handicapped.

In a report over Manila Bulletin, Commissioner Yolanda Reyes said that the temporary exemption will give enough time to the professionals to comply with the CPD requirement. The exemption will be good for a maximum of three years or until applicants renew their professionals IDs.

Qualified professionals must fill up the necessary form and submit it to the CPD council, composed of ther PRC, professional boards, and other stakeholders, for approval.

“If they lack the necessary (CPD) units, they could go through this undertaking and promise they will comply with it in the future,” Reyes said.

Recently, CPD law author Senator Antonio Trillanes IV called for the review of the implementation of the new measure after receiving numerous complaints from professionals.

Most of the complainants point to the "affordability and accessibility in acquiring CPD units," he said. OFWs and those who are in far-flung areas have a hard time getting the required units.

Free CPD programs

Aside from the CPD exemption, MC No. 7 also calls all government agencies including state universities and colleges and government owned and controlled corporations to apply for accreditation as CPD provider and have their programs accredited by the CPD Councils concerned in order to assure that all professionals employed therein can earn CPD credit units without cost to the CPD Provider and the professionals.

No accreditation fee shall be paid by the provider applicants.

“We came up with circular to encourage government agencies to be providers themselves for their employees. And then we give them incentives. They are free from the usual (registration) fees,” PRC Chairman Teofilo Pilando, Jr. said.

Pilando noted they currently need to increase the number of CPD providers to accommodate the large number of professionals who will need their services.

As of June 30, 2017, PRC said there were only 115 CPD providers nationwide offering 6,815 programs.

PRC enjoins all government agencies to work together in order to attain its primary objective to enhance the professional knowledge and technical skills of the professionals to be globally competitive.[With a report from mb.com.ph]