PRC answers complaints about CPD implementation
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) has issued its position regarding the criticisms and complaints on the agency's implementation of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) law.
Republic Act No. 10912 (RA 10912) or the Continuing Professional Development Act of 2016 requires the submission of CPD units for the renewal of Professional Identification Card (PIC) of professionals.
Senate Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation chaired by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, author of the CPD Law, has conducted an inquiry regarding the implementation of the law after receiving numerous complaints from professionals.
The complaints and criticisms revolve around AFFORDABILITY and ACCESSIBILITY of CPD programs, which are specifically broken down, to 3 main issues. PRC tackles each of these issues, below:
PROFESSIONALS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED, UNDEREMPLOYED OR WHO RECEIVE LOW WAGES, AND CASUAL OR CONTRACTUAL EMPLOYEES, MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE TRAININGS, SEMINARS, OR COURSES NEEDED TO ACQUIRE THE REQUIRED CPD UNITS FOR THE RENEWAL OF THEIR PIC
Unemployment, underemployment, and casual or contractual employment have always been a cause for concern in Philippine society and will probably always be the case. In spite of this situation, however, professional development must move forward. Gone are the days when the PIC was obtained for the purpose only of identification at the option of the professional and the issuance thereof was merely ministerial on the part of the PRC.
The most “adversely affected” by the new law are those who have not been practicing their profession for a number of years yet religiously renew their PIC. Unless the certificate of good standing (COGS) is required, they also do not maintain membership in professional organizations. Under the new law, a professional is defined as a person who is registered and licensed to practice a profession in the Philippines and who holds a valid Certificate of Registration and PIC from the PRC.
Considering that the subject law is new and in its implementation has caught many professionals unaware, the PRC may apply maximum flexibilities, but not exemptions, the latter having no legal basis.
In the case of the underemployed and casual or contractual employees, they still have avenues to earn free CPD units, like in-house trainings and seminars. The PRC has called on all government agencies, SUCs and GOCCS to apply as CPD providers. In exchange for providing free training and seminars to their employees, PRC will waive their registration fee as well as the accreditation fee for their CPD programs.
The PRC will ask the AIPOs and APOs to giving free trainings and seminars to their members as part of their social responsibility. Finally, and as a last resort, in case the professional is unable to comply with the 30% required CPD units from July – December 2017, they will be allowed to renew their PIC upon execution of an undertaking to complete the required CPD units for the compliance period.
The PRC and the PRBs will explore ways to make CPD more accessible to PWDs. In the case of the unemployed and those to have chosen not to practice their profession, however, the renewal of their PIC should hardly be their concern. Even if it can be argued that they need their PIC for future employment, they still must go through trainings and seminars before they are employed for the protection and welfare of the public. With the new law, the PIC has gained a new meaning. It now becomes not only a proof of the professional’s identity but more of his or her professional qualification. It is proof of professional expertise on which the public can rely.
PROFESSIONALS ASSIGNED IN FAR-FLUNG AREAS HAVE LESS ACCESS TO PRC-ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS AND ARE COMPELLED TO TRAVEL TO MAJOR CITIES JUST TO
PROCESS THEIR APPLICATIONS AND COMPLETE THE REQUIRED CPD UNITS
As for professionals working in remote areas and overseas, the PRC will encourage CPD providers to offer online courses, trainings and seminars with the necessary assessment tools. Mother chapters of AIPOs and APOs may also record seminars conducted and share these materials to overseas chapters and distant local chapters. For the professionals working overseas, a mechanism is being prepared to recognize their in-service trainings and seminars provided by their employers.
In addition, the percentage required for each learning track need not be strictly followed as long as the total number of required CPD units is met. They may also take CPD-related courses and seminars from non-accredited institutions in their host country and have the CPD units accredited under the self-directed modality.
THE PRC-ACCREDITED CPD PROVIDERS ARE LIMITED TO CURRENT PROVIDERS WHICH ARE PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS AND THE ACCREDITED INTEGRATED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (AIPOs) OR ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (APOs), ALLEGEDLY OFFERING EXPENSIVE TRAINING AND SEMINARS AND THE PRC DOES NOT
RECOGNIZE IN-HOUSE TRAINING BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, SUCH AS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DepEd) AND OTHER COMPANIES, WHICH ARE ALREADY INSTITUTED AND ARE USUALLY FREE
The PRC is currently conducting a research-study to compare the present fees charged in the conduct of CPD programs. Eventually, it will issue operational guidelines which will require CPD providers to charge reasonable fees based on standard parameters. Since the implementation of the CPD law is still in its initial stages, some professions have only a few CPD providers. This has led some CPD providers to take advantage of the
law of supply and demand. The PRC, through the CPD councils, is therefore accelerating the processing of applications for CPD providers and programs. With more government agencies, SUCs, GOCCs and providers from the private sector being accredited, CPDprograms will become more affordable due to fair competition.
The allegation by critics, complainants and some popular online petitions that “the PRC does not recognize in-house training by government agencies such as the Department of Education (DepEd) and other companies, which are already instituted and free,” is baseless. The PRC has never made announcements to that effect. In fact, the PRC will recognize programs which may be credited under the self-directed modality even if not
from an accredited provider as long as it is proven that they enhance professional development.
Republic Act No. 10912 (RA 10912) or the Continuing Professional Development Act of 2016 requires the submission of CPD units for the renewal of Professional Identification Card (PIC) of professionals.
Senate Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation chaired by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, author of the CPD Law, has conducted an inquiry regarding the implementation of the law after receiving numerous complaints from professionals.
The complaints and criticisms revolve around AFFORDABILITY and ACCESSIBILITY of CPD programs, which are specifically broken down, to 3 main issues. PRC tackles each of these issues, below:
PROFESSIONALS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED, UNDEREMPLOYED OR WHO RECEIVE LOW WAGES, AND CASUAL OR CONTRACTUAL EMPLOYEES, MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE TRAININGS, SEMINARS, OR COURSES NEEDED TO ACQUIRE THE REQUIRED CPD UNITS FOR THE RENEWAL OF THEIR PIC
Unemployment, underemployment, and casual or contractual employment have always been a cause for concern in Philippine society and will probably always be the case. In spite of this situation, however, professional development must move forward. Gone are the days when the PIC was obtained for the purpose only of identification at the option of the professional and the issuance thereof was merely ministerial on the part of the PRC.
The most “adversely affected” by the new law are those who have not been practicing their profession for a number of years yet religiously renew their PIC. Unless the certificate of good standing (COGS) is required, they also do not maintain membership in professional organizations. Under the new law, a professional is defined as a person who is registered and licensed to practice a profession in the Philippines and who holds a valid Certificate of Registration and PIC from the PRC.
Considering that the subject law is new and in its implementation has caught many professionals unaware, the PRC may apply maximum flexibilities, but not exemptions, the latter having no legal basis.
In the case of the underemployed and casual or contractual employees, they still have avenues to earn free CPD units, like in-house trainings and seminars. The PRC has called on all government agencies, SUCs and GOCCS to apply as CPD providers. In exchange for providing free training and seminars to their employees, PRC will waive their registration fee as well as the accreditation fee for their CPD programs.
The PRC will ask the AIPOs and APOs to giving free trainings and seminars to their members as part of their social responsibility. Finally, and as a last resort, in case the professional is unable to comply with the 30% required CPD units from July – December 2017, they will be allowed to renew their PIC upon execution of an undertaking to complete the required CPD units for the compliance period.
The PRC and the PRBs will explore ways to make CPD more accessible to PWDs. In the case of the unemployed and those to have chosen not to practice their profession, however, the renewal of their PIC should hardly be their concern. Even if it can be argued that they need their PIC for future employment, they still must go through trainings and seminars before they are employed for the protection and welfare of the public. With the new law, the PIC has gained a new meaning. It now becomes not only a proof of the professional’s identity but more of his or her professional qualification. It is proof of professional expertise on which the public can rely.
PROFESSIONALS ASSIGNED IN FAR-FLUNG AREAS HAVE LESS ACCESS TO PRC-ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS AND ARE COMPELLED TO TRAVEL TO MAJOR CITIES JUST TO
PROCESS THEIR APPLICATIONS AND COMPLETE THE REQUIRED CPD UNITS
As for professionals working in remote areas and overseas, the PRC will encourage CPD providers to offer online courses, trainings and seminars with the necessary assessment tools. Mother chapters of AIPOs and APOs may also record seminars conducted and share these materials to overseas chapters and distant local chapters. For the professionals working overseas, a mechanism is being prepared to recognize their in-service trainings and seminars provided by their employers.
In addition, the percentage required for each learning track need not be strictly followed as long as the total number of required CPD units is met. They may also take CPD-related courses and seminars from non-accredited institutions in their host country and have the CPD units accredited under the self-directed modality.
THE PRC-ACCREDITED CPD PROVIDERS ARE LIMITED TO CURRENT PROVIDERS WHICH ARE PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS AND THE ACCREDITED INTEGRATED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (AIPOs) OR ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS (APOs), ALLEGEDLY OFFERING EXPENSIVE TRAINING AND SEMINARS AND THE PRC DOES NOT
RECOGNIZE IN-HOUSE TRAINING BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, SUCH AS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DepEd) AND OTHER COMPANIES, WHICH ARE ALREADY INSTITUTED AND ARE USUALLY FREE
The PRC is currently conducting a research-study to compare the present fees charged in the conduct of CPD programs. Eventually, it will issue operational guidelines which will require CPD providers to charge reasonable fees based on standard parameters. Since the implementation of the CPD law is still in its initial stages, some professions have only a few CPD providers. This has led some CPD providers to take advantage of the
law of supply and demand. The PRC, through the CPD councils, is therefore accelerating the processing of applications for CPD providers and programs. With more government agencies, SUCs, GOCCs and providers from the private sector being accredited, CPDprograms will become more affordable due to fair competition.
The allegation by critics, complainants and some popular online petitions that “the PRC does not recognize in-house training by government agencies such as the Department of Education (DepEd) and other companies, which are already instituted and free,” is baseless. The PRC has never made announcements to that effect. In fact, the PRC will recognize programs which may be credited under the self-directed modality even if not
from an accredited provider as long as it is proven that they enhance professional development.
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