MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a measure that would extend the validity of Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) identification cards from three years to five years, the approval of House Bill No. 8876 via voice voting marks a significant step toward reducing the “regulatory burden” on millions of Filipino professionals.
The bill aims to align the validity of Professional Identification Cards (PIC) with other government-issued documents, such as driver’s licenses and passports, which have already seen their validity periods lengthened.
The bill, authored by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, and several other lawmakers, introduces the following changes:
- Extended Validity: All PICs issued by the PRC will remain valid for five years (up from the current three), provided the professional complies with existing legal and procedural requirements.
- Systems Upgrade: The bill mandates the PRC’s Information and Communication Technology Service (ICTS) to complete necessary upgrades to the Licensure Examination Registration Information System (LERIS) within six months of the law’s effectivity to accommodate the new schedule.
- Reduced Frequency: Professionals will now renew their IDs once every five years, typically during their birth month, reducing the frequency of both fees and appointment queues.
Lawmakers emphasized that the move is “practical and people-centered,” designed to save professionals time, money, and effort.
- Cost Savings: By extending the renewal cycle, professionals will pay renewal fees less frequently, providing financial relief for teachers, nurses, engineers, and others.
- Ease of Compliance: The extra two years give professionals more time to fulfill their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) units, which are often a point of stress during the current three-year window.
- Decongesting the PRC: House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos noted that the change will significantly reduce the volume of annual renewal transactions, helping to “decongest the PRC appointment system” and shorten long queues at satellite offices.
Following its approval on second reading on Wednesday, May 13, the bill must now undergo a third and final reading in the House before it is transmitted to the Senate.
- Senate Counterpart: Similar measures have already been introduced in the Senate (notably by Senators Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada), suggesting strong bicameral support for the reform.
- Presidential Support: The bill aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s standing order to modernize government services and cut red tape across all agencies.
“In these times, it is important to ease the financial and time constraints of our professionals… By extending the validity to five years, we are giving them more time to focus on their profession and livelihood instead of the repeated renewal process.” — Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez