The Philippine House of Representatives on Wednesday passed on second reading a bill proposing to extend the validity of Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) identification cards from the current three years to five years, in order to ease the burden on millions of Filipino professionals of renewing their licenses.
The bill, numbered HB 8876, was approved via voice vote. According to the bill, the validity of all Professional Identification Cards (PICs) issued by the PRC will be uniformly extended to five years, but cardholders must still comply with existing laws and procedural requirements.
The bill also stipulates that the PRC's Information and Communications Technology Service department must, within six months after the law takes effect, complete upgrades to the licensing examination registration system and related administrative procedures.
This move is in line with President Marcos Jr.’s push for modernized government services, aiming to reduce cumbersome administrative processes for citizens.
Martin Romualdez, one of the bill's proponents, stated that extending the validity period of PRC licenses helps ease the time and financial burdens on professionals, allowing them to focus more on their work, livelihood, and service to the nation rather than repeatedly processing renewal requirements.
He said that professionals such as teachers, nurses, engineers, architects, and accountants are key pillars of the nation’s economy, so the government must make related procedures simpler, faster, and more user-friendly.
Additionally, Sandro Marcos pointed out that this measure could reduce the number of license renewal appointments, alleviating congestion in the PRC system.
He said: “Professionals should not have to spend excessive time and money on frequent license renewals. The government can absolutely provide a more efficient and convenient system without compromising professional regulatory standards.”
He emphasized that this is a pragmatic and people-centered reform initiative that will allow millions of Filipino professionals to enjoy faster, more efficient, and more convenient government services.