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REPUBLIC ACT NO.

4226 constructed unless plans have been approved and construction permit issued
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 4226 - AN ACT REQUIRING THE LICENSURE OF by the licensing agency as defined in this Act.
ALL HOSPITALS IN THE PHILIPPINES AND AUTHORIZING THE
BUREAU OF MEDICAL SERVICES TO SERVE AS THE LICENSING Sec. 4. Registration and license. — No hospital shall operate or be opened
AGENCY to the public unless it shall have been registered and a license for its
operation obtained from the licensing agency provided in this Act.

Section 1. This Act shall also be known as the Hospital Licensure Act. Sec. 5. Licensing Agency. — For purposes of setting standards in hospital
construction and operation, the Bureau of Medical Services in addition to its
Sec. 2. Definitions. — As used in this Act — present duties shall act as the licensing agency. The Secretary of Health shall
reorganize this Bureau to include a staff of hospital architects, hospital
(a) 'Hospital' means a place devoted primarily to the maintenance and administrators, sanitary engineers and such personnel as may be necessary
operation of facilities for the diagnosis, treatment and care of individuals to carry out the purposes of this Act without necessarily increasing the
suffering from illness, disease, injury or deformity, or in need of obstetrical present personnel strength of this Bureau.
or other medical and nursing care. The term 'hospital shall also be construed
as any institution, building or place where there are installed beds, or cribs, Sec. 6. Powers and duties of the licensing agency. — The Bureau of Medical
or bassinets for twenty-four-hour use or longer by patients in the treatment Services, or the licensing agency shall have the following powers and duties:
of diseases, diseased-conditions, injuries, deformities, or abnormal physical
and mental states, maternity cases, and all institutions such as those for a. To conduct an ocular survey of all existing hospitals in the Philippines,
convalescence, sanitarial or sanitarial care, infirmities, nurseries, dispensaries government or private, with a view to determine their fitness to operate
and such other names by which they may designated. considering their facilities and physical plant.

(b) 'Government hospital' means a hospital operated and maintained either b. To prescribe standard plans for government hospital plants in
partially or wholly by the national, provincial, municipal or city government consultation with the Division of Architecture, Bureau of Public Works.
or other political subdivision, or by any department, division, board or other
agency thereof. c. To approve plans for hospital plants, government or private, and to issue
permits or authority to construct hospitals in accordance with the provisions
(c) 'Private hospital' means one which is privately owned, established and of this Act.
operated with funds raised or contributed through donations, or by private
capital or other means, by private individuals, association, corporation, d. To keep a permanent register of approved hospitals or those issued
religious organization, firm, company or joint stock association. licenses to operate indicating the name of the hospital, address or location,
type of hospital, name of the director or administrator, ownership, number of
(d) 'Clinic' means a place in which patients avail of medical consultations or authorized beds and bassinets and such other pertinent data as may be
treatments on an out-patient basis. However, any clinic or dispensary where necessary.
there is at least six beds or cribs or bassinets installed for twenty-four-hour
use by patients shall be construed to fall within the definition of a hospital as e. To grant licenses for the operation and maintenance of hospitals or
described in this Act. revoke the same in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

(e) 'Licensee' is the person or persons granted a license to operate and f. To make periodic inspection of all hospitals so as to check compliance
maintain a hospital according to an approved minimum standard. with rules and regulations legally promulgated or with the provisions of this
Act and to make recommendations to directors or administrators of hospitals
Sec. 3. Construction Permit. — No hospital, government or private, shall be for the correction of defects found during such inspections.
g. To publish yearly a list of all approved hospitals indicating the name, operate and maintain a hospital shall be renewed every year upon payment
location, type, authorized beds, and name of the director or administrator. of the prescribed fees.

h. To submit yearly reports to the Secretary of Health, the Speaker of the SECTION 11. Revocation of License. — The licensing agency may suspend
House of Representatives, the President of the Senate and the chairmen and or revoke a license already issued for any of the following grounds: (a)
members of the Committees on Health of both Houses of Congress, such repeated violation by the licensee of any provision of this Act or of any other
reports to include a list of approved hospitals indicating the name of the existing law; (b) repeated violation of rules and regulations prescribed in the
hospital, location, bed capacity and name of the director or administrator implementation of this Act; or (c) repeated failure to make necessary
and make recommendations on hospital needs or requirements for hospital corrections or adjustments required by the licensing agency in the
service in certain communities that do not enjoy such hospital services. improvement of facilities and services.

Sec. 7. Filing of Application for Construction Permit. — Application for a SECTION 12. Hearing. — Any person, association, corporation, or any
permit to construct a hospital shall be submitted to the Office of the Director, other private entity who has been refused a license to operate and maintain a
Bureau of Medical Services in a form prescribed by the latter and hospital or whose license for such hospital has been suspended or revoked
accompanied by a plan of the hospital plant proposed to be constructed. The shall be entitled to an administrative hearing to be conducted by the
application shall state the name of the hospital, ownership, number of beds Secretary of Health and his two undersecretaries to determine the
proposed to be operated, location and type of hospital to be constructed. justifiability of such denial, suspension or revocation of the license: provided,
that the licensee may resort to the courts, as in other cases provided by law.
Sec. 8. Minimum Standards of Construction. — In order that a permit to
construct a hospital can be issued the hospital plan shall provide sufficient SECTION 13. Separate Licenses Required. — Separate licenses shall be
bed space for the hospital bed capacity proposed, a laboratory room, an required for hospitals or branches thereof maintained in separate premises,
operating room, including work rooms for sterilization, anesthesia even though they are operated under the same management: provided,
preparation, etc., an X-ray or radiology room, pharmacy, dispensary or out- however, that separate licenses shall not be required for separate buildings in
patient department, delivery room, isolation rooms, autopsy room or the same compound: provided, further, that permits for construction or
morgue, sufficient quarters for residents, nurses, attendants and helpers and alteration of buildings within the same compound shall also be secured from
sufficient number of toilet facilities. the licensing agency to determine compliance with standards and
requirements herein authorized.
Wards shall be constructed such that segregation of the sexes is observed and
as far as practicable classified as to the type of cases to be confined. SECTION 14. License not transferable. — License for the operation of
hospitals shall not be transferable. The licensing agency shall be notified of
Sec. 9. Application for Registration and Issuance of License. — Application any change in ownership, change of name of the hospital, and transfer of
for registration of a hospital and for the issuance of a license for its operation location and in the latter case, an application for a new license should be
and maintenance shall be filed with the Bureau of Medical Services on a form submitted.
prescribed by it. Registration may be made and license issued upon
compliance with the provisions of Section eight hereof and the rules and SECTION 15. Rules and Regulations. — The Bureau of Medical Services
regulations prescribed by the licensing agency pursuant to the provisions of acting as a licensing agency and subject to the approval of the Secretary of
this Act. Health, shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions
of this Act.
SECTION 10. Inspection. — Permit to construct a hospital or a major
portion thereof and license to operate and maintain the same shall be issued SECTION 16. Classification of Hospitals. — The licensing agency shall
by the licensing agency only after a representative of the licensing agency has study and adopt a system of classifying hospitals in the Philippines as to: (1)
conducted an ocular inspection and certified that the applicant has general or special; (2) hospital services capabilities; (3) size or bed capacity
satisfactorily complied with requisites prescribed in this Act. The license to and (4) class of hospital whether training or not.
(4) Administer all laws, rules and regulations in the field of health, including
SECTION 17. Fees. — Each applicant for a permit to construct a hospital quarantine laws and food and drug safety laws;
shall pay the amount of five pesos as permit fee. A registration fee of five
pesos and an annual license fee of ten pesos shall likewise be collected for (5) Collect, analyze and disseminate statistical and other relevant information
each hospital and for each approved license: provided, that a government on the country’s health situation, and require the reporting of such
hospital shall be exempt from the payment of such fees. The amount herein information from appropriate sources;
collected shall be officially receipted by the licensing agency and shall
constitute as a revolving fund for the use of the licensing agency. (6) Propagate health information and educate the population on important
health, medical and environmental matters which have health implications;
SECTION 18. Penalties. — Any person, partnership, association, or
corporation who establishes, operates, conducts, manages or maintains a (7) Undertake health and medical research and conduct training in support
hospital or hospital clinic within the meaning of this Act without first of its priorities, programs and activities;
obtaining a license as provided for in this Act or violates any provision
hereof shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be (8) Regulate the operation of and issue licenses and permits to government
liable to a fine of not more than five hundred pesos for the first offense and and private hospitals, clinics and dispensaries, laboratories, blood banks,
not more than one thousand pesos for each subsequent offense, and each day drugstores and such other establishments which by the nature of their
that the hospital shall operate after the first conviction shall be considered a functions are required to be regulated by the Department;
subsequent offense.
(9) Issue orders and regulations concerning the implementation of
SECTION 19. Repeal. — Any law or laws or parts thereof inconsistent with
established health policies; and
the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed.
(10) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law.
Sec. 20. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
CHAPTER 4
EXECUTIVE ORDER 292
Offices and Bureaus
TITLE IX
SECTION 13. Office for Public Health Services.—The Office for Public
SECTION 3. Powers and Functions.—The Department shall:
Health Services, headed by an Undersecretary, shall include ten (10) staff
services involved in policy formulation, standards development, program
(1) Define the national health policy and formulate and implement a national
development, and program monitoring of disease control and service
health plan within the framework of the government’s general policies and
delivery programs implemented by the field offices. The Undersecretary for
plans, and present proposals to appropriate authorities on national issues
Public Health Services, who shall be supported by an Assistant Secretary,
which have health implications;
shall supervise the following:

(2) Provide for health programs, services, facilities and other requirements as
(1) Maternal and Child Health Service which shall formulate plans, policies,
may be needed, subject to availability of funds and administrative rules and
programs, standards and techniques relative to maternal and child health;
regulations;
provide consultative training and advisory services to implementing
agencies; and conduct studies and research related to health services for
(3) Coordinate or collaborate with, and assist local communities, agencies mothers and children;
and interested groups including international organizations in activities
related to health;
(2) Tuberculosis Control Service which shall formulate plans, policies,
programs, standards and techniques relative to the control of morbidity and
mortality from tuberculosis; provide consultative, training and advisory others; provide consultative, training and advisory services to implementing
services to implementing agencies; and conduct studies and research related agencies; and conduct studies and research related to these other
to tuberculosis; communicable diseases;

(3) Family Planning Service which shall formulate plans, policies, programs, (10) Non-communicable Disease Control Service which shall formulate plans,
standards and techniques relative to family planning in the context of health policies, programs, standards and techniques relative to the control of non-
and family welfare; provide consultative, training and advisory services to communicable diseases; provide consultative, training and advisory services
implementing agencies; and conduct studies and research related to family to implementing agencies; and conduct studies and research related to
planning; mental illness, cardiovascular-disease, cancer, other non-communicable
diseases, and occupational health.
(4) Environmental Health Service which shall formulate plans, policies,
programs, standards and techniques relative to environmental health and SECTION 14. Office for Hospital and Facilities Services.—The Office for
sanitation; provide consultative, training and advisory services to Hospital and Facilities Services, headed by an Undersecretary who shall be
implementing agencies; and conduct studies and research related to supported by an Assistant Secretary, shall include four (4) staff services
environmental health; involved in policy formulation, standards development, program monitoring
and provision of specialized assistance in the operations of hospitals and the
(5) Nutrition Service which shall formulate plans, policies, programs, management of facilities, which are as follows:
standards and techniques relative to nutrition services in the context of
primary health care, provide consultative, training and advisory services to (1) Hospital Operations and Management Service which shall formulate and
implementing agencies; and conduct studies and research related to implement plans, programs, policies, standards and techniques related to
nutrition; management improvement and quality control of hospital operations;
provide consultative, training and advisory services to field offices in relation
(6) Dental Health Service which shall formulate plans, policies, programs, to the supervision and management of hospital components; and conduct
standards and techniques relative to dental health services; provide studies and research related to hospital operations and management;
consultative, training and advisory services to implementing agencies; and
conduct studies and research related to dental services; (2) Radiation Health Service which shall formulate and implement plans,
programs, policies, standards and techniques to ensure radiation health
(7) Malaria Control Service which shall formulate plans, policies, programs, safety; provide consultative, monitoring, training and advisory services to
standards and techniques relative to the control of malaria; provide private and government facilities with radiation-emitting apparatus; and
consultative, training and advisory services to implementing agencies; and conduct studies and research related to radiation health;
conduct studies and research to malaria and its control;
(3) Hospital Maintenance Service which shall formulate and implement
(8) Schistosomiasis Control Service which shall formulate plans, policies, plans, programs, policies, standards and techniques related to assuring the
programs, standards and techniques relative to the control of proper maintenance of Department equipment; provide consultative,
schistosomiasis; provide consultative, training and advisory services to training and advisory services to implementing agencies in relation to
implementing agencies; and conduct studies and research related to preservation, repair and maintenance of medical and non-medical
schistosomiasis and its control; equipment of the Department; and conduct studies and research related to
equipment and facility maintenance;
(9) Communicable Disease Control Service which shall formulate plans,
policies, programs, standards and techniques relative to the control of (4) Health Infrastructure Service which shall formulate and implement plans,
communicable diseases, other than the major causes of mortality and policies, programs, standards and techniques related to development and
morbidity, such as leprosy, sexually transmitted diseases, filariasis and preservation of health infrastructure; provide consultative, training and
advisory services to implementing agencies in relation to infrastructure than one month, but not more than six months, or both such fine and
projects to assure economical and efficient implementation; and conduct imprisonment, at the discretion of the proper court.
studies and research related to infrastructure development and utilization. SEC. 4. The Department of Health shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act.
Republic of the Philippines SEC. 5. If any provision of this Act is declared void and unconstitutional the
Congress of the Philippines remaining provisions hereof not affected thereby shall remain in full force
Metro Manila and effect.
Thirteenth Congress SEC. 6. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or part thereof
Third Regular Session inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
SEC. 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two
national newspapers of general circulation.
Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the nineteenth day of
February, two thousand seven.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9439 April 27, 2007
AN ACT PROHIBITING THE DETENTION OF PATIENTS IN Republic of the Philippines
HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL CLINICS ON GROUNDS OF Congress of the Philippines
NONPAYMENT OF HOSPITAL BILLS OR MEDICAL EXPENSES Metro Manila

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Tenth Congress
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. It shall be unlawful for any hospital or medical clinic in the
country to detain or to otherwise cause, directly or indirectly, the detention
of patients who have fully or partially recovered or have been adequately
attended to or who may have died, for reasons of nonpayment in part or in
Republic Act No. 8344 August 25, 1997
full of hospital bills or medical expenses.
SEC. 2. Patients who have fully or partially recovered and who already wish
to leave the hospital or medical clinic but are financially incapable to settle, AN ACT PENALIZING THE REFUSAL OF HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL
in part or in full, their hospitalization expenses, including professional fees CLINICS TO ADMINISTER APPROPRIATE INITIAL MEDICAL
TREATMENT AND SUPPORT IN EMERGENCY OR SERIOUS CASES,
and medicines, shall be allowed to leave the hospital or medical clinic, with a
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATAS PAMBANSA BILANG 702,
right to demand the issuance of the corresponding medical certificate and
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "AN ACT PROHIBITING THE DEMAND OF
other pertinent papers required for the release of the patient from the
DEPOSITS OR ADVANCE PAYMENTS FOR THE CONFINEMENT OR
hospital or medical clinic upon the execution of a promissory note covering
TREATMENT OF PATIENTS IN HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL CLINICS
the unpaid obligation. The promissory note shall be secured by either a
IN CERTAIN CASES"
mortgage or by a guarantee of a co-maker, who will be jointly and severally
liable with the patient for the unpaid obligation. In the case of a deceased
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
patient, the corresponding death certificate and other documents required
Congress assembled::
for interment and other purposes shall be released to any of his surviving
relatives requesting for the same: Provided, however, That patients who stayed
in private rooms shall not be covered by this Act. Section 1. Section 1 of Batas Pambansa Bilang 702 is hereby amended to read as
SEC. 3. Any officer or employee of the hospital or medical clinic responsible follows:
for releasing patients, who violates the provisions of this Act shall be
punished by a fine of not less than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00), but "SECTION 1. In emergency or serious cases, it shall be unlawful for
not more than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00), or imprisonment of not less any proprietor, president, director, manager or any other officer,
and/or medical practitioner or employee of a hospital or medical "(c) 'Confinement' - a state of being admitted in a hospital or
clinic to request, solicit, demand or accept any deposit or any other medical clinic for medical observation, diagnosis, testing,
form of advance payment as a prerequisite for confinement or and treatment consistent with the capability and available
medical treatment of a patient in such hospital or medical clinic or to facilities of the hospital or clinic.
refuse to administer medical treatment and support as dictated by
good practice of medicine to prevent death or permanent disability: "(d) 'Hospital' - a facility devoted primarily to the diagnosis,
Provided, That by reason of inadequacy of the medical capabilities of treatment and care of individuals suffering from illness,
the hospital or medical clinic, the attending physician may transfer disease, injury or deformity, or in need of obstetrical or other
the patient to a facility where the appropriate care can be given, after medical and nursing care. It shall also be construed as any
the patient or his next of kin consents to said transfer and after the institution, building or place where there are facilities and
receiving hospital or medical clinic agrees to the transfer: Provided, personnel for the continued and prolonged care of patients.
however, That when the patient is unconscious, incapable of giving
consent and/or unaccompanied, the physician can transfer the "(e) 'Emergency treatment and support' - any medical or
patient even without his consent: Provided, further, That such surgical measure within the capability of the hospital or
transfer shall be done only after necessary emergency treatment and medical clinic that is administered by qualified health care
support have been administered to stabilize the patient and after it professionals to prevent the death or permanent disability of
has been established that such transfer entails less risks than the a patient.
patient's continued confinement: Provided, furthermore, That no
hospital or clinic, after being informed of the medical indications for "(f) 'Medical clinic' - a place in which patients can avail of
such transfer, shall refuse to receive the patient nor demand from the medical consultation or treatment on an outpatient basis.
patient or his next of kin any deposit or advance payment: Provided,
finally, That strict compliance with the foregoing procedure on
"(g) 'Permanent disability' - a condition of physical disability
transfer shall not be construed as a refusal made punishable by this
as defined under Article 192-C and Article 193-B and C of
Act."
Presidential Decree No 442; as amended, otherwise known
as the Labor Code of the Philippines.
Section 2. Section 2 of Batas Pambansa Bilang 702 is hereby deleted and in place
thereof, new sections 2, 3 and 4 are added, to read as follows:
"(h) 'Stabilize' - the provision of necessary care until such
time that the patient may be discharged or transferred to
"SEC. 2. For purposes of this Act, the following definitions shall
another hospital or clinic with a reasonable probability that
govern:
no physical deterioration would result from or occur during
such discharge or transfer.
"(a) 'Emergency' - a condition or state of a patient wherein
based on the objective findings of a prudent medical officer
"SEC. 3. After the hospital or medical clinic mentioned above shall
on duty for the day there is immediate danger and where
have administered medical treatment and support, it may cause the
delay in initial support and treatment may cause loss of life
transfer of the patient to an appropriate hospital consistent with the
or cause permanent disability to the patient.
needs of the patient, preferably to a government hospital, specially in
the case of poor or indigent patients.
"(b) 'Serious case' - refers to a condition of a patient
characterized by gravity or danger wherein based on the
"SEC. 4. Any official, medical practitioner or employee of the
objective findings of a prudent medical officer on duty for
hospital or medical clinic who violates the provisions of this Act
the day when left unattended to, may cause loss of life or
shall, upon conviction by final judgment, be punished by
cause permanent disability to the patient.
imprisonment of not less than six (6) months and one (1) day but not
more than two (2) years and four (4) months, or a fine of not less Summary
than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00), but not more than One
hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or both, at the discretion of SECTION 1. The law prohibits any hospital or medical clinic personnel, as
the court: Provided, however, That if such violation was committed defined or mentioned in the act, to request, solicit, demand or accept any deposit
pursuant to an established policy of the hospital or clinic or upon or any other form of advance payment as a prerequisite for administering
instruction of its management, the director or officer of such hospital initial or basic medical care to patients. This also applies to all who refused to
or clinic responsible for the formulation and implementation of such administer such treatment and support to prevent death, permanent injury or
policy shall, upon conviction by final judgment, suffer imprisonment loss of child in case of pregnant woman.
of four (4) to six (6) years, or a fine of not less than One hundred
thousand pesos (P100,000.00), but not more than Five hundred
thousand pesos (P500,000.00) or both, at the discretion of the court."

Section 3. Section 3 of Batas Pambansa Bilang 702 is hereby repealed.  Proviso: Hospital or medical clinic may transfer the patient treatment
by reason of the inadequacy of the medical capabilities of the
Section 4. Section 4 of Batas Pambansa Bilang 702 shall become Section 5 thereof hospital or medical clinic after a consent to transfer another facility
and shall be amended to read as follows: has been given by the patient or next of his kin. The medical
personnel/physician can transfer the patient to another facility if
"SEC. 5. The Department of Health shall promulgate the necessary he/she is unconscious, incapable of giving consent, and/or
rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act." unaccompanied. The transfer shall only be done after all the
necessary emergency treatment has been made and the physicians
Section 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2) will declare that such transfer entails less risk than further
national newspapers of general circulation. confinement.
 The hospital or medical clinic where the patient shall be transferred
shall also abide the same procedure as mandated in this act.

Republic Act No. 10932 - Anti-Hospital Deposit Law Definition of Terms


On August 3, 2017, President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed into law the
Republic Act No. 10932 or also known as the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law. SECTION 2

Overview Emergency - the condition of a patient that entails immediate danger and
such delay in initial support and treatment may cause loss of life, permanent
This is an act to strengthen the anti-hospital deposit law by incresing the disability, or loss of child or noninstitutional delivery in case of a pregnant
penalties for the refusal of hospitals and medical clinics to administer woman.
appropriate initial medical treatment and support in emergency or serious
cases. Serious case - the condition of a patient characterized by gravity or danger.

Amendment Basic emergency care - urgent response like diagnosis and use of medical
equipment and/or supplies.
This law is to amend Batas Pambansa Bilang 702, otherwise known as "An
act prohibiting the demand of deposits or advance payments for the Noninstitutional delivery - the delivery of a newborn while in transit,
confinement or treatment of patients in hospitals and medical clinics in outside of a health facility, after an initial consultation was done with a
certain cases", as amended by Republic Act No. 8344 and for other purposes. health facility.
The Role of the LGU which may be carried over for a period of five years, any provision of law or
regulation to the contrary notwithstanding.
SECTION 3. In case there is no ambulance available for use by the hospital or
medical clinic to render the transfer, the local government unit (LGU) where
the hospital or medical clinic is located must allow the FREE use of its Sec. 3. Any hospital director, administrator, officer-in-charge or physician
emergency vehicle and must be accompanied by a staff nurse with Advanced in the hospital, medical center or clinic, who shall refuse or fail without good
Cardiovascular Support (ACLS) Certification or its equivalent. cause to render the appropriate assistance pursuant to the requirements of
section one after said case had been brought to his attention, or any nurse,
Penalty midwife or medical attendant who shall refuse to extend the appropriate
assistance, subject to existing rules, or neglect to notify or call a physician
Anyone who violates the provisions of this Act shall be, upon conviction by shall be punished by imprisonment of one month and one day to one year
final judgment, be punished by imprisonment of not less than six (6) months and one day, and a fine of three hundred pesos to one thousand pesos,
and one (1) day but not more than two (2) years and four (4) months, or a without prejudice to the provisions of Republic Act Numbered Twenty-three
fine of not less than one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000) and not more hundred eighty-two in the case of physicians.
than three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000), or both, at the the discretion
of the court. In the case of Government hospitals, the imposition of the penalty upon the
person or persons guilty of the violations shall be without prejudice to the
 Proviso: If the violation was committed pursuant to an established administrative action that might be proper.
policy of the hospital or medical clinic or upon instructions given by
higher personnel of the said hospital or medical clinic, the penalty
shall be imprisonment of four (4) to six (6) years and a fine of not less In the case of private hospitals, aside from the imposition of penalty upon
than five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000) and not more than one the person or persons guilty of the violations, the license of the hospital to
million pesos (P1,000,000) or both at the discretion of the court. operate shall, whenever justified, be suspended or revoked.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6615 - AN ACT REQUIRING GOVERNMENT AND


PRIVATE HOSPITALS AND CLINICS TO EXTEND MEDICAL Sec. 4. Subject to the approval of the Secretary of Health, the Bureau of
ASSISTANCE IN EMERGENCY CASES Medical Services shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to
carry out the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 5. Any law or laws or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of
this Act is hereby repealed.
Section 1. All government and private hospitals or clinic duly licensed to
operate as such are hereby required to render immediate emergency medical
assistance and to provide facilities and medicine within its capabilities to
Sec. 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
patients in emergency cases who are in danger of dying and/or who may
have suffered serious physical injuries.
THE MEDICAL ACT OF 1959

Sec. 2. The expenses and losses of earnings incurred by a private hospital of ARTICLE I
clinic for medicines, facilities and services beyond first aid extended to Objectives and Implementation
emergency cases as required herein, and not to exceed fifty thousand pesos
per year, shall be deductible expenses and losses for income tax purposes Section 1. Objectives. This Act provides for and shall govern (a) the
standardization and regulation of medical education; (b) the examination for
registration of physicians; and (c) the supervision, control and regulation of hospitals, equipment and supplies, apparatus, instruments,
the practice of medicine in the Philippines. appliances, laboratories, bed capacity for instruction purposes,
operating and delivery rooms, facilities for out-patient services, and
Section 2. Enforcement. For the purpose of implementing the provisions of others, used for didactic and practical instructions in accordance
this Act, there are created the following agencies: the Board of Medical with modern trends;
Education under the Department of Education, and the Board of Medical
Examiners under the Commissioner of Civil Service. (c) To determine and prescribe the minimum number and the
minimum qualifications of teaching personnel, including student-
ARTICLE II teacher ratio and curriculum;
The Board of Medical Education Its Functions
(d) To determine and prescribe the number of students who should
Section 3. Composition of Board of Medical Education. The Board of Medical be allowed to take up the preparatory course taking into account the
Education shall be composed of the Secretary of Education or his duly capacity of the different recognized colleges of medicine.
authorized representative, as chairman, and the Secretary of Health or his
duly authorized representative, the Director of the Bureau of Private Schools (e) To select, determine and approve hospitals or some departments
or his duly authorized representative, the chairman of the Board of Medical of the hospitals for training which comply with the minimum
Examiners or his duly authorized representative, a representative of private specific physical facilities as provided in subparagraph (b) hereof:
practitioners, upon recommendation of an acknowledged medical and
association and a representative chosen by the Philippine Association of
Colleges and Universities, as members. (f) To promulgate and prescribe and enforce necessary rules and
regulations for the proper implementation of the foregoing
The officials acting as chairman and members of the Board of Medical functions.
Education shall hold office during their incumbency in their respective
positions. Section 6. Minimum required courses. Students seeking admission to the
medical course must have a bachelor of science or bachelor of arts degree or
Section 4. Compensation and traveling expenses. The chairman and members of their equivalent and must have taken in four years the following subjects
the Board of Medical Education shall not be entitled to any compensation with their corresponding number of units:
except for traveling expenses in connection with their official duties as herein
provided.
Unit
For administrative purposes, the Board shall hold office in the office of its English 12
chairman, who may designate a ranking official in the Department of
Education to serve as secretary of the Board. Latin 3

Section 5. Functions. The functions of the Board of Medical Education shall Mathematics, including Accounting and Statistics 9
be:
Philosophy, including Psychology and Logic 12
(a) To determine and prescribe minimum requirements for Zoology and Botany 15
admission into a recognized college of medicine;
Physics 8
(b) To determine and prescribe requirements for minimum physical
facilities of colleges of medicine, to wit: buildings, including Chemistry 21
Microbiology
Library Science 1

Humanities and Social Sciences 12 Parasitology

Medicine and Therapeutics


Twelve units of Spanish shall be required pursuant to Republic Act
Numbered Seven hundred nine; but commencing with the academic year
nineteen hundred sixty to nineteen hundred sixty-one, twenty-four units of Genycology
Spanish shall be required pursuant to Republic Act Numbered Eighteen
hundred and eighty-one as cultural, social and nationalistic studies. Opthalmology, Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology

Provided, That the following students may be permitted to complete the Pediatrics
aforesaid preparatory medical course in shorter periods as follows:
Obstetrics
(a) Students whose general average is below eighty-five per cent but
without any grade of failure or condition may be allowed to pursue Surgery
and finish the course in three academic years and the intervening
summer sessions; and Preventive Medicine and Public Health

(b) Students whose general average is eighty-five per cent or over Legal Medicine, including Medical Jurisprudence and Ethics.
may be permitted to finish the course in three academic years by
allowing them to take each semester the overload permitted to bright Section 7. Admission requirements. The medical college may admit any
students under existing regulations of the Bureau of Private Schools. student to its first year class who has not been convicted by any court of
competent jurisdiction of any offense involving moral turpitude, and who
Provided, That upon failure to maintain the general average of eighty-five presents (a) a certificate showing completion of a standard high school
per cent, students under (b) shall automatically revert to the category of course, (b) a record showing completion of a standard preparatory medical
students under (a) and those under (a), upon having any grade of failure or course as herein provided, (c) a certificate of registration as medical student,
condition, shall automatically revert to the category of students required to (d) a certificate of good moral character issued by two former professors in
pursue the preparatory course in four years mentioned above. the pre-medicine course, and (e) birth certificate and marriage certificate, if
any. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to inhibit any college of medicine
The medical course shall be at least five years, including not less than eleven from establishing, in addition to the preceding, other entrance requirements
rotating internship in an approved hospital, and shall consist of the that may be deemed admissible.
following subjects:
For the purposes of this Act, the term "College of Medicine" shall mean to
Anatomy include faculty of medicine, institute of medicine, school of medicine or other
similar institution offering a complete medical course leading to the degree
Physiology of Doctor of Medicine or its equivalent.

Biochemistry and Nutrition Every college of medicine must keep a complete record of enrollment, grades
and turnover, and must publish each year a catalogue giving the following
Pharmacology information:
1. Date of publication (2) He shall be of good moral character, showing for this purpose
certificate of civil status;
2. Calendar for the academic year
(3) He shall be of sound mind;
3. Faculty roll indicating whether on full time part time basis
(4) He shall not have been convicted by a court of competent
4. Requirements of admission jurisdiction of any offense involving moral turpitude; and

5. Grading system (5) He shall be a holder of the degree of Doctor of Medicine or its
equivalent, conferred by a college of medicine duly recognized by
6. Requirements for promotion the Department of Education.

7. Requirements for graduation Section 10. Acts constituting practice of medicine. A person shall be considered
as engaged in the practice of medicine (a) who shall, for compensation, fee,
8. Medical hours per academic year by departments salary or reward in any form, paid to him directly or through another, or
even without the same, physical examine any person, and diagnose, treat,
operate or prescribe any remedy for any human disease, injury, deformity,
9. Schedule hours per academic year by departments
physical, mental or physical condition or any ailment, real or imaginary,
regardless of the nature of the remedy or treatment administered, prescribed
10. Number of students enrolled in each class. or recommended; or (b) who shall, by means of signs, cards, advertisements,
written or printed matter, or through the radio, television or any other means
ARTICLE III of communication, either offer or undertake by any means or method to
THE BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS; REGISTRATION OF diagnose, treat, operate or prescribe any remedy for any human disease,
PHYSICIANS injury, deformity, physical, mental or physical condition; or (c) who shall use
the title M.D. after his name.
Section 8. Prerequisite to the practice of medicine. No person shall engage in the
practice of medicine in the Philippines unless he is at least twenty-one years Section 11. Exemptions. The preceding section shall not be construed to affect
of age, has satisfactorily passed the corresponding Board Examination, and is (a) any medical student duly enrolled in an approved medical college or
a holder of a valid Certificate of Registration duly issued to him by the Board school under training, serving without any professional fee in any
of Medical Examiners. government or private hospital, provided that he renders such service under
the direct supervision and control of a registered physician; (b) any legally
Section 9. Candidates for board examination. Candidates for Board registered dentist engaged exclusively in the practice of dentistry; (c) any
examinations shall have the following qualifications: duly registered masseur or physiotherapist, provided that he applies
massage or other physical means upon written order or prescription of a
(1) He shall be a citizen of the Philippines or a citizen of any foreign duly registered physician, or provided that such application of massage or
country who has submitted competent and conclusive documentary physical means shall be limited to physical or muscular development; (d)
evidence, confirmed by the Department of Foreign Affairs, showing any duly registered optometrist who mechanically fits or sells lenses,
that his country's existing laws permit citizens of the Philippines to artificial eyes, limbs or other similar appliances or who is engaged in the
practice medicine under the same rules and regulations governing mechanical examination of eyes for the purpose of constructing or adjusting
citizens thereof; eye glasses, spectacles and lenses; (e) any person who renders any service
gratuitously in cases of emergency, or in places where the services of a duly
registered physician, nurse or midwife are not available; (f) any person who
administers or recommends any household remedy as per classification of shall fill any vacancy that may occur during any examination from the list of
existing Pharmacy Laws; and (g) any psychologist or mental hygienist in the names submitted by the Philippine Medical Association in accordance with
performance of his duties, provided such performance is done in conjunction the provisions of this Act.
with a duly registered physician.
No examiner shall handle the examinations in more than four subjects or
Section 12. Limited practice without any certificate of registration. Certificates of groups of subjects as hereinafter provided. The distribution of subject to each
registration shall not be required of the following persons: member shall be agreed upon at a meeting called by the chairman for the
purpose. The examination papers shall be under the custody of the
(a) Physicians and surgeons from other countries called in Commissioner of Civil Service or his duly authorized representative, and
consultation only and exclusively in specific and definite cases, or shall be distributed to each member of the Board who shall correct, grade,
those attached to international bodies or organization assigned to and sign, and submit them to the said Commissioner within one hundred
perform certain definite work in the Philippines provided they shall twenty days from the date of the termination of the examinations.
limit their practice to the specific work assigned to them and
provided further they shall secure a previous authorization from the A final meeting of the Board for the deliberation and approval of the grades
Board of Medical Examiners. shall be called by the Commissioner of Civil Service immediately after
receipt of the records from the members of the Board of Medical Examiners.
(b) Commissioned medical officers of the United States armed forces The secretary of the Board shall submit to the President of the Philippines for
stationed in the Philippines while rendering service as such only for approval the names of the successful candidates as having been duly
the members of the said armed forces and within the limit of their qualified for licensure in alphabetical order, without stating the ratings
own respective territorial jurisdiction. obtained by each.

(c) Foreign physicians employed as exchange professors in special Section 14. Qualifications of examiners. No person shall be appointed a
branches of medicine or surgery whose service may in the discretion member of the Board of Medical Examiners unless he or she (1) is a natural-
of the Board of Medical Education, be necessary. born citizen of the Philippines, (2) is a duly registered physician in the
Philippines, (3) has been in the practice of medicine for at least ten years, (4)
(d) Medical students who have completed the first four years of is of good moral character and of recognized standing in the medical
medical course, graduates of medicine and registered nurses who profession, (5) is not a member of the faculty of any medical school and has
may be given limited and special authorization by the Secretary of no pecuniary interest, directly or indirectly, in any college of medicine or in
Health to render medical services during epidemics or national any institution where any branch of medicine is taught, at the time of his
emergencies whenever the services of duly registered physicians are appointment: Provided, That of the six members to be appointed, not more
not available. Such authorization shall automatically cease when the than two shall be graduates of the same institution and not more than three
epidemic or national emergency is declared terminated by the shall be government physicians.
Secretary of Health.
Section 15. Tenure of office and compensation of members. The members of the
Section 13. The Board of Medical Examiners, its composition and duties. The Board of Medical Examiners shall hold office for one year: Provided, That any
Board of Medical Examiners shall be composed of six members to be member may be reappointed for not more than one year. Each member shall
appointed by the President of the Philippines from a confidential list of not receive as compensation ten pesos for each candidate examined for
more than twelve names approved and submitted by the executive council of registration as physician, and five pesos for each candidate examined in the
the Philippine Medical Association, after due consultation with other preliminary or final physician examination.
medical associations, during the months of April and October of each year.
The chairman of the Board shall be elected from among themselves by the The President of the Philippines, upon the recommendation of the
member at a meeting called for the purpose. The President of the Philippines Commissioner of Civil Service , after due investigation, may remove any
member of the Board of Medical Examiners for neglect of duty, not less than ten days' notice to each candidate who had filed his name and
incompetency, or unprofessional or dishonorable conduct. address with the secretary of the Board.

Section 16. Executive Officer and Secretary of the Board. The Secretary of the Section 19. Fees. The secretary of the Board, under the supervision of the
Boards of Examiners appointed in accordance with section ten of Act Commissioner of Civil Service, shall collect from each candidate the
Numbered Four thousand seven, as amended, shall also be the secretary of following fees:
the Board of Medical Examiners, who shall keep all the records, including
examination papers, and the minutes of the deliberations of the Board. He
For registration as medical student P 5.00
shall also keep a register of all persons to whom certificates of registration
has been granted; set forth the name, sec, age, and place of birth of each, For complete physician examination 75.00
place of business, post office address, the name of the medical college or
university from which he graduated or in which he had studied, together For preliminary or final examination 40.00
with time spent in the study of the profession elsewhere, the name of the
country where the institution is located which had granted to him the degree For registration as physician 20.00
or certificate of attendance upon clinic and all lectures in medicine and
surgery, and all other degrees granted to him from institutions of learning.
All fees paid as provided herein shall accrue to the funds of the Board of
He shall keep an up-to-date registration book of all duly registered
Medical Examiners and be expended for the payment of the compensation of
physicians in the Philippines. He shall furnish copies of all examination
the members thereof. No fees other than those provided herein shall be paid
questions and ratings in each subject of the respective candidates in the
to the Board.
physicians examination, one month after the release of the list of successful
examinees, to the deans of the different colleges of medicine exclusively for
Section 20. Issuance of Certificate of Registration, grounds for refusal of same. The
the information and guidance of the faculties thereof. This report shall be
considered as restricted information. Any school which violates this rule Commissioner of Civil Service and the secretary of the Board of Medical
Examiners shall sign jointly and issue certificates of registration to those who
shall be deprived of such privilege. The secretary of the Board shall likewise
keep a record of all registered medical students. He shall keep all the records have satisfactorily complied with the requirements of the Board. They shall
not issue a certificate of registration to any candidate who has been convicted
and proceedings, and issue and receive all papers in connection with any and
by a court of competent jurisdiction of any criminal offense involving moral
all complaints presented to the Board.
turpitude, or has been found guilty of immoral or dishonorable conduct after
he due investigation by the Board of Medical Examiners, or has been
Section 17. Rules and regulations. The Board of Medical Examiners, with the
declared to be of unsound mind.
approval of the Commissioner of Civil Service, shall promulgate such rules
and regulations as may be necessary for the proper conduct of the
examinations, correction of examination papers, and registration of Section 21. Scope of examination. The examination for the registration of
physicians shall consist of the following subjects: (1) Anatomy and
physicians. The Commissioner shall supervise each Board examination and
Histology, (2) Physiology, (3) Biochemistry, (4) Microbiology and
enforce the said rules and regulations. These rules and regulations shall take
effect fifteen days after the date of their publication in the Official Gazette Parasitology, (5) Pharcology and Therapeutics, (6) Pathology, (7) Medicine,
(8) Obstetrics and Gynecology, (9) Pediatrics and Nutrition, (10) Surgery and
and shall not be changed within sixty days immediately before any
examination. Such rules and regulations shall be printed and distributed for Opthalmology, Otolaryngology and Rhinology, (11) Preventive Medicine
and Public Health, and (12) Legal Medicine, Ethics and Medical
the information and guidance of all concerned.
Jurisprudence: Provided, however, That the examination questions in each
subject or group of subject shall at least be ten in number: Provided, further,
Section 18. Dates of examinations. The Board of Medical Examiners shall give
That the examination questions in Medicine shall include at least three from
examinations for the registration of physicians, one in May and one in
the following branches: Infectious diseases, Neurology, Dermatology,
November every year, in the City of Manila or any of its suburbs after giving
Allergy, Endocrinology and Cardio-Vascular diseases: Provided, finally, That
the examination questions in Surgery shall include at least four questions examination or registration, reprimand erring physicians, or suspend or
from the following: Opthalmology, Otology, Rhinology, Laryngology, revoke registration certificates, if the respondents are found guilty after due
Orthopedic Surgery and Anesthesiology. investigations.

The questions shall be the same for all applicants. All answers must be Section 23. Procedure and rules. Within five days after the filling of written
written either in English or Spanish. No name of the examinee shall appear charges under oath, the respondent physician shall be furnished a copy
in the examination paper but the examiners shall devise a system whereby thereof, without requiring him or her to answer the same, and the Board
each applicant can be identified by number only. shall conduct the investigation within five days after the receipt of such copy
by the respondent. The investigation shall be completed as soon as
In order that a candidate may be deemed to have passed his examination practicable.
successfully he must have obtained a general average of seventy-five per cent
without a grade lower than sixty-five per cent in Medicine, Pediatrics and Section 24. Grounds for reprimand, suspension or revocation of registration
Nutrition, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Preventive Medicine and Public certificate. Any of the following shall be sufficient ground for reprimanding a
Health, and no grade lower than fifty per cent in the rest of the subjects. physician, or for suspending or revoking a certificate of registration as
physician:
The preliminary examinations shall comprise of the following subjects:
(1) Conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction of any criminal
(1) Gross Anatomy and Histology offense involving moral turpitude;

(2) Physiology (2) Immoral or dishonorable conduct;

(3) Biochemistry (3) Insanity;

(4) Microbiology and Parasitology (4) Fraud in the acquisition of the certificate of registration;

Section 22. Administrative investigations. In addition to the functions provided (5) Gross negligence, ignorance or incompetence in the practice of his
for in the preceding sections, the Board of Medical Examiners shall perform or her profession resulting in an injury to or death of the patient;
the following duties: (1) to administer oath to physicians who qualified in the
examination; (2) to study the conditions affecting the practice of medicine in (6) Addiction to alcoholic beverages or to any habit forming drug
all parts of the Philippines; (3) to exercise the powers conferred upon it by rendering him or her incompetent to practice his or her profession,
this article with the view of maintaining the ethical and professional or to any form of gambling;
standards of the medical profession; (4) to subpoena or subpoena duces
tecum witnesses for all purposes required in the discharge of its duties; and (7) False or extravagant or unethical advertisements wherein other
(5) to promulgate, with the approval of the Commissioner of Civil Service, things than his name, profession, limitation of practice, clinic hours,
such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary for the performance of office and home address, are mentioned.
its duties in harmony with the provisions of this Act and necessary for the
proper practice of medicine in the Philippines. (8) Performance of or aiding in any criminal abortion;

Administrative investigations may be conducted by not less than four (9) Knowingly issuing any false medical certificate;
members of the Board of Medical Examiners; otherwise the proceedings shall
be considered void. The existing rules of evidence shall be observed during
all administrative investigations. The Board may disapprove applications for
(10) Issuing any statement or spreading any news or rumor which is Section 29. Injunctions. The Board of Medical Examiners may file an action to
derogatory to the character and reputation of another physician enjoin any person illegally practicing medicine from the performance of any
without justifiable motive; act constituting practice of medicine if the case so warrants until the
necessary certificate therefore is secured. Any such person who, after having
(11) Aiding or acting as a dummy of an unqualified or unregistered been so enjoined, continues in the illegal practice of medicine shall be
person to practice medicine; punished for contempt of court. The said injunction shall not relieve the
person practicing medicine without certificate of registration from criminal
(12) Violation of any provision of the Code of Ethics as approved by prosecution and punishment as provided in the preceding section.
the Philippine Medical Association.
Section 30. Appropriation. To carry out the provisions of this Act, there is
Refusal of a physician to attend a patient in danger of death is not a sufficient hereby appropriated, out of any funds in the National Treasury not
ground for revocation or suspension of his registration certificate if there is a otherwise appropriated, the sum of twenty thousand pesos.
risk to the physician's life.
Section 31. Repealing clause. All Acts, executive orders, administrative orders,
Section 25. Rights of respondents. The respondent physician shall be entitled to rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this
be represented by counsel or be heard by himself or herself, to have a speedy Act are repealed or modified accordingly.
and public hearing, to confront and to cross-examine witnesses against him
or her, and to all other rights guaranteed by the Constitution and provided Section 32. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect upon its approval: Provided,
for in the Rules of Court. That if it is approved during the time when examinations for physicians are
held, it shall take effect immediately after the said examinations: Provided,
Section 26. Appeal from judgment. The decision of the Board of Medical further, That section six of this Act shall take effect at the beginning of the
Examiners shall automatically become final thirty days after the date of its academic year nineteen hundred sixty to nineteen hundred sixty-one, and
promulgation unless the respondent, during the same period, has appealed the first paragraph of section seven shall take effect four years thereafter.
to the Commissioner of Civil Service and later to the Office of the President
of the Philippines. If the final decision is not satisfactory, the respondent may Approved: June 20, 1959
ask for a review of the case, or may file in court a petition for certiorari.
AN ACT MODERNIZING THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATION
Section 27. Reinstatement. After two years, the Board may order the COMMISSION, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL
reinstatement of any physicians whose certificate of registration has been DECREE NUMBERED TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THREE,
revoked, if the respondent has acted in an exemplary manner in the ENTITLED "CREATING THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATION
community wherein he resides and has not committed any illegal, immoral COMMISSION AND PRESCRIBING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS,"
or dishonorable act. AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

ARTICLE IV Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines Congress
PENAL AND OTHER PROVISIONS assembled:

Section 28. Penalties. Any person found guilty of "illegal practice of Section 1. Title – This Act shall be called the "PRC Modernization Act of
medicine" shall be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand pesos 2000."
nor more than ten thousand pesos with subsidiary imprisonment in case of
insolvency, or by imprisonment of not less than one year nor more than five Section 2. Statement of Policy – The State recognizes the important role of
years, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court. professionals in nation-building and, towards this end, promotes the
sustained development of a reservoir of professionals whose competence has
been determined by honest and credible licensure examinations and whose administration of the Commission. He/she shall perform such other
standards of professional service and practice are internationally recognized activities which are necessary for the effective exercise of the powers,
and considered world-class brought about the regulatory measures, functions and responsibilities of the Commission.
programs and activities that foster professional growth and advancement.
Section 6. Compensation and Other Benefits – The Chairperson shall receive
Section 3. Professional Regulation Commission – There is hereby created a compensation and allowances equivalent to that of a Department Secretary
three-man commission to be known as the Professional Regulation while the Commissioners shall receive compensation and allowances
Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commission, which shall be equivalent to that of an Undersecretary. The Chairperson and the members
attached to the office of the President for general direction and coordination. of the Commission shall be entitled to retirement benefits provided under
Republic Act Numbered Fifteen Hundred and Sixty Eight, as amended by
Section 4. Composition – The Commission shall be headed by one (1) full-time Republic Act Numbered Three Thousand Five Hundred and Ninety Five.
Chairperson and two (2) full-time Commissioners, all to be appointed by the
President for a term of seven (7) years without reappointment to start from Section 7. Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of the Commission – The
the time they assume office. Appointments to a vacancy that occurs before powers, functions, and responsibilities of the Commission are as follows:
the expiration of the term of a Commissioner shall cover only the unexpired
term of the immediate predecessor. At the expiration of the Chairperson, the (a) To administer, implement and enforce the regulatory policies of the
most senior of the Commissioners shall temporarily assume and perform the national government with respect to the regulation and licensing of the
duties and functions of the Chairperson until a permanent Chairperson is various professions and occupations under its jurisdiction including the
appointed by the President. enhancement and maintenance of professional and occupational standards
and ethics and the enforcement of the rules and regulations relative thereto:
The Chairperson or Commissioner shall be at least forty (40) years of age,
holding a valid certificate of registration/professional license and a valid (b) To perform any and all acts, enter into contracts, make such rules and
professional identification card or a valid certificate of competency issued by regulations and issue such orders and other administrative issuance as may
the Commission or a valid professional license issued by any government be necessary in the execution and implementation of its functions and the
agency, familiar with the principles and methods of professional regulation improvement of its services;
and/or licensing and has had at least five (5) years of executive or
management experience: Provided, That, one (1) of the Commissioners must (c) To review, revise, and approve resolutions, embodying policies
be a past Chairperson/member of a Professional Regulatory Board. promulgated by the Professional Regulatory Boards in the exercise of their
powers and functions or in implementing the laws regulating their
Section 5. Exercise of Powers and Functions of the Commission – The respective professions and other official actions on non-ministerial matters
Chairperson of the Commission, and the Commissioners as members thereof within their respective jurisdictions;
shall sit and act as a body to exercise general administrative, executive and
policy-making functions of the Commission. The Commission shall establish (d) To administer and conduct the licensure examinations of the various
and maintain a high standard of admission to the practice of all professions regulatory boards in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated
and at all times ensure and safeguard the integrity of all licensure by the Commission; determine and fix the places and dates of examinations;
examinations. use publicly or privately owned buildings and facilities for examination
purposes; conduct more than one (1) licensure examination: Provided, That,
The Chairperson shall act as the presiding and chief executive officer of the when there are two (2) or more examinations given in a year, at least one (1)
Commission. As presiding officer, he/she shall preside over the meetings of examinations shall be held on weekdays (Monday to Friday): Provided,
the Commission sitting as a collegial body. As chief executive officer of the further, That, if only one (1) examination is given in a year, this shall be held
Commission, he/she shall be responsible for the implementation of the only on weekdays: Provided, finally, That, the Commission is also authorized
policies and the programs adopted by the Commission for the general to require the completion of a refresher course where the examinee has failed
to pass three (3) times, except as otherwise provided by law; approve the (g) To determine and fix the amount of fees to be charged and collected for
results of examinations and the release of the same; adopt measures to examination, registration, registration without examination, professional
preserve the integrity and inviolability of licensure examinations; appoint identification card, certification, docket, appeal, replacement, accreditation,
supervisors and room watchers from among the employees of the including surcharges and other fees not specified under the provisions of
government and/or private individuals with baccalaureate degrees, who Republic Act Numbered Four Hundred Sixty Five as amended by Republic
have been trained by the Commission for the purpose and who shall be Act Numbered Sixty Five Hundred and Eleven or to charge and collect
entitled to a reasonable daily allowance for every examination day actually reasonable fees at the rates higher than the rates provided thereunder subject
attended, to be determined and fixed by the Commission; publish the list of to the approval by the Office of the President.
successful examinees; provide schools, colleges and universities, public and
private, offering courses for licensure examinations, with copies of sample (h) To appoint subject to the Civil Service laws, rules, and regulations,
test questions on examinations recently conducted by the Commission and officials and employees of the Commission necessary for the effective
copies of the syllabi or terms of specifications of subjects for licensure performance of its functions and responsibilities; prescribe their duties and
examinations; and impose the penalty of suspension or prohibition from fix their compensation subject to the provisions of Republic Act Numbered
taking licensure examinations to any examinee charged and found guilty of Six Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Eight and allowances including
violating the rules and regulations governing the conduct of licensure other fringe benefits; and to assign and/or reassign personnel as the
examinations promulgated by the Commission; exigency of the service requires subject to the Civil Service laws, rules and
regulations; and to organize or reorganize the structure of the Commission;
(e) To admit the successful examinees to the practice of the profession or and create or abolish positions or change the designation of existing
occupation; cause the entry of their names on its registry book and positions in accordance with a staffing pattern prepared by it and approved
computerized database; issue certificates of registration/professional license, by the Office of the President upon the recommendation of the Department
bearing the registrant’s name, picture, and registration number, signed by all of Budget and Management (DBM) to meet the changing conditions or as the
the members of the Board concerned and the Chairperson, with the official need arises: Provided, That, such changes shall not affect the employment
seal of the Board and the Commission affixed thereto which certificate shall status of the incumbents, reduce their ranks and/or salaries nor shall result
be the authority to practice; and at the option of the professional concerned, in their separation from the service;
ministerially issue the professional identification card, to be used solely for
the purpose of identification, upon payment of the appropriate (i) To submit and recommend to the President of the Philippines the names
amount: Provided, That, marine deck and marine engineer officers shall also of licensed/registered professionals for appointment as members of the
be issued endorsement certificates exclusively by the Commission pursuant various Professional Regulatory Boards from among those nominated to fill
to the 1978 and 1995 Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping up vacancies pursuant to the provisions of Executive Order No. 496, Series of
(STCW) Convention, to the exclusion of any other government agency, 1991;
Section 1(2) of Executive Order No. 149, Series of 1999 and provisions of
other existing laws, executive orders, administrative issuance/regulations to (j) Upon recommendation of the Professional Regulatory Board concerned, to
the contrary notwithstanding: Provided, further, That, once a certificate of approve the registration of and authorize the issuance of a certificate of
registration/professional license, or certificate of competency, in the case of registration/license and professional identification card with or without
marine deck and engine officers are issued, this cannot be withdrawn, examination to a foreigner who is registered under the laws of his state or
cancelled, revoked, or suspended except for just cause as may be provided country and whose certificate of registration issued therein has not been
by law after due notice and hearing; suspended or revoked: Provided, That, the requirements for the registration
or licensing in said foreign state or country are substantially the same as
(f) To have custody of all the records of the various Boards, including those required and contemplated by the laws of the Philippines and that the
examination papers, minutes of deliberation, records of administrative cases laws of such foreign state or country allow the citizens of the Philippines to
and investigations and examination results for control and disposition; practice the profession on the same basis and grant the same privileges as
those enjoyed by the subjects or citizens of such foreign state or
country: Provided, further, That, the Commission may, upon recommendation
of the Board concerned, authorize the issuance of a certificate of (n) To adopt and institute a comprehensive rating system for universities,
registration/license or a special temporary permit to foreign professionals colleges, and training institutes based on the passing ratio and overall
who desire to practice their professions in the country under reciprocity and performance of students in board examinations;
other international agreements; consultants in foreign-funded, joint venture
or foreign-assisted projects of the government, employees of Philippine or (o) To exercise administrative supervision over the various professional
foreign private firms or institutions pursuant to law, or health professionals regulatory boards and its members;
engaged in humanitarian mission for a limited period of time: Provided,
finally, That agencies, organizations or individuals whether public or private, (p) To adopt and promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary
who secure he services of a foreign professional authorized by law to to effectively implement policies with respect to the regulation and practice
practice in the Philippines for reasons aforementioned, shall be responsible of the professions;
for securing a special permit from the Professional Regulation Commission
(PRC) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), pursuant to (q) To implement the program for the full computerization of all licensure
PRC and DOLE rules: examinations given by the various professional regulatory boards including
the registration of professionals not later than the year 2003 and other
(k) To authorize any officer of the Commission to administer oaths: operations of the Commission;

(l) To supervise foreign nations who are authorized by existing laws to (r) To investigate and decide administrative matters involving officers and
practice their professions either as holders of a certificate of registration and employees under the jurisdiction of the Commission;
a professional identification card or a temporary special permit in the
Philippines; to ensue that the terms and conditions for their practice or of (s) To investigate motu proprio or upon the filing of a verified complaint, any
their employment are strictly complied with; to require the hiring or member of the Professional Regulatory Boards for neglect of duty,
employing government agency or private entity/institution to secure a incompetence, unprofessional, unethical, immoral or dishonorable conduct,
temporary special permit from the concerned Board subject to approval by commission of irregularities in the licensure examinations which taint or
the Commission and to file a criminal complaint against the head of the impugn the integrity and authenticity of the results of the said examinations
government agency or officers of the said private entity/institution, who and, if found guilty, to revoke or suspend their certificates of registration and
shall be liable under the penalty provided for in the concerned professional professional licenses/identification cards and to recommend to the President
regulatory law or the penalty imposed pursuant to this Act, when the of the Philippines their suspension or removal from office as the case may be;
professional was hired and allowed to practice his/her profession without
permit; to file upon due process request for deportation with the Bureau of
(t) To issue summons, subpoena and subpoena duces tecum in connection with
Immigration and Deportation (BID); and to supervise professionals who
the investigation of cases against officials and employees of the Commission
were former citizens of the Philippines and who had been registered and
and the members of the Professional Regulatory Boards;
issued a certificate of registration and a professional identification card prior
to their naturalization as foreign citizens, who may, while in the country on a
visit, sojourn or permanent residence, practice their profession: Provided, (u) To hold in contempt in erring party or person only upon application with
That, prior to the practice of their profession they shall have first been issued a court of competent jurisdiction;
a special permit and updated professional identification card by the Board
concerned subject to approval by the Commission and upon payment of the (v) To call upon or request any department, instrumentality, office, bureau,
permit and annual registration fees; institution or agency of the government including local government units to
render such assistance as it may require, or to coordinate or cooperate in
(m) To monitor the performance of schools in licensure examinations and order to carry out, enforce or implement the professional regulatory policies
publish the results thereof in a newspaper of national circulation; of the government or any program or activity it may undertake pursuant to
the provisions of this Act;
(w) To initiate an investigation, upon complaint under oath by an aggrieved electrical or chemical plants or establishments, hospitals, clinics, laboratories,
party, of any person, whether a private individual or professional, local or testing facilities, mines and quarries, other engineering facilities and in the
foreign, who practices the regulated profession or occupation without being case of schools, in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education
authorized by law, or without being registered with and licensed by the (CHED);
concerned regulatory board and issued the corresponding
license/professional identification card or temporary or special permit, or (c) To hear and investigate cases arising from violations of their respective
who commits any of the prohibited acts provided in the regulatory laws of laws, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and their Codes of
the various professions, which acts are criminal in nature, and if the evidence Ethics and, for this purpose, may issue summons, subpoena and subpoena
so warrants, to forward the records of the case to the office of the city or duces tecum to alleged violators and/or witnesses to compel their attendance
provincial prosecutor for the filing of the corresponding information in court in such investigations or hearings: Provided, That, the decision of the
by the lawyers of the legal services of the Commission who may prosecute Professional Regulatory Board shall, unless appealed to the Commission,
said case/s upon being deputized by the Secretary of Justice; become final and executory after fifteen (15) days from receipt of notice of
judgment or decision;
(x) To prepare an annual report of accomplishments on the programs,
projects and activities of the Commission during the year for submission to (d) To delegate the hearing or investigation of administrative cases filed
Congress after the close of its calendar year and make appropriate before them except in cases where the issue or question involved strictly
recommendations on issues and/or problems affecting the Commission, the concerns the practice of the profession or occupation, in which case, the
Professional Regulatory Board, and the various professions under its hearing shall be presided over by at least one (1) member of the Board
jurisdiction; and concerned assisted by a Legal or Hearing Officer of the Commission;

(y) To perform such other functions and duties as may be necessary to carry (e) To conduct, through the Legal Officers of the Commission, summary
out the provisions of this Act, the various professional regulatory laws, proceedings on minor violations of their respective regulatory laws,
decrees, executive orders and other administrative issuance. violations of the rules and regulations issued by the boards to implement
their respective laws, including violations of the general instructions to
Section 8. Regional Offices – The Commission is hereby authorized to create examinees committed by examinees, and render summary judgment thereon
regional offices as may be necessary to carry out their functions mandated which shall, unless appealed to the Commission, become final and executory
under this Act. after fifteen (15) days from receipt of notice of judgment or decision;

Section 9. Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of the Various Professional (f) Subject to final approval by the Commission, to recommend registration
Regulatory Boards – The various, professional regulatory boards shall retain without examination and the issuance of corresponding certificate of
the following powers, functions and responsibilities: registration and professional identification card;

(a) To regulate the practice of the professions in accordance with the (g) After due process, to suspend, revoke or reissue, reinstate certificate of
provisions of their respective professional regulatory laws; registration or licenses for causes provided by law;

(b) To monitor the conditions affecting the practice of the profession or (h) To prepare, adopt and issue the syllabi or tables of specifications of the
occupation under their respective jurisdictions and whenever necessary, subjects for examinations in consultation with the academe; determine and
adopt such measures as may be deemed proper for the enhancement of the prepare the questions for the licensure examinations which shall strictly be
profession or occupation and/or the maintenance of high professional, within the scope of the syllabus or table of specifications of the subject for
ethical and technical standards, and for this purpose the members of the examination; score and rate the examination papers with the name and
Board duly authorized by the Commission with deputized employees of the signature of the Board member concerned appearing thereon and submit the
Commission, may conduct ocular inspection in industrial, mechanical, results in all subjects duly signed by the members of the Board to the
Commission within ten (10) days from the last day of examination unless computerization of the operations of the Commission, subject to the usual
extended by the Commission for justifiable cause/s; and subject to the accounting and auditing requirements.
approval by the Commission, determine the appropriate passing general
average rating in an examination if not provided for in the law regulating the Section 15. Penalties for Manipulation and Other Corrupt Practices in the Conduct
profession; and of Professional Examinations –

(i) To prepare an annual report of accomplishments on programs, projects (a) Any person who manipulates or rigs licensure examination results,
and activities of the Board during the year for submission to the Commission secretly informs or makes known licensure examination questions prior to
after the close of each calendar year and make appropriate recommendations the conduct of the examination or tampers with the grades in professional
on issues or problems affecting the profession to the Commission. licensure examinations shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment
of not less than six (6) years and one (1) day to not more than twelve (12)
Section 10. Compensation of the Members of the Professional Regulatory Boards – years or a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) to not more
The members of the Professional Regulatory Boards shall receive than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or both such imprisonment
compensation equivalent to, at least, two salary grades lower than the salary and fine at the discretion of the court.
grade of the Commissioners: Provided, That the Chairperson of the
Regulatory Board shall receive a monthly compensation of two steps higher (b) In case the offender is an officer or employee of the Commission or a
than the members of the Board, and: Provided, further, That they shall be member of the regulatory board, he/she shall be removed from office and
entitled to other allowances and benefits provided under existing laws. shall suffer the penalty of perpetual absolute disqualification from public
office to addition to the penalties prescribed in the preceding section of this
Section 11. Person to Teach Subjects for Licensure Examination on all Professions – Act;
All subjects for licensure examinations shall be taught by persons who are
holders of valid certificates of registration and valid professional licenses of (c) The penalty of imprisonment ranging from four (4) years and one (1) day
the profession and who comply with the other requirements of the CHED. to six (6) years or a fine ranging from Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) to
not more than Forty-nine thousand pesos (P49,000.00), or both imprisonment
Section 12. Assistance of Law Enforcement Agency – Any law enforcement and fine at the discretion of the court, shall be imposed upon the
agency shall, upon call or request of the Commission or of any Professional accomplices. The penalty of imprisonment ranging from two (2) years and
Regulatory Board, render assistance in enforcing the regulatory law of the one (1) day to four (4) years or a fine ranging from Five thousand pesos
profession including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by (P5,000.00) to not more than Nineteen thousand pesos (P19,000.00), or both
prosecuting the violators thereof in accordance with law and the rules of imprisonment and fine at the discretion of the court, shall be imposed upon
court. the accessories.

Section 13. Appropriations – The amount necessary to carry out the initial Section 16. Penalties for Violation of Section 7 – Subparagraph (1) by Heads of
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s Government Agencies or Officers of Private Entities/Institutions – Any head of a
appropriations of the Professional Regulation Commission. Thereafter, such government agency or officer(s) of a private firm/institution who violates
sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall Section 7 – subpar. (1) of this Act shall be punished by imprisonment of not
be included in the succeeding General Appropriations Act. less than six (6) months and one (1) day to not more than six (6) years, or a
fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) to not more than Five
Section 14. Authority to Use Income – In addition to the annual appropriations hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) or both at the discretion of the court.
of the Commission provided under the Annual General Appropriations Act,
the Commission is hereby authorized to use its income not exceeding the Section 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations – Within ninety (90) days after
amount of Forty-five million pesos (P45,000,000.00) a year for a period of five the approval of this Act, the Professional Regulation Commission, together
(5) years after the effectivity of this Act to implement the program for full with representatives of the various Professional Regulatory Boards and
accredited professional organizations, the DBM, and the CHED shall prepare
and promulgate the necessary rules and regulations needed to implement
the provisions of this Act.
Section 1. Sections one, two, three, four, five and six of Republic Act
Section 18. Transitory Provisions – The incumbent Commissioner and two (2) Numbered Four hundred sixty-five are hereby amended to read as follows:
incumbent Associate Commissioners shall serve as Chairperson and
Commissioners respectively under the terms for which they have been "Section 1. The provisions of existing law to the contrary notwithstanding,
appointed without need of new appointments. The incumbent Executive applicants for any of the licensure examinations conducted by any of the
Director shall likewise serve as Assistant Commissioner without need of new boards under the Office of the Boards of Examiners shall pay examination
appointment. fees as follows;

Section 19. Separability Clause – If any provision of this Act or the application (a) One hundred pesos:
of such provision to any person or circumstances is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or application of such provisions 1) Accountants
to other persons or circumstance shall not be affected by such declaration. 2) Agricultural Engineers
3) Architects
Section 20. Repealing Clause – Republic Act. No. 546, Presidential Decree No. 4) Chemical Engineers
223, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 657, Republic Act No. 5181, and 5) Civil Engineers
Executive Order No. 266, Series of 1995 are hereby repealed. Section 23 (h) of 6) Customs Brokers
Republic Act No. 7836, Section 4 (m & s). Section 23 of Republic Act No. 7920, 7) Dentists, except Dental Hygienists
and Section 29 of Republic Act No. 8050, insofar as it requires completion of 8) Electrical Engineers except Master Electricians
the requirements of the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) as a 9) Electronics and Communications Engineers
condition for the renewal of the license are hereby repealed. All other laws, 10) Foresters
orders, rules and regulations or resolutions and all part/s thereof 11) Geodetic Engineers
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended 12) Licensing Contractors
accordingly. 13) Master Marine Officers, except Chief, Second, Third Mates, Major,
Minor or Harbor Bay Lake-River Patrons
Section 21. Effectivity – This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 14) Mechanical Engineers except Certified Plant Mechanics
following its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of 15) Mining Engineers
general circulation, whichever is earlier. 16) Physicians except examinees for physician's preliminary examinations
17) Sanitary Engineers
Approved: December 05, 2000 18) Chief Marine Engineers
(b) Seventy-five pesos:
1) Chemists
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6511
2) Second Steam and Motor Engineers
3) Dietitians
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6511 - AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT 4) Geologists
NUMBERED FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE ENTITLED "AN ACT TO 5) Medical Technologists
STANDARDIZE THE EXAMINATION AND REGISTRATION FEES 6) Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
CHARGED BY THE NATIONAL EXAMINING BOARDS, AND FOR 7) Nurses
OTHER PURPOSES"
8) Optometrists
9) Pharmacists
10) Social Workers mechanics, master plumbers, midwives, chemical technicians and mine or
11) Sugar Technologists quarry foremen shall pay two pesos: provided, further, that licensed
12) Veterinarians contractors and detailmen shall be exempt from the payment of the annual
13) Midwives registration fee as they are required to renew their licenses or registrations
14) Chief Mates and Major Patron annually. Failure to pay the annual registration fee on or before January
15) Master Plumbers or Plumbing Engineers twenty of the year next following the calendar year in which it is due, shall
(c) Fifty pesos: bear a surcharge of twenty per centum for each calendar year in which
1) Bay-River-Lake Motor Engineers payment has not been made: provided, that after the lapse of five continuous
2) Harbor-Bay-River-Lake Patrons years from the year it was last paid if the annual registration fee has never
3) Minor Patrons been paid, the delinquent's certificate of registration shall be considered
4) Therapists suspended and his name shall be dropped from the annual roster for not
5) Master Electricians having been good standing and may be reinstated only upon application and
6) Examinees for physician's preliminary and final examinations payment of the fee herein provided for registration without examination.
7) Dental Hygienists When a registered practitioner desires to stop practicing his profession, he
8) Certified Plant Mechanics shall inform the board concerned in writing within one year from the time he
9) Second and Third Mates stopped practicing in order to exempt him from the payment of the annual
10) Third and Fourth Steam and Motor Engineers registration fee: provided, that when he intends to resume the practice of his
Provided, that in cases where removal examinations are allowed, the professions, he shall likewise inform the board concerned in writing and pay
examination fee shall fifty per centum of the original fee prescribed under the annual registration fee for the current year without any surcharge and his
classifications A, B and C provided for under this section. name shall be reinstated in the annual roster.

"Sec. 2. Every applicant for registration in any of the professions or The annual registration card, at least for the calendar year immediately
occupations under regulation by the Office of the Boards of Examiners who preceding, shall be presented to the collection agent of the Bureau of Internal
passed the corresponding examination shall pay a registration fee of fifty Revenue when paying his professional tax and the registration number, date
pesos for those falling under class (a); forty pesos for those under class (b); of issuance and the year shown on the card shall be indicated on the official
and thirty pesos for those under class (c) provided in section one, except receipt as evidence that the payor is authorized by law to practice the
those in the marine examinations who are registered by the Philippine Coast profession.
Guard. An applicant for registration without examination shall pay also the
amount corresponding to the examination fee of the profession or occupation
applied plus the registration fee herein prescribed: provided, that detailmen "Sec. 4. Every applicant for duplicate certificate of registration shall pay a
shall pay twenty pesos, mine or quarry foreman and chemical technician, fee of twenty-five pesos and for certifications or true copies of records with
thirty pesos: provided, further, that applicants for registration who qualified the official seal of the office or of the board concerned, two pesos for the first
in the examination given prior to the approval of this Act, shall pay the one hundred words and in excess thereof fifty centavos for every one
corresponding registration fee heretofore prescribed. hundred words or a fraction thereof.

"Sec. 3. Every practicing professional or practitioner of any of the "Sec. 5. All examination, registration and other fees shall be paid to the
occupations regulated by the Office of the Boards of Examiners shall pay an collecting officer of the Office of the Boards of Examiners which shall be
annual registration fee of five pesos: provided, that major or minor patrons, deposited in a special trust account to constitute the professional regulation
second, third, or fourth motor or steam engineers, harbor-river-lake patrons, special fund and which shall be expended solely for the operational expenses
bay-river-lake-motor engineers, master electricians, certified plant of the Office of the Boards of Examiners, for compensation of members of the
board and salaries of officials and employees including the hiring of ALLOWING FORMER FILIPINO PROFESSIONALS TO PRACTICE
temporary personnel as the exigencies of the service require, for the THEIR RESPECTIVE PROFESSIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES.
purchase, acquisition and improvement of equipment, furniture, and
fixtures, motor vehicles, sites and construction of building for office spaces WHEREAS, a considerable number of Filipino professionals have, with the
and examination halls, for conducting research to keep the office abreast passage of time, gone to other countries to pursue further studies and/or
with recent trends in regulation of professions and occupations and in all take up specialized studies in their chosen fields of endeavor while others
other matters that would enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the emigrated to other lands in search of better job opportunities;
office.
WHEREAS, since their departure from the Philippines some of these
"Sec. 6. Each Chairman and member of the Board of Examiners, whether a professionals have become naturalized citizens of their host countries so that
government employee or not, shall receive as compensation a fee not they are now barred from the practice of their profession in our country;
exceeding fifteen pesos per capita of the candidates examined or registered
without examination, and a per diem not exceeding ten (P10.00) pesos for WHEREAS, a considerable number of these erstwhile Filipino professionals
each day of attendance in administrative investigations and ocular are now desirous to come home under the Balikbayan Program and, while
inspections lasting not less than one hour at a time: provided, that the total here, would like to serve our people or share their advanced knowledge and
compensation of any Chairman or member shall not be less than three expertise with their local professional colleagues;
thousand six hundred pesos, but not more than twenty-four thousand pesos
for participating in all examinations given by their respective board during WHEREAS, for the sake of faster national development our government is
the fiscal year. Any member whose term expires before the end of the fiscal now trying to attract these erstwhile Filipino professionals to return and
year shall receive only the compensation equivalent to the number of reside permanently in the Philippines so that they can provide the talent and
candidates examined and/or registered without examination wherein he last expertise urgently needed by the homeland;
participated or at the rate of five hundred pesos per month computed from
the beginning of fiscal year until the last day of his term of office or until his NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
successor shall have been appointed and qualified, whichever is higher: Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do
provided, that the Chairman or member whose term expires before the result hereby decree and order the following:
of the examination he last participated in his released shall be allowed to
continue correcting his examination papers and to perform his other duties
Section 1. The provisions of all existing laws, rules and regulations, decrees,
relative to the release of the results thereof until he shall signed the certificate
orders, and instructions to the contrary notwithstanding, professionals who
of registration of those who have qualified in the examination or were
were formerly citizens of the Philippines and who have previously passed
registered without examination, without additional compensation except
licensure examinations in the Philippines for the practice of their profession,
those allowed herein, and that the full compensation due him shall be paid
may, while in this country on a visit, sojourn or permanent residence,
only after he shall have been cleared of all his responsibilities."
practice their profession: Provided, That they are professional practitioners
of good standing prior to their departure from the Philippines and in their
Sec. 2. All laws, executive orders, administrative orders, rules and
adopted country: Provided further, That prior to the practice of their
regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
profession they shall have first registered with the Professional license fee;
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
and Provided finally, That they shall pay the corresponding income tax due
on all incomes realized by them in the practice of their respective professions
in the Philippines.
Sec. 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Section 2. The Professional Regulations Commission shall promulgate the
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 541 August 20, 1974 necessary rules and regulations to implement and carry out the purposes of
this Decree.
Section 3. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 20th day of August, in the year of Our
Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.

CONSTITUTION ARTICLE 12 SEC 14

Section 14. The sustained development of a reservoir of national talents


consisting of Filipino scientists, entrepreneurs, professionals, managers,
high-level technical manpower and skilled workers and craftsmen in all
fields shall be promoted by the State. The State shall encourage appropriate
technology and regulate its transfer for the national benefit.

The practice of all professions in the Philippines shall be limited to Filipino


citizens, save in cases prescribed by law.

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