FEB.

3, 2015

NR # 3731B

Solon wants poor exempted from payment of fees

for professional licensure and eligibility examinations
A House leader is seeking to exempt indigent persons from the payment of fees for
professional licensure, civil service eligibility and police eligibility examinations.
Rep. Catalina G. Leonen-Pizarro (Party-list, ABS) said her proposal provides
another avenue to help the poor, especially those in the youth sector, realize their dream to
become leaders in their chosen field and become the governments partner in nationbuilding.
The proposal intends to breathe life into the States policy to provide opportunities
of development for all by allowing select, qualified individuals to take professional
examinations for free, without any fee, in order to help them attain their dreams and
maximize their opportunity to help them stand on their own. It will encourage those
aspiring for professional status to try out without the distraction of any monetary obstacle
to success, said Leonen-Pizarro.
The lawmaker said in college, the State has already provided for avenues to help
poor but deserving students attain their diploma through scholarships and free tertiary
education in many State Colleges and Universities (SUCs).
The same should be done after college by helping deserving ones attain
professional status by allowing them to take free examinations to make them become
specialist in a particular field or a professional, said Leonen-Pizarro, chairperson of the
House Committee on East Asian Growth Area.
House Bill 5346 or the proposed Free Professional Licensure, Civil Service
Eligibility and Police Eligibility Examinations Fees Act of 2015 provides the enactment
of measures that protect and enhance the right of all people to human dignity and reduce
social, political and economic inequalities shall be given the highest priority. In this
regard, efforts should be initiated so that the poor will be afforded access to mechanisms
that may expand opportunities for better employment.
The bill, now pending at the Committee on Civil Service and Professional
Regulation, provides that benefits of the Act may personally be availed of by a qualified
indigent only once for every year.
To avail of professional or eligibility examinations free of charge, an examinee shall
secure a certification from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
stating his or her being a qualified indigent. The certification shall be presented to the
Professional Regulations Commission (PRC), the Civil Service Commission (CSC), the

National Police Commission (Napolcom), the Supreme Court (SC) as the case maybe, or
any other government regulatory office handling profession, in lieu of the payment of
examination fees.
No other fee shall be charged against the qualified indigent for purposes of the
professional examination, the bill provides.
The measure further provides that the DSWD, CSC, Napolcom and SC, in
cooperation with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), shall be mandated to conduct
an annual Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign to inform the
people of the procedures and guidelines in availing of the benefits under the Act.
Moreover, the bill provides that to determine the effectiveness and social impact of
the Act, the DSWD, CSC, Napolcom and SC shall submit an annual report to both the
House and the Senate indicating therein the number of parties who benefitted from the
Act. The report shall state in detail, among others, the geographic location, demographic
characteristics and socio-economic profile of the beneficiaries of the Act. (30) rbb