Gatchalian: Let's unburden professionals of costly seminars, trainings

Pending Congress' review of the implementation of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Act, Senator Win Gatchalian pushed for the affordability and practicality of the training programs required for the millions of registered professionals in the renewal of their licenses.

"By standardizing and rationalizing the fees, as well as offering online training programs to respond to the times right now when we're still in the midst of a pandemic, I think that's a reasonable move to unburden our professionals especially on the financial aspect in the process of renewing their Professional Identification Card (PIC)," Gatchalian said.

Following numerous complaints from various stakeholders on the implementation of the CPD Act, the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) said in a Senate hearing that it issued several resolutions and issuances to make the completion of the courses, training, and seminars required to upgrade the competencies and qualifications of professionals flexible.

Among them are the accreditation of online courses, inclusion of professional work experience as a source of creditable units, waiving of accreditation fee for online training programs which Gatchalian said are commendable measures as they address the concerns and plight of the professionals under the current situation.

"Ang common denominator ng complaints ng mga professionals ay magastos ang CPD. And I have observed this in some CPD activities where I had been invited as a resource person. Minsan may kasamang shopping activity or side trip sa mall at iyong kanilang academic side is one or one and a half days. That actually increases the cost and becomes the root cause of a lot of complaints, especially from people coming from outside of Metro Manila," Gatchalian said.

"My observation is that the CPD became a business to some people. Hindi naman lahat ng mga professionals ay high-earning professionals. May mga professionals na maliit lang ang kinikita," he added.

The CPD Act which lapsed into law on July 21, 2016 has been drawing the ire of PRC-registered and licensed professionals especially teachers, engineers, accountants, physicians and nurses due to exorbitant fees, difficult requirements, confusing processes, and lack of accredited training providers.

Covered professionals under the CPD Act are required to complete the necessary credit units ranging from 15 to 45 for some professionals to as high as 120 for certified public accountants for the renewal of PIC.

Several bills have been filed in the Senate proposing to amend or repeal Republic Act No. 10912 or the CPD Act of 2016.

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Gatchalian: Tanggalin na ang dagdag gastos na mga seminar, training ng professionals

Habang nirerepaso ng Kongreso ang pagpapatupad ng Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Act, isinusulong ni Senador Win Gatchalian na gawing abot kaya at praktikal ang mga training programs na kailangang bunuin ng mga propesyunal sa bansa upang makapag renew sila ng kanilang lisensya.

"Kung magkakaroon ng pamantayan at isasakatwiran ang mga bayarin pati na rin ang mga online training program habang may umiiral na pandemya, makatwiran lang na tanggalin na ang mga dagdag na gastusin ng mga prospesyunal sa pagre-renew nila ng kanilang Professional Identification Card (PIC)," sabi ni Gatchalian.

Matapos umani ng reklamo mula sa mga stakeholders kaugnay sa pagpapatupad ng CPD Act, sinabi ng Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) na naglabas na sila ng ilang resolusyon upang gawing mas flexible ang mga nire-require na pagsasanay at mga seminars na naglalayog itaas ang kwalipikasyon ng mga professionals.

Kabilang dito ang accreditation ng mga online courses at ang hindi pagsingil ng accreditation fee sa mga online training program na kaagad namang pinuri ni Gatchalian dahil tinutugunan aniya nito ang kapakanan ng mga professionals sa ganitong panahong may krisis.

"Ang common denominator na reklamo ng mga professionals ay magastos ang CPD. Ako mismo ay saksi noong minsang maimbitahan ako bilang resource person. Nakita ko na may kasamang shopping activity o side trip sa mall at 'yung kanilang academic side ay tumatagal ng hanggang isa't kalahating araw. Ang mga ganyang karagdagang gastusin ang kadalasang pinagmumulan ng mga reklamo, lalo na sa mga nagmula pa sa labas ng Metro Manila," pagdidiin ni Gatchalian.

"Sadyang ginawa nang negosyo ng ilan ang CPD. Hindi naman lahat ng mga professionals ay high-earning professionals. May mga professionals na maliit lang ang kinikita," dagdag pa ng senador.

Ang CPD Act na naging ganap nang batas noong Hulyo 21, 2016 ay inirereklamo ng karamihan sa mga lisensyadong propesyonal kabilang na ang mga guro, engineers, accountants, mga doktor, at nurse. Bukod sa hirap na ang marami sa kanila na sundin ang mga requirements, nakakalito raw ang proseso at kulang pa ang mga accredited training providers.

Ang mga saklaw na propesyonal sa ilalim ng CPD Act ay kinakailangang makumpleto ang required na 15 hanggang 45 credit units para sa ilan sa kanila o hanggang 120 units para sa mga certified public accountants bago makapag renew ng kanilang PIC.

May ilan nang naghain ng panukala sa Senado na layong amyendahan o ipawalang-bisa ang Republic Act No. 10912 o ang CPD Act of 2016.

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