MALACAANGManila

PRESIDENTIALDECREENo.223June22,1973

CREATINGTHEPROFESSIONALREGULATIONCOMMISSIONANDPRESCRIBINGITSPOWERSANDFUNCTIONS

WHEREAS, the regulations of the various profession presently regulated by theOffice of theBoards ofExaminersissoextensive,practicallycoveringallsocialandeconomiclifeofthecountry

WHEREAS, the existence of the Boards of Examiners is misconstrued for a number of years now asnothingmore thananexaminingunit, thoughall theprofessional lawscreating thevariousBoardshavechargedthemwiththesupervisionandregulationovertheprofessionalpracticeinthePhilippinesand

WHEREAS, toeffectivelyenforce the laws regulating thevariousprofessions, there isanurgentneed tocreateathreemanCommissiontoadminister,implement,coordinateandsupervisethevariousBoardsofExaminers

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powersvested inmeby theConstitutionasCommanderinChiefofall theArmedForcesof thePhilippines,andpursuanttoProclamationNo.1081datedSeptember21,1972,andGeneralOrderNo.1datedSeptember22,1972,asamended,doherebyorderanddecree:

Section1.ProfessionalRegulationCommission.ThereisherebycreatedathreemanCommissiontobeknownas theProfessionalRegulationCommissionwhichshallbeattachedto theOfficeof thePresidentforgeneraldirectionandcoordination.

Section2.Composition.TheCommissionshallbeheadedbyonefulltimeCommissionerandtwofulltimeAssociate Commissioners, all to be appointed by the President for a term of nine (9) years withoutreappointmenttostartfromthetimetheyassumeoffice,exceptthefirsttwoAssociateCommissionerswhoshallbeappointed,oneforsix(6)yearsandtheotherforthree(3)years,andthereafter,anyvacancyinthe Commission shall be filled for the unexpired term only with the most senior of the AssociateCommissioners succeeding the Commissioner at the expiration of his term, resignation or removal. NopersonshallbeappointedchairmanormemberoftheCommissionunlessheisatleastforty(40)yearsofage, familiarwith theprinciplesandmethodsofprofessional regulationand/or licensingandhasat leastfive(5)yearsofexecutiveormanagerialexperience.

Section 3.Exercise of powers and functions of the Commission. The Commissioner, who shall be theChairman of theCommission, and the Associate Commissioners asmembers thereof shall, as a body,exercisegeneraladministrative,executiveandpolicymakingfunctionsforthewholeagency.

Section 4. Compensation. The Commissioner shall receive an annual compensation of fortyeightthousandpesos(P48,000)withfivehundredpesos(P500)commutabletransportationandrepresentationallowances and the Associate Commissioners, thirtysix thousand pesos (P36,000) each with threehundredfiftypesos(P350)commutabletransportationandrepresentationallowances.

Section5.PowersoftheCommission.ThepowersoftheCommissionareasfollows:

a) To administer, implement and enforce the regulatory policies of theNationalGovernment withrespect to the regulation and licensing of the various professions and occupations under itsjurisdictionincludingthemaintenanceofprofessionalandoccupationalstandardsandethicsandtheenforcementoftherulesandregulationsrelativethereto.

b)Toperformanyandallacts,enterintocontracts,makesuchrulesandregulationsandissuesuchordersandotheradministrativeissuancesasmaybenecessaryintheexecutionandimplementationofitsfunctionsandtheimprovementofitsservices.

c) To review, coordinate, integrate and approve the policies, resolutions, rules and regulations,ordersordecisionspromulgatedbythevariousBoardswithrespecttotheprofessionoroccupationunder their jurisdictions including the results of their licensuresexaminationbut their decisionsonadministrative cases shall be final and executory unless appealed to theCommissionwithin thirty(30)daysfromthedateofpromulgationthereof.

d) To administer and conduct the licensure examinations of the various Boards according to therules and regulations promulgated by it determine and fix the places and dates of examinationsappointsupervisorsandroomexaminersfromamongtheemployeesoftheGovernmentorprivateindividualswho have been trained by theCommission for that purposewho shall be entitled to adailyallowanceofnotlessthantenpesos(P10)foreveryexaminationdayactuallyattendedusethebuildings and facilities of public and private schools for examination purposes and approve thereleaseofexaminationresults

e)Tokeepandmaintainaregisterofauthorizedpractitionersoftheprofessionoroccupationissuecertificates of registration or licenses signed by all themembers of theBoard concerned and theCommissionerwiththeofficialsealoftheBoardaffixed

f) To have custody of all the records of the various Boards including their examination papers,minutesofdeliberation,recordsofadministrativecasesandinvestigationsandexaminationresults

g)Todetermine,fixandcollecttheamounttobechargedforexamination,registration,registrationwithoutexamination,licenses,annualregistrationfees,certifications,surchargesandotherfeesnotspecified under the provisions ofRepublic ActNo. 6511 or amend the rates provided thereundersubjecttoapprovalbytheOfficeofthePresident

h) To appoint, subject to the provisions of existing laws, such as officials and employees of theCommission as are necessary in the effective performance of its functions and responsibilities,prescribedtheirdutiesandfixtheircompensationandtoorganizeorreorganizethestructureoftheCommission, create or abolish positions, change the designations of existing positions to meetchangingconditionsorastheneedthereforarisesProvided,Thatsuchchangesshallnotaffecttheemploymentstatusoftheincumbents,reducetheirranksand/orsalariesnorresultseparatingthemfromtheservices

i) To submit and recommend to the President of the Philippines nominees for appointment asmembers of the various Boards from among those nominated by the bona fide professionalorganizationsaccreditedbytheCommissiontofillexistingorprobablevacancies

j)TheCommissionmay,upontherecommendationoftheBoardconcerned,approvetheregistrationofandauthorizetheissuanceofacertificateofregistrationwithorwithoutexaminationtoaforeignerwhoisregisteredunderthelawsofhiscountry:Provided,Thattherequirementfortheregistrationorlicensing in said foreign state or country are substantially the same as those required andcontemplatedbythelawsofthePhilippinesandthatthelawsofsuchforeignstateorcountryallowthe citizens of the Philippines to practice the profession on the same basis and grant the sameprivileges as the subject or citizens of such foreign state or country: Provided, finally, That theapplicant shall submit competent and conclusive documentary evidence, confirmed by theDepartment of Foreign Affairs, showing that this country's existing laws permit citizens of thePhilippinestopracticetheprofessionundertherulesandregulationsgoverningcitizensthereof.TheCommission is also hereby authorized to prescribe additional requirements or grant certainprivilegestoforeignersseekingregistrationinthePhilippinesifthesameprivilegesaregrantedtoorsome additional requirements are required of citizens of the Philippines in acquiring the samecertificatesinhiscountry

k) The Commission shall have general supervision over foreign nationals who are authorized byexistinglawsorgrantedspecialpermitsto,practicetheirprofessiontemporarilyinthePhilippinestoseethatthetermsandconditionsfortheiremploymentarestrictlyobservedandadheredto

l)toprescribeorrevise,inconjunctionwiththeBoardconcernedandtheSecretaryofEducationand

Culture or his authorized representative, collegiate courses the completion of or graduation fromwhichshallbeaprerequisiteforadmissionintothepracticeoftheprofessionconcerned

m)ToexercisegeneralsupervisionoverthemembersofthevariousBoards

n)Topromulgatesuchrulesandregulationsasmaybenecessarytoeffectivelyimplementpolicieswithrespecttotheregulationandpracticeoftheprofessions

o) To perform such other functions and duties as may be necessary to carry out effectively thevariousprovisionsofprofessionalregulatorylaws,decreesororders

Section6.Powers, functionsand responsibilities of variousBoards.The variousBoards shall retain thefollowingpowers,functionsandresponsibilities:

a)Tolookfromtimetotimeintotheconditionaffectingthepracticeoftheprofessionoroccupationunder their respective jurisdictions and whenever necessary, adopt such measures as may bedeemedproperfortheenhancementoftheprofessionoroccupationand/orthemaintenanceofhighprofessional, ethical and technical standards and for this purpose the members of a Board maypersonallyor throughsubordinateemployeesof theCommissionconductocular inspectionorvisitindustrial,mechanical,electricalorchemicalplantsorworks,hospitals,clinicsandotherengineeringworkswhereregisteredpractitionersoftheprofessionoroccupationareemployedorareworkingforthe purpose of determining compliance with the provisions of laws relative to the practice of theprofessionoroccupationorasanaidinformulatingpoliciesrelativetheretoinaccordancewiththeestablishedpoliciespromulgatedbytheCommission

b) To investigate violations of their respective laws and the rules and regulations promulgatedthereunder and for this purposemay issue summons, subpoenas and subpoena duces tecum toalleged violators or witnesses thereof and compel their attendance to such investigations orhearings

c)Todelegatethehearingofinvestigationofadministrativecasesfiledbeforethemexceptincaseswheretheissueinvolvedstrictlyconcernsthepracticeoftheprofessionoroccupation,inwhichcasethehearingshallbepresidedbyatleastonememberoftheBoardconcernedassistedbyalegalorhearingofficeroftheCommission

d)Topromulgate decisionson suchadministrative cases subject to reviewby theCommission. Ifafter thirty (30) days from the receipt of such decision no appeal is taken therefrom to theCommission,thesameshallbecomefinalandimmediatelyenforceable

e) Subject to review by the Commission to approve registration without examination and theissuanceofthecorrespondingcertificatesofregistration

f)Afterdueprocess,tosuspend,revokedorreissuecertificatesofregistrationforcausesprovidedforbylaworbytherulesandregulationspromulgatedtherefor

g)TodetermineandpreparethecontentsoflicensureexaminationsscoreandratetheexaminationpapersandsubmittheresultsthereoftotheCommissionwithinonehundredtwenty(120)daysafterthe last examination day unless extended by the Commission and, subject to approval by theCommission determine the appropriate passing general rating if not provided for in the lawregulatingtheprofession.

Section 7. Names of various Boards. The names of the various Boards shall be changed by theCommissionbydeletingtheword"Examiners."

Section8.Transferofpersonnel, funds, records,etc.Thepresentofficeof theBoardsofExaminers, itspersonnel, funds,records,supplies,equipment,materials, furniture,andfixtureareherebytransferredtotheCommission.

Section9.Repealingclause.TheprovisionsofRepublicActNo.546areherebyrepealedaswellasthose

ofotherpertinentlawsinconsistentherewith.

Section10.Effectivity.ThisDecreeshalltakeeffectimmediately.

DoneintheCityofManila,this22nddayofJune,intheyearofOurLord,nineteenhundredandseventythree.