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REPUBLIC ACT NO. 4226 the licensing agency as defined in this Act.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 4226 - AN ACT REQUIRING THE LICENSURE OF ALL


HOSPITALS IN THE PHILIPPINES AND AUTHORIZING THE BUREAU OF Sec. 4. Registration and license. — No hospital shall operate or be opened to the
MEDICAL SERVICES TO SERVE AS THE LICENSING AGENCY 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 operation administrators, sanitary engineers and such personnel as may be necessary to
of facilities for the diagnosis, treatment and care of individuals suffering from carry out the purposes of this Act without necessarily increasing the present
illness, disease, injury or deformity, or in need of obstetrical or other medical and personnel strength of this Bureau.
nursing care. The term 'hospital shall also be construed as any institution, building
or place where there are installed beds, or cribs, or bassinets for twenty-four-hour Sec. 6. Powers and duties of the licensing agency. — The Bureau of Medical
use or longer by patients in the treatment of diseases, diseased-conditions, injuries, Services, or the licensing agency shall have the following powers and duties:
deformities, or abnormal physical and mental states, maternity cases, and all
institutions such as those for convalescence, sanitarial or sanitarial care, infirmities, a. To conduct an ocular survey of all existing hospitals in the Philippines,
nurseries, dispensaries and such other names by which they may designated. government or private, with a view to determine their fitness to operate
considering their facilities and physical plant.
(b) 'Government hospital' means a hospital operated and maintained either
partially or wholly by the national, provincial, municipal or city government or b. To prescribe standard plans for government hospital plants in consultation
other political subdivision, or by any department, division, board or other agency with the Division of Architecture, Bureau of Public Works.
thereof.
c. To approve plans for hospital plants, government or private, and to issue
(c) 'Private hospital' means one which is privately owned, established and permits or authority to construct hospitals in accordance with the provisions of
operated with funds raised or contributed through donations, or by private capital this Act.
or other means, by private individuals, association, corporation, religious
organization, firm, company or joint stock association. d. To keep a permanent register of approved hospitals or those issued licenses to
operate indicating the name of the hospital, address or location, type of hospital,
(d) 'Clinic' means a place in which patients avail of medical consultations or name of the director or administrator, ownership, number of authorized beds and
treatments on an out-patient basis. However, any clinic or dispensary where there bassinets and such other pertinent data as may be necessary.
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 described in e. To grant licenses for the operation and maintenance of hospitals or revoke the
this Act. same in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

(e) 'Licensee' is the person or persons granted a license to operate and maintain a f. To make periodic inspection of all hospitals so as to check compliance with
hospital according to an approved minimum standard. rules and regulations legally promulgated or with the provisions of this Act and to
make recommendations to directors or administrators of hospitals for the
Sec. 3. Construction Permit. — No hospital, government or private, shall be correction of defects found during such inspections.
constructed unless plans have been approved and construction permit issued by
g. To publish yearly a list of all approved hospitals indicating the name, location, hospital shall be renewed every year upon payment of the prescribed fees.
type, authorized beds, and name of the director or administrator.
SECTION 11. Revocation of License. — The licensing agency may suspend or
h. To submit yearly reports to the Secretary of Health, the Speaker of the House revoke a license already issued for any of the following grounds: (a) repeated
of Representatives, the President of the Senate and the chairmen and members of violation by the licensee of any provision of this Act or of any other existing law;
the Committees on Health of both Houses of Congress, such reports to include a (b) repeated violation of rules and regulations prescribed in the implementation of
list of approved hospitals indicating the name of the hospital, location, bed this Act; or (c) repeated failure to make necessary corrections or adjustments
capacity and name of the director or administrator and make recommendations on required by the licensing agency in the improvement of facilities and services.
hospital needs or requirements for hospital service in certain communities that do
not enjoy such hospital services. SECTION 12. Hearing. — Any person, association, corporation, or any other
private entity who has been refused a license to operate and maintain a hospital or
Sec. 7. Filing of Application for Construction Permit. — Application for a permit whose license for such hospital has been suspended or revoked shall be entitled to
to construct a hospital shall be submitted to the Office of the Director, Bureau of an administrative hearing to be conducted by the Secretary of Health and his two
Medical Services in a form prescribed by the latter and accompanied by a plan of undersecretaries to determine the justifiability of such denial, suspension or
the hospital plant proposed to be constructed. The application shall state the name revocation of the license: provided, that the licensee may resort to the courts, as in
of the hospital, ownership, number of beds proposed to be operated, location and other cases provided by law.
type of hospital to be constructed.
SECTION 13. Separate Licenses Required. — Separate licenses shall be required
Sec. 8. Minimum Standards of Construction. — In order that a permit to for hospitals or branches thereof maintained in separate premises, even though
construct a hospital can be issued the hospital plan shall provide sufficient bed they are operated under the same management: provided, however, that separate
space for the hospital bed capacity proposed, a laboratory room, an operating licenses shall not be required for separate buildings in the same compound:
room, including work rooms for sterilization, anesthesia preparation, etc., an X-ray provided, further, that permits for construction or alteration of buildings within
or radiology room, pharmacy, dispensary or out-patient department, delivery the same compound shall also be secured from the licensing agency to determine
room, isolation rooms, autopsy room or morgue, sufficient quarters for residents, compliance with standards and requirements herein authorized.
nurses, attendants and helpers and sufficient number of toilet facilities.
SECTION 14. License not transferable. — License for the operation of hospitals
Wards shall be constructed such that segregation of the sexes is observed and as shall not be transferable. The licensing agency shall be notified of any change in
far as practicable classified as to the type of cases to be confined. ownership, change of name of the hospital, and transfer of location and in the
latter case, an application for a new license should be submitted.
Sec. 9. Application for Registration and Issuance of License. — Application for
registration of a hospital and for the issuance of a license for its operation and SECTION 15. Rules and Regulations. — The Bureau of Medical Services acting as
maintenance shall be filed with the Bureau of Medical Services on a form a licensing agency and subject to the approval of the Secretary of Health, shall
prescribed by it. Registration may be made and license issued upon compliance promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.
with the provisions of Section eight hereof and the rules and regulations
prescribed by the licensing agency pursuant to the provisions of this Act. SECTION 16. Classification of Hospitals. — The licensing agency shall study and
adopt a system of classifying hospitals in the Philippines as to: (1) general or
SECTION 10. Inspection. — Permit to construct a hospital or a major portion special; (2) hospital services capabilities; (3) size or bed capacity and (4) class of
thereof and license to operate and maintain the same shall be issued by the hospital whether training or not.
licensing agency only after a representative of the licensing agency has conducted
an ocular inspection and certified that the applicant has satisfactorily complied SECTION 17. Fees. — Each applicant for a permit to construct a hospital shall
with requisites prescribed in this Act. The license to operate and maintain a 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 each hospital and for (5) Collect, analyze and disseminate statistical and other relevant information on
each approved license: provided, that a government hospital shall be exempt from the country’s health situation, and require the reporting of such information from
the payment of such fees. The amount herein collected shall be officially receipted appropriate sources;
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 hospital or hospital (7) Undertake health and medical research and conduct training in support of its
clinic within the meaning of this Act without first obtaining a license as provided priorities, programs and activities;
for in this Act or violates any provision hereof shall be guilty of a misdemeanor,
and upon conviction thereof shall be liable to a fine of not more than five hundred (8) Regulate the operation of and issue licenses and permits to government and
pesos for the first offense and not more than one thousand pesos for each private hospitals, clinics and dispensaries, laboratories, blood banks, drugstores
subsequent offense, and each day that the hospital shall operate after the first and such other establishments which by the nature of their functions are required
conviction shall be considered a subsequent offense. to be regulated by the Department;

SECTION 19. Repeal. — Any law or laws or parts thereof inconsistent with the (9) Issue orders and regulations concerning the implementation of established
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed. health policies; and

Sec. 20. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
(10) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 292 CHAPTER 4

TITLE IX Offices and Bureaus

SECTION 3. Powers and Functions.—The Department shall:


SECTION 13. Office for Public Health Services.—The Office for Public Health
Services, headed by an Undersecretary, shall include ten (10) staff services
(1) Define the national health policy and formulate and implement a national involved in policy formulation, standards development, program development,
health plan within the framework of the government’s general policies and plans, and program monitoring of disease control and service delivery programs
and present proposals to appropriate authorities on national issues which have implemented by the field offices. The Undersecretary for Public Health Services,
health implications; who shall be supported by an Assistant Secretary, shall supervise the following:

(2) Provide for health programs, services, facilities and other requirements as may (1) Maternal and Child Health Service which shall formulate plans, policies,
be needed, subject to availability of funds and administrative rules and programs, standards and techniques relative to maternal and child health; provide
regulations; consultative training and advisory services to implementing agencies; and conduct
studies and research related to health services for mothers and children;
(3) Coordinate or collaborate with, and assist local communities, agencies and
interested groups including international organizations in activities related to (2) Tuberculosis Control Service which shall formulate plans, policies, programs,
health; standards and techniques relative to the control of morbidity and mortality from
tuberculosis; provide consultative, training and advisory services to implementing
(4) Administer all laws, rules and regulations in the field of health, including agencies; and conduct studies and research related to tuberculosis;
quarantine laws and food and drug safety laws;
(3) Family Planning Service which shall formulate plans, policies, programs, implementing agencies; and conduct studies and research related to mental illness,
standards and techniques relative to family planning in the context of health and cardiovascular-disease, cancer, other non-communicable diseases, and
family welfare; provide consultative, training and advisory services to occupational health.
implementing agencies; and conduct studies and research related to family
planning; SECTION 14. Office for Hospital and Facilities Services.—The Office for Hospital
and Facilities Services, headed by an Undersecretary who shall be supported by an
(4) Environmental Health Service which shall formulate plans, policies, programs, Assistant Secretary, shall include four (4) staff services involved in policy
standards and techniques relative to environmental health and sanitation; provide formulation, standards development, program monitoring and provision of
consultative, training and advisory services to implementing agencies; and specialized assistance in the operations of hospitals and the management of
conduct studies and research related to environmental health; facilities, which are as follows:

(5) Nutrition Service which shall formulate plans, policies, programs, standards (1) Hospital Operations and Management Service which shall formulate and
and techniques relative to nutrition services in the context of primary health care, implement plans, programs, policies, standards and techniques related to
provide consultative, training and advisory services to implementing agencies; management improvement and quality control of hospital operations; provide
and conduct studies and research related to nutrition; consultative, training and advisory services to field offices in relation to the
supervision and management of hospital components; and conduct studies and
(6) Dental Health Service which shall formulate plans, policies, programs, research related to hospital operations and management;
standards and techniques relative to dental health services; provide consultative,
training and advisory services to implementing agencies; and conduct studies and (2) Radiation Health Service which shall formulate and implement plans,
research related to dental services; programs, policies, standards and techniques to ensure radiation health safety;
provide consultative, monitoring, training and advisory services to private and
(7) Malaria Control Service which shall formulate plans, policies, programs, government facilities with radiation-emitting apparatus; and conduct studies and
standards and techniques relative to the control of malaria; provide consultative, research related to radiation health;
training and advisory services to implementing agencies; and conduct studies and
research to malaria and its control; (3) Hospital Maintenance Service which shall formulate and implement plans,
programs, policies, standards and techniques related to assuring the proper
(8) Schistosomiasis Control Service which shall formulate plans, policies, maintenance of Department equipment; provide consultative, training and
programs, standards and techniques relative to the control of schistosomiasis; advisory services to implementing agencies in relation to preservation, repair and
provide consultative, training and advisory services to implementing agencies; maintenance of medical and non-medical equipment of the Department; and
and conduct studies and research related to schistosomiasis and its control; conduct studies and research related to equipment and facility maintenance;

(9) Communicable Disease Control Service which shall formulate plans, policies, (4) Health Infrastructure Service which shall formulate and implement plans,
programs, standards and techniques relative to the control of communicable policies, programs, standards and techniques related to development and
diseases, other than the major causes of mortality and morbidity, such as leprosy, preservation of health infrastructure; provide consultative, training and advisory
sexually transmitted diseases, filariasis and others; provide consultative, training services to implementing agencies in relation to infrastructure projects to assure
and advisory services to implementing agencies; and conduct studies and research economical and efficient implementation; and conduct studies and research related
related to these other communicable diseases; to infrastructure development and utilization.

(10) Non-communicable Disease Control Service which shall formulate plans, Republic of the Philippines
policies, programs, standards and techniques relative to the control of non- Congress of the Philippines
communicable diseases; provide consultative, training and advisory services to Metro Manila
Thirteenth Congress SEC. 6. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or part thereof inconsistent
Third Regular Session 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 HOSPITALS Republic of the Philippines
AND MEDICAL CLINICS ON GROUNDS OF NONPAYMENT OF HOSPITAL Congress of the Philippines
BILLS OR MEDICAL EXPENSES Metro Manila

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress Tenth 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 full of hospital bills or medical
Republic Act No. 8344 August 25, 1997
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, in part or AN ACT PENALIZING THE REFUSAL OF HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL
in full, their hospitalization expenses, including professional fees and medicines, CLINICS TO ADMINISTER APPROPRIATE INITIAL MEDICAL
shall be allowed to leave the hospital or medical clinic, with a right to demand the TREATMENT AND SUPPORT IN EMERGENCY OR SERIOUS CASES,
issuance of the corresponding medical certificate and other pertinent papers AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE BATAS PAMBANSA BILANG 702,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "AN ACT PROHIBITING THE DEMAND OF
required for the release of the patient from the hospital or medical clinic upon the
DEPOSITS OR ADVANCE PAYMENTS FOR THE CONFINEMENT OR
execution of a promissory note covering the unpaid obligation. The promissory
TREATMENT OF PATIENTS IN HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL CLINICS IN
note shall be secured by either a mortgage or by a guarantee of a co-maker, who
CERTAIN CASES"
will be jointly and severally liable with the patient for the unpaid obligation. In the
case of a deceased patient, the corresponding death certificate and other
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
documents required for interment and other purposes shall be released to any of
assembled::
his surviving relatives requesting for the same: Provided, however, That patients
who stayed in private rooms shall not be covered by this Act.
SEC. 3. Any officer or employee of the hospital or medical clinic responsible for Section 1. Section 1 of Batas Pambansa Bilang 702 is hereby amended to read as follows:
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 not more than Fifty "SECTION 1. In emergency or serious cases, it shall be unlawful for any
thousand pesos (P50,000.00), or imprisonment of not less than one month, but not proprietor, president, director, manager or any other officer, and/or
more than six months, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the medical practitioner or employee of a hospital or medical clinic to request,
proper court. solicit, demand or accept any deposit or any other form of advance
SEC. 4. The Department of Health shall promulgate the necessary rules and payment as a prerequisite for confinement or medical treatment of a
regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act. patient in such hospital or medical clinic or to refuse to administer medical
SEC. 5. If any provision of this Act is declared void and unconstitutional the treatment and support as dictated by good practice of medicine to prevent
remaining provisions hereof not affected thereby shall remain in full force and death or permanent disability: Provided, That by reason of inadequacy of
effect. the medical capabilities of the hospital or medical clinic, the attending
physician may transfer the patient to a facility where the appropriate care nursing care. It shall also be construed as any institution, building
can be given, after the patient or his next of kin consents to said transfer or place where there are facilities and personnel for the continued
and after the receiving hospital or medical clinic agrees to the transfer: and prolonged care of patients.
Provided, 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 surgical
patient even without his consent: Provided, further, That such transfer measure within the capability of the hospital or medical clinic that
shall be done only after necessary emergency treatment and support have is administered by qualified health care professionals to prevent
been administered to stabilize the patient and after it has been established the death or permanent disability of a patient.
that such transfer entails less risks than the patient's continued
confinement: Provided, furthermore, That no hospital or clinic, after being "(f) 'Medical clinic' - a place in which patients can avail of medical
informed of the medical indications for such transfer, shall refuse to consultation or treatment on an outpatient basis.
receive the patient nor demand from the patient or his next of kin any
deposit or advance payment: Provided, finally, That strict compliance with "(g) 'Permanent disability' - a condition of physical disability as
the foregoing procedure on transfer shall not be construed as a refusal defined under Article 192-C and Article 193-B and C of
made punishable by this 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 another hospital or
"SEC. 2. For purposes of this Act, the following definitions shall govern: clinic with a reasonable probability that 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 on duty for "SEC. 3. After the hospital or medical clinic mentioned above shall have
the day there is immediate danger and where delay in initial administered medical treatment and support, it may cause the transfer of
support and treatment may cause loss of life or cause permanent the patient to an appropriate hospital consistent with the needs of the
disability to the patient. 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 objective findings of a "SEC. 4. Any official, medical practitioner or employee of the hospital or
prudent medical officer on duty for the day when left unattended medical clinic who violates the provisions of this Act shall, upon
to, may cause loss of life or cause permanent disability to the conviction by final judgment, be punished by imprisonment of not less
patient. 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 than Twenty thousand pesos
"(c) 'Confinement' - a state of being admitted in a hospital or (P20,000.00), but not more than One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00)
medical clinic for medical observation, diagnosis, testing, and or both, at the discretion of the court: Provided, however, That if such
treatment consistent with the capability and available facilities of violation was committed pursuant to an established policy of the hospital
the hospital or clinic. or clinic or upon instruction of its management, the director or officer of
such hospital or clinic responsible for the formulation and implementation
"(d) 'Hospital' - a facility devoted primarily to the diagnosis, of such policy shall, upon conviction by final judgment, suffer
treatment and care of individuals suffering from illness, disease, imprisonment of four (4) to six (6) years, or a fine of not less than One
injury or deformity, or in need of obstetrical or other medical and
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 hospital or
Section 4. Section 4 of Batas Pambansa Bilang 702 shall become Section 5 thereof and medical clinic after a consent to transfer another facility has been given by
shall be amended to read as follows: the patient or next of his kin. The medical personnel/physician can
transfer the patient to another facility if he/she is unconscious, incapable
"SEC. 5. The Department of Health shall promulgate the necessary rules of giving consent, and/or unaccompanied. The transfer shall only be done
and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act." after all the necessary emergency treatment has been made and the
physicians will declare that such transfer entails less risk than further
Section 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2) confinement.
national newspapers of general circulation.  The hospital or medical clinic where the patient shall be transferred shall
also abide the same procedure as mandated in this act.

Definition of Terms
Republic Act No. 10932 - Anti-Hospital Deposit Law
On August 3, 2017, President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed into law the Republic Act SECTION 2
No. 10932 or also known as the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law.
Emergency - the condition of a patient that entails immediate danger and such
Overview delay in initial support and treatment may cause loss of life, permanent disability,
or loss of child or noninstitutional delivery in case of a pregnant woman.
This is an act to strengthen the anti-hospital deposit law by incresing the penalties
for the refusal of hospitals and medical clinics to administer appropriate initial Serious case - the condition of a patient characterized by gravity or danger.
medical treatment and support in emergency or serious cases.
Basic emergency care - urgent response like diagnosis and use of medical
Amendment equipment and/or supplies.

This law is to amend Batas Pambansa Bilang 702, otherwise known as "An act Noninstitutional delivery - the delivery of a newborn while in transit, outside of a
prohibiting the demand of deposits or advance payments for the confinement or health facility, after an initial consultation was done with a health facility.
treatment of patients in hospitals and medical clinics in certain cases", as amended
by Republic Act No. 8344 and for other purposes. The Role of the LGU
Summary
SECTION 3. In case there is no ambulance available for use by the hospital or
SECTION 1. The law prohibits any hospital or medical clinic personnel, as defined medical clinic to render the transfer, the local government unit (LGU) where the
or mentioned in the act, to request, solicit, demand or accept any deposit or any other hospital or medical clinic is located must allow the FREE use of its emergency
form of advance payment as a prerequisite for administering initial or basic medical vehicle and must be accompanied by a staff nurse with Advanced Cardiovascular
care to patients. This also applies to all who refused to administer such treatment Support (ACLS) Certification or its equivalent.
and support to prevent death, permanent injury or loss of child in case of pregnant
woman.
Penalty attendant who shall refuse to extend the appropriate assistance, subject to existing
rules, or neglect to notify or call a physician shall be punished by imprisonment of
Anyone who violates the provisions of this Act shall be, upon conviction by final one month and one day to one year and one day, and a fine of three hundred pesos
judgment, be punished by imprisonment of not less than six (6) months and one to one thousand pesos, without prejudice to the provisions of Republic Act
(1) day but not more than two (2) years and four (4) months, or a fine of not less Numbered Twenty-three hundred eighty-two in the case of physicians.
than one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000) and not more 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 administrative
 Proviso: If the violation was committed pursuant to an established policy action that might be proper.
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 than five In the case of private hospitals, aside from the imposition of penalty upon the
hundred thousand pesos (P500,000) and not more than one million pesos person or persons guilty of the violations, the license of the hospital to operate
(P1,000,000) or both at the discretion of the court. shall, whenever justified, be suspended or revoked.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6615 - AN ACT REQUIRING GOVERNMENT AND


PRIVATE HOSPITALS AND CLINICS TO EXTEND MEDICAL ASSISTANCE Sec. 4. Subject to the approval of the Secretary of Health, the Bureau of Medical
IN EMERGENCY CASES 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 patients in
emergency cases who are in danger of dying and/or who may have suffered Sec. 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
serious physical injuries.
THE MEDICAL ACT OF 1959

Sec. 2. The expenses and losses of earnings incurred by a private hospital of clinic ARTICLE I
for medicines, facilities and services beyond first aid extended to emergency cases Objectives and Implementation
as required herein, and not to exceed fifty thousand pesos per year, shall be
deductible expenses and losses for income tax purposes which may be carried over Section 1. Objectives. This Act provides for and shall govern (a) the standardization
for a period of five years, any provision of law or regulation to the contrary and regulation of medical education; (b) the examination for registration of
notwithstanding. physicians; and (c) the supervision, control and regulation of the practice of
medicine in the Philippines.

Sec. 3. Any hospital director, administrator, officer-in-charge or physician in the Section 2. Enforcement. For the purpose of implementing the provisions of this Act,
hospital, medical center or clinic, who shall refuse or fail without good cause to there are created the following agencies: the Board of Medical Education under the
render the appropriate assistance pursuant to the requirements of section one after Department of Education, and the Board of Medical Examiners under the
said case had been brought to his attention, or any nurse, midwife or medical Commissioner of Civil Service.
ARTICLE II (d) To determine and prescribe the number of students who should be
The Board of Medical Education Its Functions allowed to take up the preparatory course taking into account the capacity
of the different recognized colleges of medicine.
Section 3. Composition of Board of Medical Education. The Board of Medical
Education shall be composed of the Secretary of Education or his duly authorized (e) To select, determine and approve hospitals or some departments of the
representative, as chairman, and the Secretary of Health or his duly authorized hospitals for training which comply with the minimum specific physical
representative, the Director of the Bureau of Private Schools or his duly authorized facilities as provided in subparagraph (b) hereof: and
representative, the chairman of the Board of Medical Examiners or his duly
authorized representative, a representative of private practitioners, upon (f) To promulgate and prescribe and enforce necessary rules and
recommendation of an acknowledged medical association and a representative regulations for the proper implementation of the foregoing functions.
chosen by the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities, as members.
Section 6. Minimum required courses. Students seeking admission to the medical
The officials acting as chairman and members of the Board of Medical Education course must have a bachelor of science or bachelor of arts degree or their
shall hold office during their incumbency in their respective positions. equivalent and must have taken in four years the following subjects with their
corresponding number of units:
Section 4. Compensation and traveling expenses. The chairman and members of the
Board of Medical Education shall not be entitled to any compensation except for
Unit
traveling expenses in connection with their official duties as herein provided.
English 12
For administrative purposes, the Board shall hold office in the office of its
chairman, who may designate a ranking official in the Department of Education to Latin 3
serve as secretary of the Board.
Mathematics, including Accounting and Statistics 9
Section 5. Functions. The functions of the Board of Medical Education shall be:
Philosophy, including Psychology and Logic 12
(a) To determine and prescribe minimum requirements for admission into Zoology and Botany 15
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 hospitals, Chemistry 21
equipment and supplies, apparatus, instruments, appliances, laboratories,
Library Science 1
bed capacity for instruction purposes, operating and delivery rooms,
facilities for out-patient services, and others, used for didactic and Humanities and Social Sciences 12
practical instructions in accordance with modern trends;

(c) To determine and prescribe the minimum number and the minimum Twelve units of Spanish shall be required pursuant to Republic Act Numbered
qualifications of teaching personnel, including student-teacher ratio and Seven hundred nine; but commencing with the academic year nineteen hundred
curriculum; sixty to nineteen hundred sixty-one, twenty-four units of Spanish shall be required
pursuant to Republic Act Numbered Eighteen hundred and eighty-one as cultural,
social and nationalistic studies.
Provided, That the following students may be permitted to complete the aforesaid Pediatrics
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 and Surgery
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 may be Legal Medicine, including Medical Jurisprudence and Ethics.
permitted to finish the course in three academic years by allowing them to
take each semester the overload permitted to bright students under Section 7. Admission requirements. The medical college may admit any student to
existing regulations of the Bureau of Private Schools. its first year class who has not been convicted by any court of competent
jurisdiction of any offense involving moral turpitude, and who presents (a) a
Provided, That upon failure to maintain the general average of eighty-five per certificate showing completion of a standard high school course, (b) a record
cent, students under (b) shall automatically revert to the category of students showing completion of a standard preparatory medical course as herein provided,
under (a) and those under (a), upon having any grade of failure or condition, shall (c) a certificate of registration as medical student, (d) a certificate of good moral
automatically revert to the category of students required to pursue the preparatory character issued by two former professors in the pre-medicine course, and (e) birth
course in four years mentioned above. certificate and marriage certificate, if any. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to
inhibit any college of medicine from establishing, in addition to the preceding,
The medical course shall be at least five years, including not less than eleven other entrance requirements that may be deemed admissible.
rotating internship in an approved hospital, and shall consist of the following
subjects: For the purposes of this Act, the term "College of Medicine" shall mean to include
faculty of medicine, institute of medicine, school of medicine or other similar
Anatomy institution offering a complete medical course leading to the degree of Doctor of
Medicine or its equivalent.
Physiology
Every college of medicine must keep a complete record of enrollment, grades and
Biochemistry and Nutrition turnover, and must publish each year a catalogue giving the following
information:
Pharmacology
1. Date of publication
Microbiology
2. Calendar for the academic year
Parasitology
3. Faculty roll indicating whether on full time part time basis
Medicine and Therapeutics
4. Requirements of admission
Genycology
5. Grading system
Opthalmology, Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology
6. Requirements for promotion 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, salary or
7. Requirements for graduation 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
8. Medical hours per academic year by departments remedy for any human disease, injury, deformity, physical, mental or physical
condition or any ailment, real or imaginary, regardless of the nature of the remedy
9. Schedule hours per academic year by departments or treatment administered, prescribed 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 of communication, either offer or undertake
10. Number of students enrolled in each class.
by any means or method to diagnose, treat, operate or prescribe any remedy for
any human disease, injury, deformity, physical, mental or physical condition; or (c)
ARTICLE III who shall use the title M.D. after his name.
THE BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS; REGISTRATION OF PHYSICIANS
Section 11. Exemptions. The preceding section shall not be construed to affect (a)
Section 8. Prerequisite to the practice of medicine. No person shall engage in the
any medical student duly enrolled in an approved medical college or school under
practice of medicine in the Philippines unless he is at least twenty-one years of age,
training, serving without any professional fee in any government or private
has satisfactorily passed the corresponding Board Examination, and is a holder of
hospital, provided that he renders such service under the direct supervision and
a valid Certificate of Registration duly issued to him by the Board of Medical
control of a registered physician; (b) any legally registered dentist engaged
Examiners.
exclusively in the practice of dentistry; (c) any duly registered masseur or
physiotherapist, provided that he applies massage or other physical means upon
Section 9. Candidates for board examination. Candidates for Board examinations shall written order or prescription of a duly registered physician, or provided that such
have the following qualifications: application of massage or physical means shall be limited to physical or muscular
development; (d) any duly registered optometrist who mechanically fits or sells
(1) He shall be a citizen of the Philippines or a citizen of any foreign lenses, artificial eyes, limbs or other similar appliances or who is engaged in the
country who has submitted competent and conclusive documentary mechanical examination of eyes for the purpose of constructing or adjusting eye
evidence, confirmed by the Department of Foreign Affairs, showing that glasses, spectacles and lenses; (e) any person who renders any service gratuitously
his country's existing laws permit citizens of the Philippines to practice in cases of emergency, or in places where the services of a duly registered
medicine under the same rules and regulations governing citizens thereof; physician, nurse or midwife are not available; (f) any person who administers or
recommends any household remedy as per classification of existing Pharmacy
(2) He shall be of good moral character, showing for this purpose Laws; and (g) any psychologist or mental hygienist in the performance of his
certificate of civil status; duties, provided such performance is done in conjunction with a duly registered
physician.
(3) He shall be of sound mind;
Section 12. Limited practice without any certificate of registration. Certificates of
(4) He shall not have been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction registration shall not be required of the following persons:
of any offense involving moral turpitude; and
(a) Physicians and surgeons from other countries called in consultation
(5) He shall be a holder of the degree of Doctor of Medicine or its only and exclusively in specific and definite cases, or those attached to
equivalent, conferred by a college of medicine duly recognized by the international bodies or organization assigned to perform certain definite
Department of Education. work in the Philippines provided they shall limit their practice to the
specific work assigned to them and provided further they shall secure a A final meeting of the Board for the deliberation and approval of the grades shall
previous authorization from the Board of Medical Examiners. be called by the Commissioner of Civil Service immediately after receipt of the
records from the members of the Board of Medical Examiners. The secretary of the
(b) Commissioned medical officers of the United States armed forces Board shall submit to the President of the Philippines for approval the names of
stationed in the Philippines while rendering service as such only for the the successful candidates as having been duly qualified for licensure in
members of the said armed forces and within the limit of their own alphabetical order, without stating the ratings obtained by each.
respective territorial jurisdiction.
Section 14. Qualifications of examiners. No person shall be appointed a member of
(c) Foreign physicians employed as exchange professors in special the Board of Medical Examiners unless he or she (1) is a natural-born citizen of the
branches of medicine or surgery whose service may in the discretion of the Philippines, (2) is a duly registered physician in the Philippines, (3) has been in the
Board of Medical Education, be necessary. practice of medicine for at least ten years, (4) is of good moral character and of
recognized standing in the medical profession, (5) is not a member of the faculty of
(d) Medical students who have completed the first four years of medical any medical school and has no pecuniary interest, directly or indirectly, in any
course, graduates of medicine and registered nurses who may be given college of medicine or in any institution where any branch of medicine is taught, at
limited and special authorization by the Secretary of Health to render the time of his appointment: Provided, That of the six members to be appointed, not
medical services during epidemics or national emergencies whenever the more than two shall be graduates of the same institution and not more than three
services of duly registered physicians are not available. Such authorization shall be government physicians.
shall automatically cease when the epidemic or national emergency is
declared terminated by the Secretary of Health. Section 15. Tenure of office and compensation of members. The members of the Board
of Medical Examiners shall hold office for one year: Provided, That any member
Section 13. The Board of Medical Examiners, its composition and duties. The Board of may be reappointed for not more than one year. Each member shall receive as
Medical Examiners shall be composed of six members to be appointed by the compensation ten pesos for each candidate examined for registration as physician,
President of the Philippines from a confidential list of not more than twelve names and five pesos for each candidate examined in the preliminary or final physician
approved and submitted by the executive council of the Philippine Medical examination.
Association, after due consultation with other medical associations, during the
months of April and October of each year. The chairman of the Board shall be The President of the Philippines, upon the recommendation of the Commissioner
elected from among themselves by the member at a meeting called for the of Civil Service , after due investigation, may remove any member of the Board of
purpose. The President of the Philippines shall fill any vacancy that may occur Medical Examiners for neglect of duty, incompetency, or unprofessional or
during any examination from the list of names submitted by the Philippine dishonorable conduct.
Medical Association in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
Section 16. Executive Officer and Secretary of the Board. The Secretary of the Boards
No examiner shall handle the examinations in more than four subjects or groups of of Examiners appointed in accordance with section ten of Act Numbered Four
subjects as hereinafter provided. The distribution of subject to each member shall thousand seven, as amended, shall also be the secretary of the Board of Medical
be agreed upon at a meeting called by the chairman for the purpose. The Examiners, who shall keep all the records, including examination papers, and the
examination papers shall be under the custody of the Commissioner of Civil minutes of the deliberations of the Board. He shall also keep a register of all
Service or his duly authorized representative, and shall be distributed to each persons to whom certificates of registration has been granted; set forth the name,
member of the Board who shall correct, grade, and sign, and submit them to the sec, age, and place of birth of each, place of business, post office address, the name
said Commissioner within one hundred twenty days from the date of the of the medical college or university from which he graduated or in which he had
termination of the examinations. studied, together 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 or certificate of attendance upon clinic and all lectures in medicine and
surgery, and all other degrees granted to him from institutions of learning. He All fees paid as provided herein shall accrue to the funds of the Board of Medical
shall keep an up-to-date registration book of all duly registered physicians in the Examiners and be expended for the payment of the compensation of the members
Philippines. He shall furnish copies of all examination questions and ratings in thereof. No fees other than those provided herein shall be paid to the Board.
each subject of the respective candidates in the physicians examination, one month
after the release of the list of successful examinees, to the deans of the different Section 20. Issuance of Certificate of Registration, grounds for refusal of same. The
colleges of medicine exclusively for the information and guidance of the faculties Commissioner of Civil Service and the secretary of the Board of Medical
thereof. This report shall be considered as restricted information. Any school Examiners shall sign jointly and issue certificates of registration to those who have
which violates this rule shall be deprived of such privilege. The secretary of the satisfactorily complied with the requirements of the Board. They shall not issue a
Board shall likewise keep a record of all registered medical students. He shall keep certificate of registration to any candidate who has been convicted by a court of
all the records and proceedings, and issue and receive all papers in connection competent jurisdiction of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude, or has
with any and all complaints presented to the Board. been found guilty of immoral or dishonorable conduct after he due investigation
by the Board of Medical Examiners, or has been declared to be of unsound mind.
Section 17. Rules and regulations. The Board of Medical Examiners, with the
approval of the Commissioner of Civil Service, shall promulgate such rules and Section 21. Scope of examination. The examination for the registration of physicians
regulations as may be necessary for the proper conduct of the examinations, shall consist of the following subjects: (1) Anatomy and Histology, (2) Physiology,
correction of examination papers, and registration of physicians. The (3) Biochemistry, (4) Microbiology and Parasitology, (5) Pharcology and
Commissioner shall supervise each Board examination and enforce the said rules Therapeutics, (6) Pathology, (7) Medicine, (8) Obstetrics and Gynecology, (9)
and regulations. These rules and regulations shall take effect fifteen days after the Pediatrics and Nutrition, (10) Surgery and Opthalmology, Otolaryngology and
date of their publication in the Official Gazette and shall not be changed within Rhinology, (11) Preventive Medicine and Public Health, and (12) Legal Medicine,
sixty days immediately before any examination. Such rules and regulations shall Ethics and Medical Jurisprudence: Provided, however, That the examination
be printed and distributed for the information and guidance of all concerned. questions in each subject or group of subject shall at least be ten in
number: Provided, further, That the examination questions in Medicine shall include
Section 18. Dates of examinations. The Board of Medical Examiners shall give at least three from the following branches: Infectious diseases, Neurology,
examinations for the registration of physicians, one in May and one in November Dermatology, Allergy, Endocrinology and Cardio-Vascular
every year, in the City of Manila or any of its suburbs after giving not less than ten diseases: Provided, finally, That the examination questions in Surgery shall include
days' notice to each candidate who had filed his name and address with the at least four questions from the following: Opthalmology, Otology, Rhinology,
secretary of the Board. Laryngology, Orthopedic Surgery and Anesthesiology.

Section 19. Fees. The secretary of the Board, under the supervision of the The questions shall be the same for all applicants. All answers must be written
Commissioner of Civil Service, shall collect from each candidate the following fees: either in English or Spanish. No name of the examinee shall appear in the
examination paper but the examiners shall devise a system whereby each
applicant can be identified by number only.
For registration as medical student P 5.00

For complete physician examination 75.00 In order that a candidate may be deemed to have passed his examination
successfully he must have obtained a general average of seventy-five per cent
For preliminary or final examination 40.00 without a grade lower than sixty-five per cent in Medicine, Pediatrics and
Nutrition, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Preventive Medicine and Public Health,
For registration as physician 20.00 and no grade lower than fifty per cent in the rest of the subjects.

The preliminary examinations shall comprise of the following subjects:


(1) Gross Anatomy and Histology (2) Immoral or dishonorable conduct;

(2) Physiology (3) Insanity;

(3) Biochemistry (4) Fraud in the acquisition of the certificate of registration;

(4) Microbiology and Parasitology (5) Gross negligence, ignorance or incompetence in the practice of his or
her profession resulting in an injury to or death of the patient;
Section 22. Administrative investigations. In addition to the functions provided for
in the preceding sections, the Board of Medical Examiners shall perform the (6) Addiction to alcoholic beverages or to any habit forming drug
following duties: (1) to administer oath to physicians who qualified in the rendering him or her incompetent to practice his or her profession, or to
examination; (2) to study the conditions affecting the practice of medicine in all any form of gambling;
parts of the Philippines; (3) to exercise the powers conferred upon it by this article
with the view of maintaining the ethical and professional standards of the medical (7) False or extravagant or unethical advertisements wherein other things
profession; (4) to subpoena or subpoena duces tecum witnesses for all purposes than his name, profession, limitation of practice, clinic hours, office and
required in the discharge of its duties; and (5) to promulgate, with the approval of home address, are mentioned.
the Commissioner of Civil Service, such rules and regulations as it may deem
necessary for the performance of its duties in harmony with the provisions of this (8) Performance of or aiding in any criminal abortion;
Act and necessary for the proper practice of medicine in the Philippines.
(9) Knowingly issuing any false medical certificate;
Administrative investigations may be conducted by not less than four members of
the Board of Medical Examiners; otherwise the proceedings shall be considered (10) Issuing any statement or spreading any news or rumor which is
void. The existing rules of evidence shall be observed during all administrative derogatory to the character and reputation of another physician without
investigations. The Board may disapprove applications for examination or justifiable motive;
registration, reprimand erring physicians, or suspend or revoke registration
certificates, if the respondents are found guilty after due investigations.
(11) Aiding or acting as a dummy of an unqualified or unregistered person
to practice medicine;
Section 23. Procedure and rules. Within five days after the filling of written charges
under oath, the respondent physician shall be furnished a copy thereof, without
(12) Violation of any provision of the Code of Ethics as approved by the
requiring him or her to answer the same, and the Board shall conduct the
Philippine Medical Association.
investigation within five days after the receipt of such copy by the respondent. The
investigation shall be completed as soon as practicable.
Refusal of a physician to attend a patient in danger of death is not a sufficient
ground for revocation or suspension of his registration certificate if there is a risk
Section 24. Grounds for reprimand, suspension or revocation of registration
to the physician's life.
certificate. Any of the following shall be sufficient ground for reprimanding a
physician, or for suspending or revoking a certificate of registration as physician:
Section 25. Rights of respondents. The respondent physician shall be entitled to be
represented by counsel or be heard by himself or herself, to have a speedy and
(1) Conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction of any criminal offense
public hearing, to confront and to cross-examine witnesses against him or her, and
involving moral turpitude;
to all other rights guaranteed by the Constitution and provided for in the Rules of
Court.
Section 26. Appeal from judgment. The decision of the Board of Medical Examiners six of this Act shall take effect at the beginning of the academic year nineteen
shall automatically become final thirty days after the date of its promulgation hundred sixty to nineteen hundred sixty-one, and the first paragraph of section
unless the respondent, during the same period, has appealed to the Commissioner seven shall take effect four years thereafter.
of Civil Service and later to the Office of the President of the Philippines. If the
final decision is not satisfactory, the respondent may ask for a review of the case, Approved: June 20, 1959
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 reinstatement COMMISSION, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE PRESIDENTIAL DECREE
of any physicians whose certificate of registration has been revoked, if the NUMBERED TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THREE, ENTITLED
respondent has acted in an exemplary manner in the community wherein he "CREATING THE PROFESSIONAL REGULATION COMMISSION AND
resides and has not committed any illegal, immoral or dishonorable act. PRESCRIBING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS," AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
ARTICLE IV
PENAL AND OTHER PROVISIONS Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines Congress
assembled:
Section 28. Penalties. Any person found guilty of "illegal practice of medicine" shall
be punished by a fine of not less than one thousand pesos nor more than ten Section 1. Title – This Act shall be called the "PRC Modernization Act of 2000."
thousand pesos with subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency, or by
imprisonment of not less than one year nor more than five years, or by both such Section 2. Statement of Policy – The State recognizes the important role of
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
Section 29. Injunctions. The Board of Medical Examiners may file an action to determined by honest and credible licensure examinations and whose standards of
enjoin any person illegally practicing medicine from the performance of any act professional service and practice are internationally recognized and considered
constituting practice of medicine if the case so warrants until the necessary world-class brought about the regulatory measures, programs and activities that
certificate therefore is secured. Any such person who, after having been so foster professional growth and advancement.
enjoined, continues in the illegal practice of medicine shall be punished for
contempt of court. The said injunction shall not relieve the person practicing Section 3. Professional Regulation Commission – There is hereby created a three-man
medicine without certificate of registration from criminal prosecution and commission to be known as the Professional Regulation Commission, hereinafter
punishment as provided in the preceding section. referred to as the Commission, which shall be attached to the office of the
President for general direction and coordination.
Section 30. Appropriation. To carry out the provisions of this Act, there is hereby
appropriated, out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise Section 4. Composition – The Commission shall be headed by one (1) full-time
appropriated, the sum of twenty thousand pesos. 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 the
Section 31. Repealing clause. All Acts, executive orders, administrative orders, rules time they assume office. Appointments to a vacancy that occurs before the
and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are expiration of the term of a Commissioner shall cover only the unexpired term of
repealed or modified accordingly. the immediate predecessor. At the expiration of the Chairperson, the most senior
of the Commissioners shall temporarily assume and perform the duties and
Section 32. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect upon its approval: Provided, That if functions of the Chairperson until a permanent Chairperson is appointed by the
it is approved during the time when examinations for physicians are held, it shall President.
take effect immediately after the said examinations: Provided, further, That section
The Chairperson or Commissioner shall be at least forty (40) years of age, holding (b) To perform any and all acts, enter into contracts, make such rules and
a valid certificate of registration/professional license and a valid professional regulations and issue such orders and other administrative issuance as may be
identification card or a valid certificate of competency issued by the Commission necessary in the execution and implementation of its functions and the
or a valid professional license issued by any government agency, familiar with the improvement of its services;
principles and methods of professional regulation and/or licensing and has had at
least five (5) years of executive or management experience: Provided, That, one (1) (c) To review, revise, and approve resolutions, embodying policies promulgated
of the Commissioners must be a past Chairperson/member of a Professional by the Professional Regulatory Boards in the exercise of their powers and
Regulatory Board. functions or in implementing the laws regulating their respective professions and
other official actions on non-ministerial matters within their respective
Section 5. Exercise of Powers and Functions of the Commission – The Chairperson of jurisdictions;
the Commission, and the Commissioners as members thereof shall sit and act as a
body to exercise general administrative, executive and policy-making functions of (d) To administer and conduct the licensure examinations of the various regulatory
the Commission. The Commission shall establish and maintain a high standard of boards in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the
admission to the practice of all professions and at all times ensure and safeguard Commission; determine and fix the places and dates of examinations; use publicly
the integrity of all licensure examinations. or privately owned buildings and facilities for examination purposes; conduct
more than one (1) licensure examination: Provided, That, when there are two (2) or
The Chairperson shall act as the presiding and chief executive officer of the more examinations given in a year, at least one (1) examinations shall be held on
Commission. As presiding officer, he/she shall preside over the meetings of the weekdays (Monday to Friday): Provided, further, That, if only one (1) examination is
Commission sitting as a collegial body. As chief executive officer of the given in a year, this shall be held only on weekdays: Provided, finally, That, the
Commission, he/she shall be responsible for the implementation of the policies Commission is also authorized to require the completion of a refresher course
and the programs adopted by the Commission for the general administration of where the examinee has failed to pass three (3) times, except as otherwise
the Commission. He/she shall perform such other activities which are necessary provided by law; approve the results of examinations and the release of the same;
for the effective exercise of the powers, functions and responsibilities of the adopt measures to preserve the integrity and inviolability of licensure
Commission. examinations; appoint supervisors and room watchers from among the employees
of the government and/or private individuals with baccalaureate degrees, who
Section 6. Compensation and Other Benefits – The Chairperson shall receive have been trained by the Commission for the purpose and who shall be entitled to
compensation and allowances equivalent to that of a Department Secretary while a reasonable daily allowance for every examination day actually attended, to be
the Commissioners shall receive compensation and allowances equivalent to that determined and fixed by the Commission; publish the list of successful examinees;
of an Undersecretary. The Chairperson and the members of the Commission shall provide schools, colleges and universities, public and private, offering courses for
be entitled to retirement benefits provided under Republic Act Numbered Fifteen licensure examinations, with copies of sample test questions on examinations
Hundred and Sixty Eight, as amended by Republic Act Numbered Three recently conducted by the Commission and copies of the syllabi or terms of
Thousand Five Hundred and Ninety Five. specifications of subjects for licensure examinations; and impose the penalty of
suspension or prohibition from taking licensure examinations to any examinee
Section 7. Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of the Commission – The powers, charged and found guilty of violating the rules and regulations governing the
functions, and responsibilities of the Commission are as follows: conduct of licensure examinations promulgated by the Commission;

(a) To administer, implement and enforce the regulatory policies of the national (e) To admit the successful examinees to the practice of the profession or
government with respect to the regulation and licensing of the various professions occupation; cause the entry of their names on its registry book and computerized
and occupations under its jurisdiction including the enhancement and database; issue certificates of registration/professional license, bearing the
maintenance of professional and occupational standards and ethics and the registrant’s name, picture, and registration number, signed by all the members of
enforcement of the rules and regulations relative thereto: the Board concerned and the Chairperson, with the official seal of the Board and
the Commission affixed thereto which certificate shall be the authority to practice; status of the incumbents, reduce their ranks and/or salaries nor shall result in their
and at the option of the professional concerned, ministerially issue the professional separation from the service;
identification card, to be used solely for the purpose of identification, upon
payment of the appropriate amount: Provided, That, marine deck and marine (i) To submit and recommend to the President of the Philippines the names of
engineer officers shall also be issued endorsement certificates exclusively by the licensed/registered professionals for appointment as members of the various
Commission pursuant to the 1978 and 1995 Standards of Training, Certification Professional Regulatory Boards from among those nominated to fill up vacancies
and Watch-keeping (STCW) Convention, to the exclusion of any other government pursuant to the provisions of Executive Order No. 496, Series of 1991;
agency, Section 1(2) of Executive Order No. 149, Series of 1999 and provisions of
other existing laws, executive orders, administrative issuance/regulations to the (j) Upon recommendation of the Professional Regulatory Board concerned, to
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 marine registration/license and professional identification card with or without
deck and engine officers are issued, this cannot be withdrawn, cancelled, revoked, examination to a foreigner who is registered under the laws of his state or country
or suspended except for just cause as may be provided by law after due notice and and whose certificate of registration issued therein has not been suspended or
hearing; revoked: Provided, That, the requirements for the registration or licensing in said
foreign state or country are substantially the same as those required and
(f) To have custody of all the records of the various Boards, including examination contemplated by the laws of the Philippines and that the laws of such foreign state
papers, minutes of deliberation, records of administrative cases and investigations or country allow the citizens of the Philippines to practice the profession on the
and examination results for control and disposition; 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
(g) To determine and fix the amount of fees to be charged and collected for may, upon recommendation of the Board concerned, authorize the issuance of a
examination, registration, registration without examination, professional certificate of registration/license or a special temporary permit to foreign
identification card, certification, docket, appeal, replacement, accreditation, professionals who desire to practice their professions in the country under
including surcharges and other fees not specified under the provisions of Republic reciprocity and other international agreements; consultants in foreign-funded, joint
Act Numbered Four Hundred Sixty Five as amended by Republic Act Numbered venture or foreign-assisted projects of the government, employees of Philippine or
Sixty Five Hundred and Eleven or to charge and collect reasonable fees at the rates foreign private firms or institutions pursuant to law, or health professionals
higher than the rates provided thereunder subject to the approval by the Office of engaged in humanitarian mission for a limited period of time: Provided, finally,
the President. That agencies, organizations or individuals whether public or private, who secure
he services of a foreign professional authorized by law to practice in the
(h) To appoint subject to the Civil Service laws, rules, and regulations, officials and Philippines for reasons aforementioned, shall be responsible for securing a special
employees of the Commission necessary for the effective performance of its permit from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Department
functions and responsibilities; prescribe their duties and fix their compensation of Labor and Employment (DOLE), pursuant to PRC and DOLE rules:
subject to the provisions of Republic Act Numbered Six Thousand Seven Hundred
and Fifty Eight and allowances including other fringe benefits; and to assign (k) To authorize any officer of the Commission to administer oaths:
and/or reassign personnel as the exigency of the service requires subject to the
Civil Service laws, rules and regulations; and to organize or reorganize the (l) To supervise foreign nations who are authorized by existing laws to practice
structure of the Commission; and create or abolish positions or change the their professions either as holders of a certificate of registration and a professional
designation of existing positions in accordance with a staffing pattern prepared by identification card or a temporary special permit in the Philippines; to ensue that
it and approved by the Office of the President upon the recommendation of the the terms and conditions for their practice or of their employment are strictly
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to meet the changing conditions complied with; to require the hiring or employing government agency or private
or as the need arises: Provided, That, such changes shall not affect the employment entity/institution to secure a temporary special permit from the concerned Board
subject to approval by the Commission and to file a criminal complaint against the
head of the government agency or officers of the said private entity/institution, revoke or suspend their certificates of registration and professional
who shall be liable under the penalty provided for in the concerned professional licenses/identification cards and to recommend to the President of the Philippines
regulatory law or the penalty imposed pursuant to this Act, when the professional their suspension or removal from office as the case may be;
was hired and allowed to practice his/her profession without permit; to file upon
due process request for deportation with the Bureau of Immigration and (t) To issue summons, subpoena and subpoena duces tecum in connection with the
Deportation (BID); and to supervise professionals who were former citizens of the investigation of cases against officials and employees of the Commission and the
Philippines and who had been registered and issued a certificate of registration members of the Professional Regulatory Boards;
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, (u) To hold in contempt in erring party or person only upon application with a
practice their profession: Provided, That, prior to the practice of their profession court of competent jurisdiction;
they shall have first been issued a special permit and updated professional
identification card by the Board concerned subject to approval by the Commission (v) To call upon or request any department, instrumentality, office, bureau,
and upon payment of the 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 order to
(m) To monitor the performance of schools in licensure examinations and publish carry out, enforce or implement the professional regulatory policies of the
the results thereof in a newspaper of national circulation; government or any program or activity it may undertake pursuant to the
provisions of this Act;
(n) To adopt and institute a comprehensive rating system for universities, colleges,
and training institutes based on the passing ratio and overall performance of (w) To initiate an investigation, upon complaint under oath by an aggrieved party,
students in board examinations; of any person, whether a private individual or professional, local or foreign, who
practices the regulated profession or occupation without being authorized by law,
(o) To exercise administrative supervision over the various professional regulatory or without being registered with and licensed by the concerned regulatory board
boards and its members; and issued the corresponding license/professional identification card or
temporary or special permit, or who commits any of the prohibited acts provided
(p) To adopt and promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to in the regulatory laws of the various professions, which acts are criminal in nature,
effectively implement policies with respect to the regulation and practice of the and if the evidence so warrants, to forward the records of the case to the office of
professions; the city or provincial prosecutor for the filing of the corresponding information in
court by the lawyers of the legal services of the Commission who may prosecute
(q) To implement the program for the full computerization of all licensure said case/s upon being deputized by the Secretary of Justice;
examinations given by the various professional regulatory boards including the
registration of professionals not later than the year 2003 and other operations of (x) To prepare an annual report of accomplishments on the programs, projects and
the Commission; activities of the Commission during the year for submission to Congress after the
close of its calendar year and make appropriate recommendations on issues
(r) To investigate and decide administrative matters involving officers and and/or problems affecting the Commission, the Professional Regulatory Board,
employees under the jurisdiction of the Commission; and the various professions under its jurisdiction; and

(s) To investigate motu proprio or upon the filing of a verified complaint, any (y) To perform such other functions and duties as may be necessary to carry out
member of the Professional Regulatory Boards for neglect of duty, incompetence, the provisions of this Act, the various professional regulatory laws, decrees,
unprofessional, unethical, immoral or dishonorable conduct, commission of executive orders and other administrative issuance.
irregularities in the licensure examinations which taint or impugn the integrity
and authenticity of the results of the said examinations and, if found guilty, to
Section 8. Regional Offices – The Commission is hereby authorized to create to the Commission, become final and executory after fifteen (15) days from receipt
regional offices as may be necessary to carry out their functions mandated under of notice of judgment or decision;
this Act.
(f) Subject to final approval by the Commission, to recommend registration
Section 9. Powers, Functions and Responsibilities of the Various Professional Regulatory without examination and the issuance of corresponding certificate of registration
Boards – The various, professional regulatory boards shall retain the following and professional identification card;
powers, functions and responsibilities:
(g) After due process, to suspend, revoke or reissue, reinstate certificate of
(a) To regulate the practice of the professions in accordance with the provisions of registration or licenses for causes provided by law;
their respective professional regulatory laws;
(h) To prepare, adopt and issue the syllabi or tables of specifications of the subjects
(b) To monitor the conditions affecting the practice of the profession or occupation for examinations in consultation with the academe; determine and prepare the
under their respective jurisdictions and whenever necessary, adopt such measures questions for the licensure examinations which shall strictly be within the scope of
as may be deemed proper for the enhancement of the profession or occupation the syllabus or table of specifications of the subject for examination; score and rate
and/or the maintenance of high professional, ethical and technical standards, and the examination papers with the name and signature of the Board member
for this purpose the members of the Board duly authorized by the Commission concerned appearing thereon and submit the results in all subjects duly signed by
with deputized employees of the Commission, may conduct ocular inspection in the members of the Board to the Commission within ten (10) days from the last
industrial, mechanical, electrical or chemical plants or establishments, hospitals, day of examination unless extended by the Commission for justifiable cause/s;
clinics, laboratories, testing facilities, mines and quarries, other engineering and subject to the approval by the Commission, determine the appropriate passing
facilities and in the case of schools, in coordination with the Commission on general average rating in an examination if not provided for in the law regulating
Higher Education (CHED); the profession; and

(c) To hear and investigate cases arising from violations of their respective laws, (i) To prepare an annual report of accomplishments on programs, projects and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and their Codes of Ethics and, activities of the Board during the year for submission to the Commission after the
for this purpose, may issue summons, subpoena and subpoena duces tecum to alleged close of each calendar year and make appropriate recommendations on issues or
violators and/or witnesses to compel their attendance in such investigations or problems affecting the profession to the Commission.
hearings: Provided, That, the decision of the Professional Regulatory Board shall,
unless appealed to the Commission, become final and executory after fifteen (15) Section 10. Compensation of the Members of the Professional Regulatory Boards – The
days from receipt of notice of judgment or decision; members of the Professional Regulatory Boards shall receive compensation
equivalent to, at least, two salary grades lower than the salary grade of the
(d) To delegate the hearing or investigation of administrative cases filed before Commissioners: Provided, That the Chairperson of the Regulatory Board shall
them except in cases where the issue or question involved strictly concerns the receive a monthly compensation of two steps higher than the members of the
practice of the profession or occupation, in which case, the hearing shall be Board, and: Provided, further, That they shall be entitled to other allowances and
presided over by at least one (1) member of the Board concerned assisted by a benefits provided under existing laws.
Legal or Hearing Officer of the Commission;
Section 11. Person to Teach Subjects for Licensure Examination on all Professions – All
(e) To conduct, through the Legal Officers of the Commission, summary subjects for licensure examinations shall be taught by persons who are holders of
proceedings on minor violations of their respective regulatory laws, violations of valid certificates of registration and valid professional licenses of the profession
the rules and regulations issued by the boards to implement their respective laws, and who comply with the other requirements of the CHED.
including violations of the general instructions to examinees committed by
examinees, and render summary judgment thereon which shall, unless appealed
Section 12. Assistance of Law Enforcement Agency – Any law enforcement agency ranging from Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) to not more than Nineteen thousand
shall, upon call or request of the Commission or of any Professional Regulatory pesos (P19,000.00), or both imprisonment and fine at the discretion of the court,
Board, render assistance in enforcing the regulatory law of the profession shall be imposed upon the accessories.
including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by prosecuting the
violators thereof in accordance with law and the rules of court. Section 16. Penalties for Violation of Section 7 – Subparagraph (1) by Heads of
Government Agencies or Officers of Private Entities/Institutions – Any head of a
Section 13. Appropriations – The amount necessary to carry out the initial government agency or officer(s) of a private firm/institution who violates Section
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s 7 – subpar. (1) of this Act shall be punished by imprisonment of not less than six
appropriations of the Professional Regulation Commission. Thereafter, such sums (6) months and one (1) day to not more than six (6) years, or a fine of not less than
as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) to not more than Five hundred thousand pesos
in the succeeding General Appropriations Act. (P500,000.00) or both at the discretion of the court.

Section 14. Authority to Use Income – In addition to the annual appropriations of Section 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations – Within ninety (90) days after the
the Commission provided under the Annual General Appropriations Act, the approval of this Act, the Professional Regulation Commission, together with
Commission is hereby authorized to use its income not exceeding the amount of representatives of the various Professional Regulatory Boards and accredited
Forty-five million pesos (P45,000,000.00) a year for a period of five (5) years after professional organizations, the DBM, and the CHED shall prepare and promulgate
the effectivity of this Act to implement the program for full computerization of the the necessary rules and regulations needed to implement the provisions of this
operations of the Commission, subject to the usual accounting and auditing Act.
requirements.
Section 18. Transitory Provisions – The incumbent Commissioner and two (2)
Section 15. Penalties for Manipulation and Other Corrupt Practices in the Conduct of incumbent Associate Commissioners shall serve as Chairperson and
Professional Examinations – Commissioners respectively under the terms for which they have been appointed
without need of new appointments. The incumbent Executive Director shall
(a) Any person who manipulates or rigs licensure examination results, secretly likewise serve as Assistant Commissioner without need of new appointment.
informs or makes known licensure examination questions prior to the conduct of
the examination or tampers with the grades in professional licensure examinations Section 19. Separability Clause – If any provision of this Act or the application of
shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment of not less than six (6) years such provision to any person or circumstances is declared invalid or
and one (1) day to not more than twelve (12) years or a fine of not less than Fifty unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or application of such provisions to
thousand pesos (P50,000.00) to not more than One hundred thousand pesos other persons or circumstance shall not be affected by such declaration.
(P100,000.00) or both such imprisonment and fine at the discretion of the court.
Section 20. Repealing Clause – Republic Act. No. 546, Presidential Decree No. 223,
(b) In case the offender is an officer or employee of the Commission or a member as amended by Presidential Decree No. 657, Republic Act No. 5181, and Executive
of the regulatory board, he/she shall be removed from office and shall suffer the Order No. 266, Series of 1995 are hereby repealed. Section 23 (h) of Republic Act
penalty of perpetual absolute disqualification from public office to addition to the No. 7836, Section 4 (m & s). Section 23 of Republic Act No. 7920, and Section 29 of
penalties prescribed in the preceding section of this Act; Republic Act No. 8050, insofar as it requires completion of the requirements of the
Continuing Professional Education (CPE) as a condition for the renewal of the
(c) The penalty of imprisonment ranging from four (4) years and one (1) day to six license are hereby repealed. All other laws, orders, rules and regulations or
(6) years or a fine ranging from Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) to not more resolutions and all part/s thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
than Forty-nine thousand pesos (P49,000.00), or both imprisonment and fine at the hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
discretion of the court, shall be imposed upon the accomplices. The penalty of
imprisonment ranging from two (2) years and one (1) day to four (4) years or a fine
Section 21. Effectivity – This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its 14) Mechanical Engineers except Certified Plant Mechanics
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation, 15) Mining Engineers
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:
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6511 1) Chemists
2) Second Steam and Motor Engineers
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6511 - AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT 3) Dietitians
NUMBERED FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE ENTITLED "AN ACT TO 4) Geologists
STANDARDIZE THE EXAMINATION AND REGISTRATION FEES 5) Medical Technologists
CHARGED BY THE NATIONAL EXAMINING BOARDS, AND FOR OTHER 6) Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
PURPOSES" 7) Nurses
8) Optometrists
9) Pharmacists
10) Social Workers
11) Sugar Technologists
12) Veterinarians
Section 1. Sections one, two, three, four, five and six of Republic Act Numbered 13) Midwives
Four hundred sixty-five are hereby amended to read as follows: 14) Chief Mates and Major Patron
15) Master Plumbers or Plumbing Engineers
"Section 1. The provisions of existing law to the contrary notwithstanding, (c) Fifty pesos:
applicants for any of the licensure examinations conducted by any of the boards 1) Bay-River-Lake Motor Engineers
under the Office of the Boards of Examiners shall pay examination fees as follows; 2) Harbor-Bay-River-Lake Patrons
3) Minor Patrons
(a) One hundred pesos: 4) Therapists
5) Master Electricians
1) Accountants 6) Examinees for physician's preliminary and final examinations
2) Agricultural Engineers 7) Dental Hygienists
3) Architects 8) Certified Plant Mechanics
4) Chemical Engineers 9) Second and Third Mates
5) Civil Engineers 10) Third and Fourth Steam and Motor Engineers
6) Customs Brokers Provided, that in cases where removal examinations are allowed, the examination
7) Dentists, except Dental Hygienists fee shall fifty per centum of the original fee prescribed under classifications A, B
8) Electrical Engineers except Master Electricians and C provided for under this section.
9) Electronics and Communications Engineers
10) Foresters
11) Geodetic Engineers "Sec. 2. Every applicant for registration in any of the professions or occupations
12) Licensing Contractors under regulation by the Office of the Boards of Examiners who passed the
13) Master Marine Officers, except Chief, Second, Third Mates, Major, Minor or corresponding examination shall pay a registration fee of fifty pesos for those
Harbor Bay Lake-River Patrons falling under class (a); forty pesos for those under class (b); and thirty pesos for
those under class (c) provided in section one, except those in the marine the payor is authorized by law to practice the profession.
examinations who are registered by the Philippine Coast 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 "Sec. 4. Every applicant for duplicate certificate of registration shall pay a fee of
herein prescribed: provided, that detailmen shall pay twenty pesos, mine or twenty-five pesos and for certifications or true copies of records with the official
quarry foreman and chemical technician, thirty pesos: provided, further, that seal of the office or of the board concerned, two pesos for the first one hundred
applicants for registration who qualified in the examination given prior to the words and in excess thereof fifty centavos for every one hundred words or a
approval of this Act, shall pay the corresponding registration fee heretofore fraction thereof.
prescribed.

"Sec. 5. All examination, registration and other fees shall be paid to the collecting
"Sec. 3. Every practicing professional or practitioner of any of the occupations officer of the Office of the Boards of Examiners which shall be deposited in a
regulated by the Office of the Boards of Examiners shall pay an annual registration special trust account to constitute the professional regulation special fund and
fee of five pesos: provided, that major or minor patrons, second, third, or fourth which shall be expended solely for the operational expenses of the Office of the
motor or steam engineers, harbor-river-lake patrons, bay-river-lake-motor Boards of Examiners, for compensation of members of the board and salaries of
engineers, master electricians, certified plant mechanics, master plumbers, officials and employees including the hiring of temporary personnel as the
midwives, chemical technicians and mine or quarry foremen shall pay two pesos: exigencies of the service require, for the purchase, acquisition and improvement of
provided, further, that licensed contractors and detailmen shall be exempt from equipment, furniture, and fixtures, motor vehicles, sites and construction of
the payment of the annual registration fee as they are required to renew their building for office spaces and examination halls, for conducting research to keep
licenses or registrations annually. Failure to pay the annual registration fee on or the office abreast with recent trends in regulation of professions and occupations
before January twenty of the year next following the calendar year in which it is and in all other matters that would enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the
due, shall bear a surcharge of twenty per centum for each calendar year in which office.
payment has not been made: provided, that after the lapse of five continuous years
from the year it was last paid if the annual registration fee has never been paid, the "Sec. 6. Each Chairman and member of the Board of Examiners, whether a
delinquent's certificate of registration shall be considered suspended and his name government employee or not, shall receive as compensation a fee not exceeding
shall be dropped from the annual roster for not having been good standing and fifteen pesos per capita of the candidates examined or registered without
may be reinstated only upon application and payment of the fee herein provided examination, and a per diem not exceeding ten (P10.00) pesos for each day of
for registration without examination. When a registered practitioner desires to attendance in administrative investigations and ocular inspections lasting not less
stop practicing his profession, he shall inform the board concerned in writing than one hour at a time: provided, that the total compensation of any Chairman or
within one year from the time he stopped practicing in order to exempt him from member shall not be less than three thousand six hundred pesos, but not more
the payment of the annual registration fee: provided, that when he intends to than twenty-four thousand pesos for participating in all examinations given by
resume the practice of his professions, he shall likewise inform the board their respective board during the fiscal year. Any member whose term expires
concerned in writing and pay the annual registration fee for the current year before the end of the fiscal year shall receive only the compensation equivalent to
without any surcharge and his name shall be reinstated in the annual roster. the number of candidates examined and/or registered without examination
wherein he last 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
The annual registration card, at least for the calendar year immediately preceding, or until his successor shall have been appointed and qualified, whichever is
shall be presented to the collection agent of the Bureau of Internal Revenue when higher: provided, that the Chairman or member whose term expires before the
paying his professional tax and the registration number, date of issuance and the result of the examination he last participated in his released shall be allowed to
year shown on the card shall be indicated on the official receipt as evidence that continue correcting his examination papers and to perform his other duties
relative to the release of the results thereof until he shall signed the certificate of
registration of those who have qualified in the examination or were registered Section 1. The provisions of all existing laws, rules and regulations, decrees,
without examination, without additional compensation except those allowed orders, and instructions to the contrary notwithstanding, professionals who were
herein, and that the full compensation due him shall be paid only after he shall formerly citizens of the Philippines and who have previously passed licensure
have been cleared of all his responsibilities." examinations in the Philippines for the practice of their profession, may, while in
this country on a visit, sojourn or permanent residence, practice their profession:
Sec. 2. All laws, executive orders, administrative orders, rules and regulations, or Provided, That they are professional practitioners of good standing prior to their
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or departure from the Philippines and in their adopted country: Provided further,
modified accordingly. That prior to the practice of their profession they shall have first registered with
the Professional license fee; and Provided finally, That they shall pay the
corresponding income tax due on all incomes realized by them in the practice of
Sec. 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. their respective professions in the Philippines.

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.
ALLOWING FORMER FILIPINO PROFESSIONALS TO PRACTICE THEIR
RESPECTIVE PROFESSIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Section 3. This Decree shall take effect immediately.
WHEREAS, a considerable number of Filipino professionals have, with the
DONE in the City of Manila, this 20th day of August, in the year of Our Lord,
passage of time, gone to other countries to pursue further studies and/or take up
specialized studies in their chosen fields of endeavor while others emigrated to nineteen hundred and seventy-four.
other lands in search of better job opportunities;

WHEREAS, since their departure from the Philippines some of these professionals
have become naturalized citizens of their host countries so that they are now
barred from the practice of their profession in our country;

WHEREAS, a considerable number of these erstwhile Filipino professionals are


now desirous to come home under the Balikbayan Program and, while here,
would like to serve our people or share their advanced knowledge and expertise
with their local professional colleagues;

WHEREAS, for the sake of faster national development our government is now
trying to attract these erstwhile Filipino professionals to return and reside
permanently in the Philippines so that they can provide the talent and expertise
urgently needed by the homeland;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by


virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby decree and order
the following:

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