CPD remains in effect unless law amended – PRC

PROFESSIONAL Regulation Commission (PRC)-10 director Julie L. Sabalza emphasized that the continuing professional development (CPD) requirement will remain in effect unless there is an amendment to the law.
Sabalza said that currently,  the PRC is accepting license renewals without the CPD requirements for those who are unable to complete the credits.
She also encouraged professionals to renew their licenses ahead of time, noting that renewal can be done up to one year before the license expires.
The regional director urged professionals to take full advantage of this opportunity.
“Gina-encourage namo nga dapat mag-renew earlier because you can renew your license one year before the expiry date,” Sabalza said. “Next year, padayon gihapon atong CPD unless there’s a change or amendment. Among counter niana is modawat mi og license (renewal) without the CPD for the meantime. So avail namo karon.”
PRC 10 took part in the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas this week, sharing insights into their ongoing efforts to regulate and elevate the quality of professional practice across the country.
Meanwhile, Sabalza stated that in Northern Mindanao, all divisions of the Department of Education (DepEd) have been accredited.
This means that all training activities conducted by these divisions are eligible to be credited toward CPD requirements.
In a related development, Sabalza reported that since January, the office has received seven complaints through the 888 hotline.
Some of these complaints concern professionals who have not yet received their certificate of registration.
She explained that previously, the printing of the certificate was handled by the PRC central office; however, it is now being processed and printed directly at their regional office.
For her part, Atty. Norhana P. Paporo of PRC-10 Legal Services discussed the issue of professional license revocation, highlighting that cases involving immoral conduct within a profession are taken seriously.
Paporo emphasized that as licensed professionals, individuals must uphold ethical standards, as the professional license is a privilege, not a right.
She reminded that this privilege must be respected and safeguarded, and unethical conduct can lead to the revocation of one’s license.
There are 46 regulatory laws in place, each establishing a corresponding regulatory board under its respective Republic Act.
The PRC is responsible for implementing, administering, and enforcing the provisions outlined in these laws.
Sabalza noted that based on observations in Cagayan de Oro, the professionals in the area are generally well-behaved and ethical.