MANILA: The House of Representatives on late Wednesday (May 20) approved on third and final reading a Bill granting free licensure and civil service examinations to poor Filipinos and members of indigenous groups.
With 266 votes in favour, none against, and one abstention, lawmakers passed House Bill No. 8869.
This measure seeks to exempt poor and indigent Filipinos from examination fees charged by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
This legislative piece allows the beneficiaries to become licensed professionals and qualify for government work at no cost.
“Many of our countrymen are intelligent, hardworking and full of dreams, yet cannot even take exams because they lack money,” Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander 'Sandro' Marcos III said in a statement.
“Money should not be a barrier for a Filipino to work and move up in life,” he noted.
The PRC imposes between P450 to P1,500 in examination fees, depending on the degree and field, while the CSC charges P500.
HB No. 8869 also requires the social welfare department and other relevant agencies to hold yearly information campaigns to ensure those eligible for the programme are aware of it.
“This measure is about giving every qualified Filipino a fair chance to become a professional, secure better employment, and uplift their families through education and hard work,” Marcos said.
Indigent applicants must secure an indigency certificate from their barangays or local social welfare offices, while indigenous applicants must show a National Commission on Indigenous Peoples certificate confirming their membership to indigenous groups.
The Bill covers only written examination fees, leaving practical test charges and other miscellaneous costs to still be collected if required.
“If we give more Filipinos the chance to become professionals, more families can be lifted out of poverty,” Marcos said.
“It is an investment in people, in jobs, and in the nation’s future.” - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
