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The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has tied up with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in an attempt to improve the conduct of licensure examinations administered to real estate brokers, appraisers and consultants. 

The two government agencies recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that would enable the trade department to tap into the expertise of PRC in conducting professional licensure examinations.

“This would continually improve and institutionalize transparent and credible conduct of examination to ensure that only those competent and qualified are admitted to the ranks of real estate service practitioners,” DTI Undersecretary for Consumer Welfare Zenaida Cuison Maglaya said in a statement.

Under the MOA, the PRC will provide computer hardware, software and manpower resources in the preparation and databanking of test questions, conduct of the exams, rating and correction of answer sheets and the subsequent release of examination results. 

Bureau of Trade Regulation and Consumer Protection director Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba said this is the first step towards fully devolving the mandate of licensing and screening real estate professionals from DTI to PRC.

He added that the two agencies are studying the possibility of introducing walk-in exams for interested brokers, appraisers and consultants which would aid in boosting the number of qualified professionals who will service the real estate needs of consumers. 

The DTI is mandated under Ministry Order 39 to regulate the realty service practice by conducting qualifying examinations for real estate brokers twice a year, and for real estate appraisers and consultants annually, as part of its licensing and supervisory function. 

This ensures that consumers will be protected from dubious deals and fly-by-night operations by spurious practitioners, levels the playing field by protecting the licensees from unfair or improper competition, prescribes qualifications for realty service practitioners, and maintains high standards in the real estate profession. 

The PRC meanwhile is tasked to administer, implement, and enforce the regulatory policies of the National Government with respect to the regulation and licensing of 42 professions under its jurisdiction such as engineering, nursing, criminology and accountancy.