Teachers, nurses top professionals in Phl

MANILA, Philippines - The country now has some 3.2 million professionals, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz said on Monday.

Citing data from the Professional Regulation Commission, Baldoz said the 3.2 million Filipino professionals in 50 registered professions are the cream of the Philippine workforce and play a crucial role in nation-building and development.

Of these registered professionals,  teachers are the largest group  with about 1.142 million, followed by nurses,  756,624, and accountants, 145,209, respectively.

Meanwhile, the smallest group are ocular pharmacologists with 51. The other smallest groups are geologic aides, 66, followed by  air conditions and refrigerators specialists, 65, respectively.

The PRC, in cooperation with the Philippine Association of Professional Regulatory Board Members Inc. (PAPRB) has concluded the First Professional Summit of the Philippines in October on the theme, “Convergence of Professionals for Nation Building and Global Competitiveness”, with over 500 key sector representatives of the country’s professional corps participating in the event.

The First Professional Summit highlighted the continuing growth and relevant role of the Filipino professionals in nation-building and economic competitiveness”, Baldoz said.

She added: “The Summit is consistent with the overarching goal enunciated by President Benigno S. Aquino III, in his 22-point labor and employment agenda, to 'invest in our country’s top resource, our human resource, to make us more competitive and employable while promoting industrial peace based on social justice'."

Aquino III declared the annual observance of the Philippine Professionals Competitiveness Week on October through Proclamation No. 487 issued on 02 October 2012.

During the Summit, the PRC and the PAPRB presented competitiveness roadmaps for most of the country’s professions, including accountancy, aeronautical, agricultural engineering, architecture, business education, civil engineering, dental profession, Filipino physicians, Filipino professional teachers, fisheries, health and allied professions, metallurgical engineering, midwifery, nutrition and dietetics, optometry, psychology, nursing, pharmacy, real estate services, medical technology, radiologic technology, engineering technology-foresters, and others.