Senate bill seeking 5-year PRC ID validity filed

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Mark Villar has filed a bill making the Professional Identification Cards issued by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) valid for five years.

Villar said the current PRC IDs are valid only for three years.

Having a longer validity for IDs would spare professionals time and money spent on renewing their PRC cards, Villar said in pushing his proposed Senate Bill 2391.

Villar cited data showing that there are 5,887,714 registered professionals across 65 PRC-regulated professions.

“Our professionals have already invested years of study, training and continuing development to serve the country. We should not add unnecessary burdens to their work through frequent and costly renewal transactions,” Villar said.

“Extending the validity of the PRC ID to five years is a practical reform that will save our professionals time and money, reduce congestion in PRC offices and allow them to focus more on their careers, their families as well as the people they serve,” he added.

Under the bill, all PRC-issued ID cards would be valid for five years, subject to compliance with existing legal and procedural requirements.

The measure also directs the PRC’s Information and Communication Technology Service and other concerned offices to undertake the necessary system enhancements, including improvements in the Licensure Examination Registration Information System and other administrative processes.

The bill also provides for the finalization of the revised assessment of annual registration fees within six months from its effectivity.

“Every hour saved from unnecessary queues and every peso saved from repeated transactions can instead be spent on productive work and professional development,” Villar said. “Through this measure, we are making government services more convenient for the people who help keep our country moving.”