By David Vera
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Eastern Visayas regional office is strengthening its collaboration with professional organizations to combat the presence of fake professionals in the region.
PRC Regional Director Armond Englis highlighted ongoing efforts during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas press briefing on Tuesday, emphasizing the importance of enforcing professional regulatory laws despite limited manpower. “Despite our limitations, we are enforcing professional regulatory laws to protect public health, welfare, and safety,” Englis said.
To address this issue, the PRC has partnered with various professional groups and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). Notably, in February 2022, a suspected fake dentist was arrested in Abuyog, Leyte, through a joint operation by NBI operatives and professional organizations.
The PRC regional office, staffed by 37 personnel, has conducted 128 licensure examinations with 81,148 examinees over the past three years. These examinations have resulted in the registration of 34,356 new professionals across various fields, augmenting the professional workforce in Eastern Visayas.
“There are more examinees in the past three years compared to before, as we were unable to conduct examinations for two years due to pandemic restrictions,” Englis noted.
The licensure examinations administered in the region include tests for teachers, nurses, criminologists, medical technologists, civil engineers, architects, pharmacists, midwives, and other specialized fields such as fisheries, agriculture, and radiologic technology.
The PRC’s strengthened coordination with professional organizations underscores its commitment to safeguarding public welfare and upholding the integrity of licensed professions in Eastern Visayas.