Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid is rallying the Senate to approve a bill that proposes a complete exemption for qualified overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements in the Philippines.
Senate Bill No. 2349, introduced by Lapid, targets amendments to Republic Act No. 10192, or the Continuing Professional Development Act of 2016. This act currently necessitates that licensed professionals, including OFWs, garner CPD units to renew their licenses.
Though the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) had set up a temporary exemption for OFWs through its Resolution No. 2019 – 1146 in 2019, Lapid stresses the importance of a permanent legal provision for the exemption.
Lapid, referring to a Manila Bulletin report, appreciated the act’s goal of encouraging professional advancement but criticized its implementation for OFWs as overly burdensome and impractical.
Lapid voiced his support for OFWs, stating, “It is unjust, expensive, and demands significant sacrifices from our modern-day heroes who are far from their families, working in foreign lands.”
He further underscored the “unique circumstances” faced by OFWs, spotlighting the financial strain of attending CPD seminars, workshops, or training programs. These expenses come in addition to their travel costs and lost earnings during brief trips to the Philippines.
Lapid emphasized, “I urge the Senate to immediately pass Senate Bill No. 2349, exempting OFWs abroad from attending CPD programs while working overseas. In doing so, we recognize and honor their sacrifices and their vital role in uplifting their families and significantly contributing to our country’s economy.”
Furthermore, Lapid encouraged the Professional Regulation Commission to design a CPD Compliance Program catering to Filipino professionals who had prior exemptions but wish to keep working in the Philippines.