Sen. Erwin Tulfo has filed a measure seeking to exempt qualified indigent Filipinos from paying fees for board, bar, and civil service examinations, in a bid to widen access to professional licensure for underprivileged graduates.
In Senate Bill No. 2035, or the “Free Professional Examinations Act,” Tulfo said the proposal aims to remove financial barriers that prevent many Filipinos from pursuing professional licenses despite completing their education.
“It is a reality for many Filipinos to finish school but never obtain the license they worked hard for because of a lack of funds,” Tulfo said on Sunday.
“Instead of paying licensure examination fees, they often start working—frequently in jobs for which they are overqualified—just to make ends meet,” he added.
Under the proposal, the coverage includes examinations administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), the Civil Service Commission (CSC), and the Supreme Court for the bar exams.
The bill defines qualified indigent beneficiaries as individuals certified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which will be responsible for issuing proof of eligibility to avail of the exemption.
The certification must be presented to the relevant agencies to qualify for the waiver, and the benefit may only be availed of once per year.
Tulfo said the measure is intended to support young graduates who are forced to prioritize immediate employment due to financial constraints, instead of pursuing licensure required for their chosen professions.
