By Sarwell Meniano | Philippine News Agency
The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) regional office here is stepping up its coordination with professional organizations in Eastern Visayas as part of its campaign against fake professionals.
PRC Regional Director Armond Englis said they are in constant meetings with associations of professionals in the region with regard to monitoring the existence of bogus workers.
“Despite our limitations, we are enforcing professional regulatory laws to protect public health, welfare, and safety,” Englis said during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas press briefing in this city on Tuesday.
The PRC regional office here has been in partnership with professional groups and the National Bureau of Investigation since it only has 37 personnel.
In February 2022, a suspected fake dentist was arrested in Abuyog, Leyte by NBI operatives with the help of professional organizations.
Meanwhile, the PRC field office here conducted 128 examinations with 81,148 examinees in the last three years. The PRC has registered 34,356 new professionals who passed licensure examinations, augmenting the roster of professionals in the region.
“There are more examinees in the past three years compared to the past since we have not conducted examinations for two years due to pandemic restrictions,” Englis said.
Among the licensure tests done in the region are for teachers, criminologists, medical technologists, nurses, architects, civil engineers, real estate brokers, master plumbers, physicians, fisheries professionals, geodetic engineers, mechanical engineers, pharmacists, midwives, agriculturists, and radiologic technologies.