A substitute bill seeking to amend the "burdensome" Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Act of 2012 has been approved by the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education.

Gaining the House panel's nod during a virtual meeting Thursday was an unnumbered substitute bill that represents the consolidation of at least 11 separate bills that call for either the revision or repeal of Republic Act (RA) No.10912. These are House Bill (HB) Nos. 3795, 84, 510, 1099, 3340, 3894, 4137, 6662, 7032, 7132, and 7410.

Panel chairman Baguio City Rep. Mark Go carried a motion to approve the measure which previously went through technical working group (TWG) discussions with stakeholders.

As it is currently worded, the CPD law requires all professionals to take additional formal and non-formal training through CPD for the renewal of their Professional Identification Card (PIC) every three years effective July 1, 2017.

One of the authors, Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, noted in HB No.3795 that 95 percent of respondents in an online survey conducted by Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) wanted the CPD law scrapped.

"The main reasons for the backlash are the exorbitant fees, difficult requirements, confusing processes, and lack of accredited training providers for the CPD requirements. This made the law a burden instead of helping improve the workforce," Rodriguez said in the bill's explanatory note.

Go opined during the hearing that abolishing the CPD would be "unfair" to professionals. Rodriguez also believes that the Philippines needs to retain the CPD law, "or else we would be left behind," he said.

The substitute bill echoes public sentiment by no longer forcing professionals to take up CPD program units for the purpose of PIC renewal. Instead, Go said CPD would become "a requirement if the professionals want career progression" – a paradigm shift of sorts.

"Ito'y training para sa mga professionals para magkaroon sila ng opportunity, para ma-achieve nila ‘yung career progression sa isang government agency or (private company) (This will serve as further training for professionals so they may get the opportunity to achieve career progression in a government agency or private company)," explained the committee chairman.

The approved measure mandates professionals to take up and complete 45 units within a four-year period. This is an increase of one year from the three-year compliance window stated in RA No. 10912.

"We have addressed the issue of cost. In all government agencies, they will allocate a budget for them to conduct their training; in private institutions, we also encourage them to do the same. The CPD shall consist or formal and non-formals activities. Kung hindi natin gagawin ‘yan (if we don't do that)...there will be no opportunity for them to grow," Go added.

Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Ferdinand Gaite was opposed to this provision, as he feared that it would lead to a much bigger exodus of Filipino workers abroad. "We are driving away our professionals to greener pastures in other shores," he said, pointing to the 45-unit requirement.

But Rodriguez argued in favor of the mandatory nature of the CPD units, saying it is the essence of the measure.

"We want to help our professionals help themselves by being able to undertake this. If we make it optional...people will take the path of least resistance. Nobody will enroll for an optional course. We have yet to inculcate to everyone that they have to continue learning. If this will be optional, it will not be an effective law," he noted.

The lawyer-congressman said that Filipino professionals won't use the 45-unit requirement as a reason for them to leave the country and bring their talents elsewhere.