Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada has filed a bill seeking to raise the validity period of all Professional Identification Cards (PICs) issued by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

From the current three-year validity, Estrada is pushing all PRC IDs to be renewable after five years from the date of issuance.

“This move will significantly benefit professionals by reducing the frequency of annual renewal transactions. It will ease the burden of securing appointments at their preferred date and satellite office or service center,” Estrada said.

“This extension will not only lessen the expenses associated with renewing the PICs but also provide professionals with ample time to fulfill their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements,” the senator added.

Estrada noted that despite the online services of the PRC, some professionals have encountered issues in securing an appointment on their preferred renewal date.

This leaves them with no option but to travel to a distant satellite office or service center to renew their PRC IDs.

Moreover, professionals are forced to take time off from work to complete the process since renewal of licenses are only processed on weekdays. Also, the renewal fees of PICs with a validity of three years range from P420 to P450.

“Longer validity means fewer renewal transactions, resulting in reduced expenses for professionals. They won’t have to pay renewal fees as frequently which can be a financial relief,” Estrada said.

The senator also pointed out that since the validity period for driver’s license and passports have also been lengthened, PRC IDs holders, likewise, deserve an idenfitication card with longer validity period.

“Why don’t we do the same for PIC holders? I don’t see anything wrong with expanding the validity period of PICs,” he said.