Senator Erwin Tulfo has filed a measure seeking to exempt qualified indigent Filipinos from paying fees for board, civil service, and bar examinations, aiming to expand access to professional licensure.
Under Senate Bill No. 2035, or the “Free Professional Examinations Act,” Tulfo proposed removing examination fees for eligible individuals who are certified as indigent by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The certification will be required before applicants can avail of the benefit from the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), Civil Service Commission (CSC), or the Supreme Court for bar examinations. The proposed exemption may be availed of once a year.
Tulfo said many Filipinos are unable to complete the final step toward professional careers due to financial constraints.
“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.
The bill covers PRC licensure exams, civil service eligibility tests, and bar examinations, which Tulfo said are key gateways to professional employment.
He added that the measure is intended to support young graduates who take on multiple jobs or “side hustles” to afford application and examination costs.
“Many of our young students even take on side hustles just to get through graduation; let us help them fully realize their dream of becoming licensed professionals,” Tulfo said.
If enacted, the proposal would institutionalize government support for indigent examinees seeking to enter licensed professions in the country.
Photo courtesy of Inquirer.net
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