OAP Position on Republic Act 10912 (Continuing Professional Development Act of 2016)

To all OAP Board of Trustees, Society/Chapter Presidents, Officers, Coordinators and members and shareholders.  This is in reponse to your queries and clarification regarding the effectivity of the CPD Law otherwise known as Republic Act 10912.

FAQs are: 

• Is RA 10912 in full force and effect?
• Are credit points already issued and counted?

The answer is NO and NO.

In a letter from our legal counsel Atty. Bayani Abesamis dated October 18, 2016, it cited that RA 10912 is not self-executory. It requires Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) to make CPD compliance mandatory for renewing PRC IDs. As of this writing, the PRC has yet to issue the required IRR. In the same letter, Atty. Abesamis cited that PRC confirmed through a press statement release on October 17, 2016 which says: 

"In compliance with Republic Act No. 10912 entitled An Act Mandating and Strengthening the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program for all Regulated Profession, Creating the Continuing Professional Development Council, and Appropriating Funds therefor, and for Other Related Purposes, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) will fully implement the requirement for CPD. The implementation of the said Act will be on the first quarter of 2017." 

Moreover, on October 10, 2016, the CPD Council for Optometry in acting to OAP’s application as CPD provider, it stated among others that:

". . . a meeting with all optometry stakeholders will be scheduled  as soon as the I.R.R. of R.A. No. 10912 and the Optometry CPD  Operational Guidelines have been finalized and approved." (underscoring supplied.)

With this, it clearly seems that it was the PRC - Board of Optometry who acted in our application as CPD provider and not the CPD Council which is yet to be officially organised and convened to act on its mandate. And there seem to be no CPD provider accredited yet under this new law (RA 10912). Therefore, NO credit units nor points yet to be awarded to any optometrist. As a matter of fact, under the new law, it is only OAP who applied to be CPD provider.

Republic Act No. 10912 is a much-awaited and welcome piece of legislation because of its noble purpose and intention. There may be entities issuing CPD points, but it could be highly questionable or even null and void without the prescribed procedure, Atty. Abesamis said.