Bill extending validity of PRC ID from 3 to 5 years passes House

MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives passed on final reading on Wednesday, May 20, a bill seeking to extend the validity of Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) identification cards from three to five years.

A total of 266 lawmakers backed the measure without an objection but with one abstention.

A similar bill also passed the House in the 19th Congress, but languished in the Senate.

House Bill No. 8876 lists 22 primary authors. Proponents say the bill is meant to ease renewal burdens.

“The objective of this proposal is to reduce the burden on our professionals. If their PRC IDs have a longer validity period, they will be able to focus more on their work, their families, and on serving the country more productively,” Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez, a primary author, said in a statement.

In the Senate, a counterpart proposal was filed by Senator Jinggoy Estrada in July 2025. It is pending in its civil service committee. – Rappler.com