SENATOR Christopher ‘Bong’ Go is against the proposal to abolish licensure exams, particularly for nursing and law.

Go said abolishing licensure exams may be detrimental to the quality of education and standards set by professions in the country.

“Hindi po ako sang-ayon diyan dahil mayroon tayong sinusunod na, kumbaga, alam mo quality o anuman po na… kailangan po pumasa sila sa standard,” said Go.

“Nag-aral tayo, pagkaaral natin kailangan po mag-exam sila at malalaman kung puwede na nilang gampanan ‘yung kanilang propesyon na natapos,” he added.

The senator is reacting to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, who earlier floated the idea of dropping the mandatory board exams for nurses and other professions, saying students have already undergone numerous examinations in school.

Go said majority of students who have taken their board exams will not agree with the suggestion.

“Eh, mahirap po na porke’t naka-graduate ka hindi ka na papasok ng board o bar exam. Hindi po, mahirap, hindi po ako sang-ayon dun,” said Go.

“And I’m sure majority of our students and also mga professionals na nakapag-bar at nakapag-board exam ay hindi po sang-ayon dito,” he added.

Earlier, the senator appealed to the government to include frontliners of the Professional Regulation Commission, such as proctors and watchers, for upcoming professional board exams, and board examiners in the A4 priority group for Covid19 vaccination.

Go said this is to ensure they are able to perform their duties safely as they are protected from Covid19.

“Kaya nga po ako mismo, bilang Senate Committee Chair on Health, ay pinakiusapan ko po ang IATF na bigyan po ng bakuna kaagad ‘yung mga PRC examiners para hindi na po ma-postpone ‘yung examinations nila,” he said.

“Binakunahan na po ‘yung PRC examiners para po makapag-conduct na sila ng examinations sa mga nurses. Eh, ganun din po gawin natin, kung kailangang bakunahan ‘yung mga examiners and even the examinees, ay bakunahan para po protektado sila. Bigyan po natin ng prayoridad.”

In his previous appeal, Go emphasized the significant role of the PRC in processing and evaluating professionals, particularly nursing graduates, which, in turn, could address the need of the country for more medical frontliners amid the pandemic.