SENATOR Manuel ‘Lito’ Lapid is pushing for a measure allowing foreign nationals to take local licensure examinations for certification purposes.

Lapid’s Senate Bill 2679 aims to amend Republic Act 8981, or the PRC Modernization Act of 2000.

Lapid, in his explanatory note, said the Philippines takes pride in providing international quality English-language education in our institutions for higher learning.

“This allows for schools to attract foreign students and elevate the status of their institutions by catering to a diverse studentry and promoting international exchange of knowledge and ideas,” Lapid said adding that one such vocation is the medical education in our country.

Over the past decades, Lapid further said many international students have opted to take their medical training here with the hopes of returning home with their degrees which would allow them to practice their profession in their domicile.

“However, the proliferation of substandard and fly-by-night schools and diploma mills has led to some countries requiring their students to take the licensure examination in the country where they receive their degrees as proof of completion of their education,” he explained.

The bill empowers the Professional Regulatory Commission to allow foreign nationals to take official licensure examinations here for certification of their professional training.

“This, however, does not result in their being allowed to practice here, which shall be regulated by other laws,” the senator clarified.