THE HOUSE of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill extending the validity of Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) identification cards from three years to five years.

With 266 affirmative votes and no opposition, House Bill 8876 was approved on final reading.

The measure seeks to lengthen the validity of Professional Identification Cards (PICs), which are currently renewed every three years during the birth month of licensed professionals.

House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos III said the bill addresses the long-standing clamor of professionals for a simpler and more efficient renewal process.

He noted that the proposal would help decongest PRC appointment slots while maintaining regulatory standards.

Meanwhile, Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, one of the principal authors of the measure, said the bill would ease the burden on millions of Filipino professionals by reducing the frequency of renewals and related expenses.