ACT TEACHERS Party-list Representative France Castro said that the measure that aims to enhance the continuing development of Filipino professionals will be burdensome to teachers.

Before the sine die adjournment of the 18th Congress, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading House Bill 9311 that seeks to amend Republic Act 10912, also known as the Continuing Professional Development Act of 2016.

“Naniniwala po ang kinatawang ito na mahalaga at kapaki-pakinabang sa mga guro at iba pang mga propesyunal ang Continuing Professional Development dahil kapag mahusay ang ating mga propesyunal, nagre-redown ito at nagiging asset ito ng gobyerno at ng kanilang employer, ngunit kailangan itong gawing libre at dekalidad,” Castro said.

“Positibo sa mga guro ang ilang mga probisyon gaya ng libre at maaari nang pagkuhanan ang mga in-service training na ibinibigay ng kanilang employer ng DepEd at iba pang mga institusyon. Pangalawa, ‘yung 45 units for three years ay naging 45 units for four years,” she added.

However, the lawmaker stressed that CPD should be voluntary and not mandatory.

Under the bill, CPD will be a mandatory requirement in the updating and upgrading of knowledge, skills and values and competencies or titles of all registered and licensed professionals under the regulation of the Professional Regulation Commission and as one of the main objectives of Philippine Qualifications Framework under Republic Act 10968 or the Philippine Qualifications Framework Act.

The measure provides that all professionals should be required to obtain 45 CPD credit units every four years which will be deemed as the compliance period.