Iligan City Rep. Frederick Siao urged Sunday to resume Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) board exams “soon” to avoid lack of workforce and aid economic recovery.
“One year of suspended board exams is understandable and would have minimal impact on the supply of licensed professionals. However, two years of having no board exams would have adverse impact on the workforce, companies, and the economy,” he said.
The PRC halted licensure examinations this year due to the pandemic but said it eyes resumption of the PRC board exams in the second half of 2021.
“We have manpower shortages and oversupply. The shortages are what I am worried about. All those build-build-build and housing backlogs need engineers, architects, master plumbers, and master electricians. Two years of no board exams for those professions will be felt at workplaces everywhere,” Siao said.
“I think board exams can resume safely in modified general community quarantine areas and in more spacious locations so that up to two meters of physical distancing can be followed, along with the use of face masks, face shields, and other precautions. Campuses of the state universities and colleges would be suited for having safe board exams,” he added.
Resumption of PRC board exams urged
He said that if vaccines would be available by the second quarter of 2021, the school year 2021-2022 would not likely be open in June, July, August, or even September.
“What is more likely to happen is school opening by October or November 2021,” he noted.
Should school resumes for face-to-face classes, it is probable the reopening would be gradual, starting with the college level and graduate school level, he said.
“Thereafter, the senior high schools, followed by the junior high schools, and lastly, the kinder to grade six,” he said.
“The push for an academic freeze has been strong, but the dominant sense among the education leaders has been to continue with learning activities however difficult they may be given the great limitations of our internet and telecommunications services. I defer to their expertise and wisdom on these matters. Ultimately, the individual decision on whether to continue or stop attending online classes is up to the parents and students,” he added.
