Presidential Decree No. 657 (PD 657) — Amending Section Five (J) of Presidential Decree Numbered Two Hundred and Twenty Three, Creating the Professional Regulation Commission and Prescribing Its Powers and Functions.
WHEREAS, Presidential Decree No. 223 took effect on June 22,
1973;
WHEREAS, one of the primary functions of the Commission is
to have general supervision over foreign nationals who are authorized by
existing laws or granted special permits to practice their profession
temporarily in the Philippines;
WHEREAS, existing laws invariably require that reciprocity
in the practice of the profession between the alien country and the
Philippines shall be established before such special permit is granted,
which in many wises deprive the Philippines of the services of
outstanding experts from foreign countries;
WHEREAS, such requirement of reciprocity serves as a
restriction which needs to be corrected in order not to hinder the
social and economic development of the Philippines.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution,
do hereby decree and order the amendment of Presidential Decree No. 223,
as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 5 (j) is hereby amended, so as to read as
follows:
"SEC. 5. Powers of the Commission.— The powers of
the Commission are as follows:
* * * * * * *
The Commission may, upon recommendation of the Board
concerned, approve the registration of and authorize the issuance of a
certificate of registration with or without examination to a foreigner
who is registered under the laws of his country: Provided, That
the requirements for the registration or licensing in said foreign state
or country re substantially the same as those required and contemplated
by the laws of the Philippines and that the laws of such foreign state
or country allow the citizens of the Philippines to practice the
profession on the same basis and gram the same privileges as
the subjects or citizens of such foreign state or country: Provided,
further, That the applicant shall submit competent and conclusive
documentary evidence, confirmed by the Department of Foreign Affairs,
showing that his country's existing laws permit citizens of the
Philippines to practice the profession under the rules and regulations
governing citizens thereof: Provided, finally, That the
Commission may, upon recommendation of the Board concerned, and approval
of the President authorize the issuance of a certificate, of
registration without examination or a temporary special permit to
practice the profession in any foreigner regardless of whether or not
reciprocity exists in the practice of his profession between his country
and the Philippines and under such conditions as may be. determined by
the Commission, if such foreigner is internationally known to be an
outstanding expert in his chosen profession or a well-known specialist
in any of its branches, and that his services are urgently necessary
either for lack or inadequacy of local experts or if his services will
promote the advancement of the profession in the Philippines. The
Commission is also hereby authorized to prescribe additional
requirements or grant certain privileges to foreigners seeking
registration in the Philippines if the same privileges are granted to or
same additional requirements are required of citizens of the
Philippines in acquiring the same certificates in his country.
SEC 2. All laws, decrees, orders, instructions, rules and
regulations and parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed
and modifier accordingly.
SEC. 3. This Decree shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 19th day of February, in the year
of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-five.
(Sgd.)
FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President
Republic of the Philippines
By the President:
(Sgd.)
ALEJANDRO MELCHOR
Executive Secretary
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
