The House of Representatives approved on second reading Wednesday, May 13, 2026, a bill seeking to provide free licensure and civil service examinations for qualified indigents and members of indigenous peoples (IPs) and indigenous cultural communities.
House Bill No. 8869
House Bill No. 8869, or the proposed Free Professional Examinations Act, aims to remove the financial barrier that prevents many poor Filipinos from becoming licensed professionals or qualifying for government jobs.
Part of Broader Efforts
This bill is part of the House's broader effort to expand economic opportunities and make government services more accessible, especially to disadvantaged sectors.
Under HB 8869, qualified indigents and IPs will no longer be charged examination fees for licensure examinations administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and eligibility examinations conducted by the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
Applicants must present a certificate of indigency from their local government unit.
