Committee on Civil Service & Professional Regulation endorses

plenary approval of bill modernizing practice of Chemistry

The House of Representatives has approved on 2
nd
Reading the bill regulating and
modernizing the practice of Chemistry in the country to make it attuned and responsive to
modern scientific and technological developments, the rise in international standards and global
competition, and concerns for the environment and climate change, among others.
The House Committee on Civil Service and rofessional Regulation chaired by Rep.
!ndres ". Salvacion, #r. $%
rd
"istrict, &eyte' earlier endorsed and defended in plenary House (ill
)*+,, in substitution of H( +-*, authored by Rep. .ictoria /. 0oel $artylist !012!R!3',
seeking to regulate and modernize the practice of Chemistry in the country by repealing Republic
!ct -)4, other5ise kno5n as 6The Chemistry &a5 of the hilippines.7
0oel said there is no5 a need to update the Chemistry &a5, enacted on #une +8, +9)2, to
make it more responsive to recent changes brought about by rapid developments in Chemistry,
Science and Technology, the rise of international standards, global competition and also concerns
for the environment, climate change, and sustainable development.
6Today, for e:ample, sophisticated chemical designs, synthesis and analyses are re;uired
in a 5ide variety of application, such as environment, 5ater, food products, pharmaceuticals,
forensics, plastics and polymers, materials, and many others,7 said 0oel, an !ssistant <a=ority
&eader.
She e:plained that Chemistry has t5o important aspects> Chemistry as a scientific and
academic endeavor? and Chemistry as applied to public safety, public interest and the national
economy. 6The Chemistry &a5 should promote the former, but should regulate the latter,7 said
0oel.
House (ill )*+, or the proposed 6Chemistry rofession !ct7 provides that Chemistry is
vital to public safety, the national economy and the protection of the environment. @t is the State
policy to promote, regulate and protect the professional practice of Chemistry and ensure the
continued development and high international standards of its practice in the country.
The bill refers to Chemistry as the study, analysis, modification and calculations of
physico1chemical or biochemical properties of matter. @t provides that the professional practice of
Chemistry covers the performance of a service related to the public interest, public safety, legal
or regulatory matters.
The follo5ing shall be the functions of the registered chemists, among others> perform
chemical analysis or chemical synthesis? certify a chemical analysis or chemical synthesis?
inspect a laboratory 5ith respect to its chemical or biochemical activities? supervise a chemical
laboratory? teach, lecture and revie5 a professional Chemistry sub=ect in the curriculum of the
(achelor of Science in Chemistry degree or a sub=ect in the Chemistry licensure e:amination
NR # 3613
OCT. 8, 2014
given in any college, university, or training or revie5 center or any other educational institution
or certification body? supervise sale of chemicals, chemical apparatus or chemical e;uipment?
and functions related to the management of chemicals such as chemical safety, chemical 5aste
management, pollution control and the like.
The measure provides for the creation of a rofessional Regulatory (oard of Chemistry,
under the administrative control and supervision of the rofessional Regulation Commission
$RC'. !mong the po5ers and duties of the (oard are to> supervise and regulate the practice of
Chemistry in the country? determine the re;uirements and evaluate the ;ualifications of the
applicants for registration and rene5al of license of registered chemists and registered chemical
technicians? prescribe the sub=ects in the licensure e:amination, determine the syllabi of the
sub=ects and their relative 5eights, construct the e:am ;uestions and submit the e:am results to
the RC? adopt and promulgate the Code of Athics and Code of /ood /overnance for the
practice of Chemistry? hear and decide administrative cases filed against chemists, chemical
technicians, and the o5ners and administrators of chemical laboratories? and in;uire into the
conditions affecting the practice of the profession and adopt measures to enhance and maintain
the high professional, ethical and technical standards.
The (oard shall be composed of a Chairperson and t5o members to be appointed by the
resident of the hilippines from a list of three recommendees for each position ranked by the
RC from a list of five nominees for each position submitted by the !ccredited rofessional
Brganization $!B' of chemists, the bill provides. They shall hold office for a term of three years
from the date of appointment or until their successors have been appointed.
0o person shall practice or offer to practice as chemist or chemical technician 5ithout
having previously obtained a certificate of registration from the (oard and a professional
identification card, unless e:empt from registration or from said re;uirements, the bill provides.
!ll applicants for registration for the practice of Chemistry and Chemical !nalysis shall
be re;uired to pass the licensure e:amination, the bill provides. The measure like5ise enumerates
the scope of e:amination for chemists, ;ualifications of an applicant for chemical technician, and
scope of e:amination for chemical technician.
Cor Chemistry licensure e:amination, the e:aminee must obtain a general average of at
least -* percent and no rating less than )* percent in any sub=ect. @f the e:aminee passes any t5o
sub=ects, he or she shall automatically ;ualify as a chemical technician. Cor chemical technician
licensure e:amination, the e:aminee must obtain an overall average of at least -* percent and no
rating less than )* percent in any sub=ect, the bill provides.
House (ill )*+, is co1authored by !ndres, Reps. #esulito !. <analo $arty1list,
!0/D&!', #ulieta !. Cortuna $arty1list, ! Teacher', #onathan !. dela Cruz $arty1list,
!(!D!"!', hilip !. ichay $+
st
"istrict, Surigao del Sur', Sergio !.C. !postol $2
nd
"istrict,
&eyte', &eah S. a;uiz $arty1list, !ng 0ars', Carlos <. adilla $&one "istrict, 0ueva .izcaya',
.ictor #. 3u $+
st
"istrict, Eamboanga del Sur', Celso &. &obregat $+
st
"istrict, Eamboanga City'
and !nthony /. del Rosario $+
st
"istrict, "avao del 0orte'. $%*' rbb