CEBU, Philippines — The Professional Regulations Commission in Central Visayas (PRC-7) admitted that the number of board exam applicants has significantly dropped, attributing the decline to the ongoing implementation of the Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC) requirement.
In a phone interview, PRC-7 Regional Director Narcival Taquiqui revealed that the number of applicants for the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) has drastically decreased.
After the application period ended on January 15, 2025, nationwide statistics showed only about 90,000 LET examinees, a decrease of approximately 43,000 compared to previous years.
“Ganun karami, yun ang effect ng COPC na yan,” Taquiqui said.
The issue stems from a memorandum issued by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in December 2024, reiterating the importance of securing COPCs, especially for board programs.
“PRC will no longer admit applications for the licensure examinations from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) without COPCs,” a portion of the memo stated.
The COPC is a certification that a specific degree program offered by state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs) is fully compliant with CHED’s policies, standards, and guidelines. It ensures alignment with current educational reforms such as the K-12 basic education curriculum and the new general education curriculum.
As a result, the number of LET examinees in Central Visayas dropped to only 6,009 this year compared to 11,000 last year.
Taquiqui also noted a decline in applicants for other board exams. For instance, the number of Architecture Licensure Exam (ALE) examinees in Cebu is only 132 this year, down from 323 last year. The exams are scheduled this coming January 21 and 23.
“Sa engineering din bumababa ngayon, kaunti lang ang natatanggap namin. And problem namin yan dahil hindi namin mami-meet yung target namin,” he added.
Under normal circumstances, PRC expects a 5-10 percent annual increase in board exam applicants, but the trend has reversed this year.
When asked about the situation concerning Mechanical Engineering applicants, whose application period ends today, January 17, Taquiqui explained that regional PRC offices must follow directives from the central office, which adheres to CHED regulations.
Taquiqui urged SUCs and LUCs to appeal directly to CHED for exemptions. He said that if CHED grants temporary exemptions, PRC will implement them. However, no such exemptions have been issued to date.
“Naaawa kami sa mga bata, sila ang nagsa-suffer sa ginagawa,” Taquiqui said.
Taquiqui added that he personally visited CHED to discuss the declining examinee numbers and explore potential solutions.
Disappointed parent
The ripple effects of the COPC requirement have left many graduates and their families frustrated.
A mother from Cebu expressed her dismay after learning that her son, a Mechanical Engineering graduate from a state university, cannot proceed with the scheduled board exam this February due to the lack of a COPC.
Speaking with The Freeman, the 53-year-old mother shared that they had already spent a significant amount on her son’s review.
“Makaingon jud ko sa akong anak, ngano kamo man natimingan dong. Why man ang uban engineering naka-take sila. Okay ra kung wala mi nakagasto, dismayado jud,” she said.
She recounted how her son was eager to take the board exam immediately after graduating and enrolled in a review center to prepare.
“Ako lang ingnon ayaw lang madiscourage dong naa pay daghan chance. Moingon pud tawn dako naman ka gasto mama, moingon ko okay ra dong makakita ra to og kwarta,” she added.
Her story is just one among thousands of similar cases affected by the COPC requirement.
Meanwhile, concerned netizens have taken to social media to voice their frustrations, hoping for a resolution that would allow graduates to pursue their professional goals.- FPL (CEBU NEWS)