By Deighton Acuin

PHOTO: The World News
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III expressed doubts in the need for conducting professional examinations as aspiring applicants have already went through a number of it in schools.

Bello said during an online briefing on Wednesday that he urged the Philippine Nurses Association to come up with a recommendation making licensure examinations a non-requirement among aspiring medical professionals.

“Bakit pa kailangan ng board exam eh ilang exam ang dinaanan nila sa nursing? Puro na lang exam. Do they not trust these schools where these nurses came from, especially kung ‘yung school na pinanggalingan nila ay accredited by CHEd (Commission on Higher Education)?” he asked.

He added: “So sabi ko pag-aralan na ‘yan and then we can recommend to Congress na tanggalin na ‘yung mga exam exam na ‘yan. Gastos sa ating mga nurses. ‘Pag grumaduate na, nakuha na lahat ng kailangang pag-aralan nila, [dapat] pwede nang magpractice, hindi na kailangan ng examination.”



He also called for the scrapping of professional examinations on aspiring lawyers as he claimed that some who are passing Bar exams are not as good in actual law practice. The labor secretary emphasized the government should  “seriously consider” his proposal.

“Dapat alisin na ‘yung mga board exam sa mga engineer, board exam sa dentistry, bar exam. Eight years ka nang nag-aaral para maging abogado, pumasa ka na sa lahat ng exam, kukuha ka pa ng Bar? Kagaya sa Bar, why don’t we do away with Bar? Tutal ‘yung estudyante may four years pre-law, four years proper. Dadaan ka sa rigorous scrutiny, tapos dadaan ka pa sa Bar,” he said.

“Eh nakita mo naman ‘yung mga nagta-top sa bar hindi naman sila kasing galing pagdating sa practice although I am not trying to demean them,” he added.

Bello said his proposal will be one of his priorities if he secures a legislative post. He then clarified that he has yet to announce whether or not to run in the 2022 elections.