The Philippine House of Representatives has passed House Bill No. 8876, which extends the validity of professional identification cards (PICs) issued by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) from three years to five years. The bill, approved with 266 votes in favor and only one abstention, aims to streamline government processes and reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens on professionals. House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos stated that the measure is designed to respect the time and efforts of professionals by minimizing red tape and allowing them to focus on their careers and families. The bill requires the PRC to enhance its systems, including the Licensure Examination Registration Information System, to implement the changes within six months of the law's enactment. Former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, a principal author of the measure, noted that this reform recognizes the contributions of professionals and aims to ease their renewal burdens. This legislation consolidates nine proposals from the 20th Congress and is part of ongoing efforts to modernize governmental procedures, as a similar bill was previously passed but not finalized in the 19th Congress.