A PANEL in the House of Representatives has recommended for plenary action a substitute bill seeking to regulate the practice of the criminology profession in the country, through the creation of the Professional Regulatory Board of Criminologists.
The House committee on appropriations, chaired by Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, retained the funding provision of the substitute bill, which provides that the chairperson of the Professional Regulation Commission shall include in its programs the implementation of the proposed law, the funding of which shall be included in the commission’s annual General Appropriations Act.
The committee recently approved the bill titled “The Philippine Criminology Profession Act,” which seeks to repeal Republic Act 6506 or “An Act Creating the Board of Examiners for Criminologists in the Philippines.”
The bill provides that the State recognizes the importance of the criminology profession in national security, public safety, peace and order, and in nation-building and development.
Nograles, one of the bill’s authors, said the State “shall develop and nurture competent, virtuous, productive and well-rounded criminologists whose standards of professional practice and service shall be at par with the Philippine Qualifications Framework: excellent; qualitative; world-class and globally competitive through honest and credible licensure examinations, coupled with programs and activities that would promote professional growth and development.”
The bill shall govern examination, registration and licensure of criminologists; supervision, control and regulation of the practice of criminology; development of the professional competence of criminologists through Continuing Professional Program; and integration of all criminology professional groups.
The bill defines criminology as the scientific study of crimes, victims of crimes, and criminals, in relation to society which sets and defines rules and regulations for themselves and for the common good.
The Board of Criminologists would be composed of a chairperson and four members to be appointed by the President. The collegial body shall be under the administrative supervision and control of the PRC.
Among the powers and duties of the Board shall be to supervise and regulate the registration, licensure, and practice of Criminology in accordance with the provision of the proposed Act; promulgate and issue rules and regulations implementing the provisions of the proposed Act; promulgate and adopt a Code of Ethics and a Code of Good Governance for the practice of Criminology; adopt an official seal of the Board; and prescribe and promulgate guidelines on the conduct of a CPD program for criminologists in consultation with the Accredited Integrated Professional Organization.
The board shall also promulgate, adopt or amend the syllabi and tables of specifications of the subjects for the licensure examinations in consultation with the academe and the CHED, prepare questions for the licensure examination.
It would also administer and correct and release the results of the licensure examinations; issue, suspend, revoke, or reinstate the certificate of registration of registered criminologists or cancel temporary or special permit granted to foreign criminologists; monitor the conditions affecting the practice of Criminology and whenever necessary adopts measures to enhance of the profession.
It would also ensure, in coordination with the CHED or other authorized government offices, that all higher educational instruction and offering of Criminology shall comply with the policies, standards and requirements of the program as prescribed by the CHED or other authorized government offices; hear and investigate cases on violations of the Act; and delegate to the PRC the hearing or investigation of cases against alleged violators.