A partylist lawmaker wants indigent applicants exempted from the payment of fees for professional licensure, civil service eligibility and police eligibility examinations.

Rep. Catalina Leonen-Pizarro  of the ABS partylist group said her measure aims to unburden from additional expenses poor college students aspiring for professional status.

The ABS is an ally of the National Unity Party (NUP) under the Coalition for Peace and Development.

"The proposal intends to breathe life into the State's policy to provide opportunities of development for all by allowing select, qualified individuals to take professional examinations for free, without any fee, in order to help them attain their dreams and maximize their opportunity to help them stand on their own. It will encourage those aspiring for professional status to try out without the distraction of any monetary obstacle to success," said Leonen-Pizarro.

Her proposal is spelled out in House Bill 5346 or the proposed "Free Professional Licensure, Civil Service Eligibility and Police Eligibility Examinations Fees Act.”

Under HB 5346, an indigent beneficiary may only avail oneself of the fee exemption once a year.

To be eligible for the fee exemption, an applicant should secure a certification from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) stating his or her indigency status.

The certification shall be presented to the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), the Civil Service Commission (CSC), the National Police Commission (Napolcom), the Supreme Court (SC) as the case maybe, or any other government regulatory office handling profession, in lieu of the payment of examination fees, Leonen-Pizarro said.