The law prescribes certain amount of units that license holder has to earn in order to renew their license these units can be acquired through seminars, trainings, post graduate courses and the likes.
The protesters led by the Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) however argued that the CPD Law is "basically a commercialization and bastardization of the essence of continuing professional development".
Sean Herbert Velchez, a nurse and the spokesperson for the group, said that the government will force professionals to cough up thousands of pesos for seminars and trainings. He further said that right now, thousands of health professionals are jobless, contractual or working in precarious conditions.
“How can a nurse or a medical technologist earning 5 thousand a month afford to attend seminars and trainings costing 3 thousand to 7 thousand each? How can a midwife serving in a far flung community in Biliran attend seminars being offered by private training providers almost all of them can be found in city centers? How can OFW’s comply when there is no clear guideline on how they can acquire point units? How can the jobless or those who chose to be housewives but still want to maintain their licenses afford these seminars”?, said Mr. Velchez.
The Alliance of Health Workers is campaigning that CPD programs be given at no cost to the employees by mandating that employers both in public and private sectors shoulder the cost.
However with these proposals the group highlighted the need for the passage of a National Minimum Wage, an increase in the salaries of health professionals, an end to contractualization and reduction of their income tax.
"We hope that President Duterte listens to the cries of Filipino professionals-most of them voted and heavily campaigned for him. We hope that the Duterte government reciprocates the sacrifices and contributions of Filipino professionals in nation building and progress”, Velchez stated.
The AHW is fighting for CPD programs that is free relevant and accessible to all professionals if the government will not relent. The group said that several professional groups are exploring the possibility of a nationwide strike and an OFW led zero remittance day events. [via Alliance of Health Workers - AHW National]
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