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Adopted: 07 July 2014
Date Filed: 09 January 2015
WHEREAS, Section 2 of Republic Act No. 8050, otherwise known as the Revised Optometry law of 1995, states, to wit: Declaration of State Policy. - The State recognizes the essential role of optometry as a profession in safeguarding and enhancing the health and general physical well-being of the citizenry, Optometric services shall, therefore, be promoted as a regular component of the primary healthcare system;

WHEREAS, Section 12 of supra law mandates the Professional Regulatory Board of Optometry (Board) to study the conditions affecting the practice of optometry in all parts of the Philippines, and whenever necessary, adopt such measures as may be deemed necessary for the maintenance of good ethics and high professional standards of the optometric practice;

WHEREAS, the thrust of the Commission to support the continuing development and upgrading of all professionals is further underscored and affirmed, with the issuance of PRC Resolution No. 2013-772 which institutionalized the guidelines and procedures in the implementation of the CPE/CPD Programs for all the professions;

WHEREAS, notwithstanding the express repeal of Section 29 of R.A. No. 8050 which dispensed with the CPE/CPD requirement for the renewal of the Professional Identification Cards (PICs) of optometrists, Section 40 (c) of the same law obligates every optometrist to enhance continuously one’s theoretical and practical proficiency as prescribed by the Optometrists’ Code of Ethics, under pain of administrative sanctions for its non-compliance.

WHEREAS, Section 2 of the Optometrists’ Code of Ethics provides: “An Optometrists shall take pride in his/her calling, xxxxx, keep up to the professional standards in the maintenance of his/her office and practice, enhance his/her knowledge and proficiency, thus, extending the usefulness of his/her profession to the society”;

NOW THEREFORE, in keeping with the provisions of R. A. No. 8050 and the Code of Ethics for the Optometry Profession, it is then RESOLVED,as it is hereby RESOLVED,to reinforce the CPE/CPD requirement for all registered and licensed optometrists by requiring their attendance to accredited CPE/CPD Programs, in accordance with the requirements and procedures set forth in PRC Resolution No. 2013-774;

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Certificate of CPE/CPD Completion shall be subject to mandatory presentation by optometrists, in the course of ocular inspections conducted by the Board.

This Resolution shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or any newspaper of national circulation.

Let copies hereof be distributed to the Board, the Integrated Philippine Association of Optometrists (IPAO), Inc., all relevant professional organizations and other concerned offices/divisions/units of the Commission for their information.

Done this July 7, 2014 in the City of Manila.

(SGD) MARIA ELIZABETH B. VALCONCHA Chairman
(SGD) TERESITA R. YAMBOT Member	(SGD) VIVIAN S. SARABIA Member
(SGD) MARY ROSE S. PAREDES Member
Attested by: (SGD) LOVELIKA T. BAUTISTA Officer-in-Charge Office of the Secretary to the Professional Regulatory Boards
APPROVED:
(SGD) TERESITA R. MANZALA Chairperson
(SGD) JENNIFER JARDIN-MANALILI Commissioner	(SGD) ANGELINE T. CHUA CHIACO Commissioner