Urging All Concerned Agencies to Fully Implement the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangements Entered into by the ASEAN Member States Affecting Eight (8) Professional Services

November 16, 2017

MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 34

URGING ALL CONCERNED AGENCIES TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE ASEAN MUTUAL RECOGNITION ARRANGEMENTS ENTERED INTO BY THE ASEAN MEMBER STATES AFFECTING EIGHT (8) PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

WHEREAS, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States (AMS) adopted the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) on 15 December 1995 and the 2003 Declaration of ASEAN Concord II (Bali Concord II) on 07 October 2003, recognizing the importance of Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) in overall services integration in ASEAN;

WHEREAS, Article V of the AFAS provides that the AMS may recognize the education or experience obtained, requirements met, or licenses or certifications granted in other AMS, for the purposes of licensing or certification of service suppliers;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Bali Concord II, AMS called for the completion of the MRAs for qualifications in major professional services by 2008 in order to facilitate free movement of professionals/skilled labor/talents in the ASEAN;

WHEREAS, the Governments of the AMS, namely, Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, concluded eight (8) ASEAN MRAs to liberalize the practice of the following professions: (1) Engineering Services; (2) Nursing Services; (3) Architectural Services; (4) Surveying Qualifications; (5) Dental Practitioners; (6) Medical Practitioners; (7) Accountancy Services; and (8) Tourism-related Services;

WHEREAS, the objectives of the ASEAN MRAs are the following: (1) to facilitate mobility of practitioners within the ASEAN region; (2) to exchange information and enhance cooperation with respect to mutual recognition of practitioners; (3) to promote adoption of best practices on standards and qualifications; and (4) to provide opportunities for capacity building and training of practitioners;

WHEREAS, ASEAN shall continue its efforts to ensure closer and mutually beneficial integration among its member states and among their peoples, and to promote regional peace and stability, security, development and prosperity with a view of realizing an ASEAN Community that is open, dynamic and resilient;

NOW, THEREFORE, all concerned departments, agencies and instrumentalities of the National Government, including government-owned and controlled corporations, government financial institutions, state universities and colleges and local government units, especially those named in Annex A, are hereby directed to fully implement the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) in their respective sectors.

The requirements for the implementation of the MRAs shall be charged against the regular budget of the concerned agencies and instrumentalities, subject to the availability of funds, and applicable budgetary, accounting and auditing laws, rules, regulations and procedures.

This Circular shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 16th day of November, in the year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Seventeen. CAIHTE

ANNEX A

Department of Foreign Affairs

Professional Regulation Commission

Department of Tourism

Department of Justice

Department of Labor and Employment

Department of Health

Department of Budget and Management

Commission on Higher Education

Securities and Exchange Commission