PRC Oathtaking Outside NCR Being Canceled: Are Regional Face-to-Face Ceremonies Being Discontinued?
The journey toward becoming a licensed professional does not end with passing the licensure examination. For thousands of newly registered professionals across the Philippines, the oathtaking ceremony marks another important milestone, the formal commitment to uphold the responsibilities, ethical standards, and obligations of their respective professions.
Introduction
For newly licensed professionals, the oathtaking ceremony represents an important milestone after successfully passing a licensure examination. Traditionally, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) conducts face-to-face mass oathtaking ceremonies in different parts of the Philippines, allowing newly registered professionals to formally take their professional oath within their respective regions.
However, recent scheduling arrangements for Civil Engineers have raised questions about the availability of regional face-to-face ceremonies, particularly for professionals residing outside the National Capital Region (NCR).
For successful examinees of the September 2026 Civil Engineers Licensure Examination, the PRC has announced an onsite mass oathtaking ceremony scheduled on November 10, 2026, at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. An online alternative will also be conducted for those unable to attend in person.
This development raises an important question: Is the PRC discontinuing regional face-to-face oathtaking ceremonies, or is this simply a profession-specific scheduling arrangement?
A review of publicly available PRC announcements and its official oathtaking guidelines provides a clearer picture.
Reports of Regional Cancellations Circulate Among Civil Engineering Examinees and Groups
There are messages being passed around among Civil Engineering examinees that there's an official PRC notice stating that regional Civil Engineering oath taking ceremonies are cancelled nationwide or industry wide. These messages reportedly contain email exchanges about the cancellation of several regional oath taking ceremonies.
While these messages have caused panic among new Civil Engineers who were expecting their oath taking ceremony physically in their respective regions, these messages do not have an official confirmation from either the PRC or any official announcements.
Until the time of this post, it is important to note that you must differentiate messages like this from announcements made by the PRC. Until the Commission or said Board officially releases clarification regarding these reports, you may treat these reports as unconfirmed as there are several regional cancellations.
September 2026 Civil Engineers' Oathtaking Scheduled in Metro Manila
On October 13, 2026, the PRC published an official announcement regarding the onsite oathtaking of successful examinees of the September 2026 Civil Engineers Licensure Examination.
According to the announcement, the face-to-face mass oathtaking will take place on November 10, 2026, at the SMX Convention Center, Seashell Lane, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.
Two sessions are scheduled: 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM
The announcement further states that successful examinees who cannot attend the onsite ceremony may participate in an online oathtaking. The corresponding schedules will be announced separately.
Notably, the published announcement identifies Metro Manila as the venue for the onsite ceremony and provides an online alternative. However, it does not explicitly declare that all future regional Civil Engineering oathtaking ceremonies are permanently discontinued.
This distinction is important when interpreting the current arrangement. The published schedule establishes where the announced ceremony will take place, but it does not independently establish a permanent nationwide policy against regional ceremonies.
Does This Mean All Regional Oathtaking Ceremonies Are Being Canceled?
Based on the available official announcements, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that the PRC is canceling all face-to-face oathtaking ceremonies outside Metro Manila.
In fact, the Commission continues to publish regional schedules for other professional groups.
For example, its November 2026 announcements include the following face-to-face ceremonies:
Optometrists on November 24, 2026 at Quest Hotel, Cebu City
Physicians on December 3, 2026 at Fili Hotel, Cebu City
Physicians on December 9, 2026 at SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Premier, Davao City
Optometrists on November 29, 2026 at The Royal Mandaya Hotel, Davao City
These published schedules demonstrate that regional face-to-face oathtaking ceremonies remain part of the PRC's arrangements for other professions.
Therefore, it would be inaccurate to report that the PRC has completely discontinued regional oathtaking ceremonies across the country.
Instead, the available information indicates that ceremony arrangements vary depending on the profession, the respective Professional Regulatory Board, and the schedules announced by the Commission.
What Does PRC's Official Oathtaking Policy Say?
The PRC's Frequently Asked Questions on Oathtaking provide additional context regarding the Commission's established procedures.
According to its official guidelines, the Commission recognizes six classifications of oathtaking ceremonies based on three categories:
According to purpose: Mass Oathtaking and Special Oathtaking
According to modality: Face-to-Face Oathtaking and Online Oathtaking
According to location: Local Oathtaking and Overseas Oathtaking
The PRC also identifies various regions, particularly areas where licensure examinations are conducted, as usual venues for local face-to-face mass oathtaking ceremonies.
Furthermore, online or virtual oathtaking is officially recognized under PRC Resolution No. 1837, Series of 2024. Its use has been institutionalized even after the lifting of the country's public health emergency.
The guidelines also provide that professionals who cannot attend their scheduled ceremony may submit a written request for a special oathtaking to the respective Professional Regulatory Board, with a copy furnished to the concerned Regional Office.
Importantly, the PRC confirms that special oathtaking ceremonies may also be conducted outside Metro Manila, subject to the applicable arrangements.
These provisions show that regional and online arrangements are both recognized within the Commission's oathtaking framework.
Why Regional Oathtaking Ceremonies Matter
For newly licensed professionals living outside Metro Manila, regional ceremonies provide a more accessible way to participate in an important professional milestone.
When the only announced onsite venue is in Metro Manila, provincial examinees may need to consider additional expenses and logistical arrangements, including:
1. Transportation expenses
Traveling to Pasay City from provinces such as Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, or other areas may require airfare, land transportation, and additional commuting expenses.
2. Accommodation and other expenses
Those traveling long distances may need to arrange overnight accommodation, meals, and other travel necessities.
3. Work and personal commitments
Newly licensed professionals who are already employed or have other responsibilities may find it difficult to travel to another region for a scheduled ceremony.
4. Accessibility for families
For many newly licensed professionals, the oathtaking is also a celebration shared with family members. Holding ceremonies in regional areas may make it easier for relatives to participate in this milestone.
Although online oathtaking provides an alternative, regional face-to-face ceremonies offer a different opportunity for professional recognition and community participation.
These considerations are relevant when assessing how the PRC schedules its ceremonies across different regions.
What Should Newly Licensed Civil Engineers Do?
For successful examinees of the September 2026 Civil Engineers Licensure Examination, the official November 10 ceremony and subsequent online arrangements should remain the primary references.
The PRC has provided the following reminders:
Register through the Licensure Examination and Registration Information System (LERIS).
Secure the required oathtaking ticket, as LERIS registration alone does not guarantee a reserved seat.
Print the system-generated Oath Form containing the unique QR code.
Monitor official PRC announcements for the online oathtaking schedule.
Complete the initial registration process after taking the professional oath.
Those unable to attend the announced onsite ceremony should monitor the PRC's online oathtaking announcements and consult the appropriate Professional Regulatory Board regarding applicable alternatives.
Conclusion: A Scheduling Change Does Not Necessarily Mean a Nationwide Cancellation
The latest Civil Engineering oathtaking arrangement has brought attention to the accessibility of regional face-to-face ceremonies for newly licensed professionals.
The PRC's October 13, 2026 announcement identifies Pasay City as the venue for the November 10 onsite mass oathtaking of successful September 2026 Civil Engineers Licensure Examination examinees, with an online alternative for those unable to attend.
However, the available public records do not establish a blanket cancellation of regional ceremonies or a permanent prohibition on future regional Civil Engineering oathtaking activities.
Other professional groups continue to have face-to-face ceremonies scheduled in Cebu and Davao, while the PRC's official guidelines continue to recognize local, online, and special oathtaking arrangements.
At this point, the issue is best understood as a change in the announced arrangements for a particular group of Civil Engineering examinees rather than a confirmed nationwide cancellation.
Nevertheless, the development raises a legitimate question about the accessibility of professional ceremonies for newly licensed individuals outside Metro Manila.
Should the PRC continue providing regional face-to-face oathtaking ceremonies for Civil Engineers and other professionals, particularly those who live far from the National Capital Region?
As the Commission continues to schedule professional oathtaking activities, transparency in regional arrangements and timely public announcements remain important in helping newly licensed professionals plan their next steps.
References
Professional Regulation Commission. (2026, October 13). Onsite oathtaking of successful examinees of the September 2026 Civil Engineers Licensure Examination. https://www.prc.gov.ph/index.php/article/onsite-oathtaking-successful-examinees-september-2026-civil-engineers-licensure-examination
Professional Regulation Commission. PRC Frequently Asked Questions – Oathtaking. https://www.prc.gov.ph/prc-frequently-asked-questions
Professional Regulation Commission. (2026, October 30). Face-to-face oathtaking of the new Optometrists. https://www.prc.gov.ph/article/face-face-oathtaking-new-optometrists-2
Professional Regulation Commission. (2026, November 6). Face-to-face oathtaking of the new Physicians. https://www.prc.gov.ph/article/face-face-oathtaking-new-physicians-8
Professional Regulation Commission. Official Oath Taking Announcements. https://www.prc.gov.ph/article-type/oath-taking
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