LET DITO NA LANG: “Aspiring teachers shouldn’t travel far for board exam” — BM Amla seeks PRC approval to bring exam to Kalinga

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — Board Member Julius “Glenn” B. Amla is pushing to bring the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) closer to Kalinga graduates, asking the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to designate Tabuk City as a testing center for the examination.

Amla authored Resolution No. 2026-293, which was adopted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Kalinga on July 7, 2026. The resolution formally requests the PRC-Cordillera (PRC-CAR), through Regional Director Juanita L. Domogen, to establish an examination site in the province’s capital.

The initiative seeks to reduce the financial and logistical burden on Kalinga’s aspiring teachers who currently have to travel outside the province to take the LET.

Legal basis for constituent welfare

The resolution cited the local government’s mandate to support measures that promote the welfare of its constituents and improve access to education and employment opportunities.

It cited Section 16 of Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, which empowers local government units to promote the general welfare of their constituents and support initiatives that enhance access to education, employment opportunities, and public services.

Tabuk as examination hub

The resolution identified Tabuk City’s status as the provincial capital and its role as Kalinga’s center for education, commerce, transportation, and government services as factors supporting its proposed designation as a LET testing site.

It noted that Kalinga has a steadily growing population of more than 240,000, while Tabuk has undergone urbanization, commercial expansion, and infrastructure development.

“The Province of Kalinga has a steadily growing population of more than 240,000 residents, while Tabuk City, as the province’s capital and lone component city, has experienced rapid urbanization, commercial expansion, and infrastructure development, making it the principal center of education, commerce, transportation, and government services in the province,” the resolution reads.

According to the measure, these conditions make Tabuk accessible to teacher education graduates from different parts of Kalinga who need to take the LET as part of the requirements for entering the teaching profession.

Addressing the needs of aspiring teachers

The resolution also highlighted the number of teacher education graduates produced by higher education institutions in Kalinga each year and their need to obtain professional licenses before pursuing teaching careers.

“Kalinga is home to various higher education institutions producing a considerable number of graduates in teacher education every year, many of whom aspire to take the Licensure Examination for Teachers to qualify for employment in both the public and private education sectors,” the resolution stated.

For these graduates, taking the LET is an important step toward obtaining professional eligibility for teaching positions, making access to an examination site a practical concern.

Reducing travel and examination expenses

At present, examinees from Kalinga who need to take the LET outside the province have to shoulder additional expenses for transportation, accommodation, food, and other travel-related costs.

The resolution said these expenses could add to the financial burden of graduates and their families, particularly after the costs of completing college and preparing for the licensure examination.

A testing center in Tabuk would allow examinees from Kalinga to take the examination closer to their communities and potentially reduce their travel and accommodation expenses.

Tabuk’s logistical capacity

The resolution also cited Tabuk’s existing educational institutions, public facilities, transportation network, peace and order conditions, and other logistical resources as factors that could support the conduct of the LET.

“Tabuk City possesses the necessary educational institutions, public facilities, transportation accessibility, peace and order conditions, and logistical capability that may adequately accommodate the conduct of national licensure examinations in coordination with the Professional Regulation Commission,” the resolution reads.

Amla: Bring the LET closer to graduates

For Amla, the initiative is primarily aimed at reducing the expenses and difficulties faced by local teacher education graduates who have to leave Kalinga to take the examination.

In an interview with Guru Press Cordillera, Amla said a testing center in Tabuk would allow aspiring teachers to take the LET closer to home while reducing transportation, accommodation, and other related expenses.

“Our teachers should not have to travel far just to take the LET. If we can bring the examination here to Tabuk, we can lessen the transportation, accommodation and other expenses of our graduates. Isu inproposed tayo daytoy nga resolution ket agayman tayo ta inadopt ti kakadwa tayo diay Sangguniang Panlalawigan,” Amla said.

The resolution was adopted during the SP’s regular session presided over by Vice Governor Dave Q. Odiem on July 7. It was certified by Secretary to the Sanggunian Mathew O. Matbagan and approved by Governor James S. Edduba.

The request will still be subject to the evaluation and approval of the PRC, which has authority over the designation and administration of professional licensure examination sites.

Meanwhile, the PRC-CAR is conducting its license renewal service at the Provincial Capitol from September 17 to 18, bringing another PRC service closer to Kalinga professionals.

Amla earlier met with PRC-CAR Regional Director Domogen and thanked the commission for bringing the renewal service to the province, saying it helps reduce the time and expenses professionals would otherwise incur when traveling outside Kalinga.