MANILA, Philippines - (UPDATED) The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) issued a memorandum circular to disallow use of certain calculators in the licensure examinations beginning May 8, 2018 (Tuesday).
Memorandum Circular No. 2018-01 dated April 20, 2018 became a hot topic online especially for engineering board exam takers.
The memorandum, signed by PRC Chairman Teofilo S. Pilando, Jr., was published on The Philippine Star (PhilStar) on Sunday, April 22. Also stated is the date of effectivity, which is May 8, 2018.
Memorandum Circular No. 2018-01 dated April 20, 2018 became a hot topic online especially for engineering board exam takers.
The Summit Express has coordinated with PRC to confirm the circulating news about banning of Casio calculators FX-991ES, FX-991ES PLUS in the licensure exams. On Monday, April 23, the site received a message from PRC Cebu saying: "The Memorandum Circular shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its complete publication in the Official Gazette. But we advise examinees to follow the memorandum."
The memorandum, signed by PRC Chairman Teofilo S. Pilando, Jr., was published on The Philippine Star (PhilStar) on Sunday, April 22. Also stated is the date of effectivity, which is May 8, 2018.
IT'S OFFICIAL! PRC bans use of Casio Calculator FX-991ES, FX-991ES PLUS in licensure exam. Exclusive Photo.
"Engr. Praxedes Bernardo, Chairman of the Board of Civil Engineering, requested for the exclusion of Casio Calculator FX-991ES and FX-991ES PLUS in the list of calculators that may be used during the licensure due to their programmable feaures," the memorandum stated.
"Further, the examinees may only be allowed to use only one (1) calculator during the examination. Borrowing, lending and substitution/replacement of calculators while the examination is in progress are strictly prohibited," PRC added.
APRIL 24 UPDATE: The Summit Express clarified the effectivity of the new measure and raised concern if Civil Engineer board exam on May 6-7 is affected or not. Per conversation with PRC Baguio, the central office (PRC main) advised them to disallow Casio calculators FX-991ES and FX-991ES PLUS in the upcoming Civil Engineer board exam. This was also the instruction from Engr. Praxedes Bernardo, Chairman of the Board of Civil Engineering.
APRIL 27 UPDATE: Good news! The examinees of the May 2018 Civil Engineer (CE) board exam may still use the calculators with models: Casio FX-991ES and Casio FX-991ES Plus, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) said on Friday, April 27.
Meanwhile, room watchers and supervisors are advised to exercise vigilance in the inspection of calculators to ensure that it do not have audio-visual features or not improvised or tampered.
The newest memorandum amends Memorandum Circular No. 2009-21.
— The Summit Express
