Manila, December 9, 2014 --- The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces the assumption into office of Dr. Florentino C. Doble as new PRC Chairman and Architect Yolanda D. Reyes as new PRC Commissioner.

Chairman Doble and Commissioner Reyes were both sworn into Office by Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz in a simple oath-taking rite held at the Midas Hotel in Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City on November 19, 2014.

Prior to his appointment as PRC Chairman, Dr. Doble served as member of the Professional Regulatory Board of Medicine from December 2003 to December 31, 2013. He was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Medicine in 2008. He finished his Doctorate of Medicine at the University of Santo Tomas in 1967 and passed the Medical licensure exam in 1968 and the Management Aptitude Test of the Career Executive Service Board in June 2002.

Dr. Doble’s exemplary achievements and exceptional professional competence and expertise for his 46 years of professional practice manifest his indefatigable passion to pursue excellence. He specializes in General and Laparoscopic Surgery. He is currently a life member of the Philippine Medical Association and Fellows of the Philippine College of Surgeons, Philippine Society of General Surgeons, Philippine Society of Laporoscopic Surgeons, Philippine Society of Oncologists, Surgical Oncology Society of the Philippines, Philippine Academic for Head and Neck Surgery, Sports Medicine Association of the Philippines, Academy of Medicine (Malaysia), Asian Surgical Association, Asian Vascular Society, International College of Surgeons, and International Hepato-Pancreatico Bilary Association. Chairman of the Department of Surgery and served as Medical Director – OIC of East Avenue Medical Center. First National Legends of the Knife Awardee conferred by the Philippine College of Surgeons (PCS).

Chairman Doble’s sterling academic achievements include authoring (and co-authoring) of not less than 90 published and unpublished scientific papers at the PMA-Manila Medical Society, Philippine College of Surgeons, American College of Surgeons, and the University of Santo Tomas, to which he served as a full-time professor.

Meanwhile, Architect and Environmental Planner Yolanda D. Reyes served as member of the Professional Regulatory Board of Architecture from 2013 until her appointment as PRC Commissioner. She finished her Bachelor of Science Degree in Architecture in 1975 and her Master of Science Degree in Architecture in 1986 at the University of Santo Tomas College of Architecture and Fine Arts and the UST Graduate School. She completed her academic requirements for PhD program at the University of the Philippines – School of Urban and Regional Planning. She also served as Dean of the University of Santo Tomas College of Architecture and Fine Arts for a period of nine years. Under her leadership, the College achieved the status of “Center of Excellence” in the year 1999 granted by the Commission on Higher Education of the Philippines. Architect Reyes has given major contributions and services to her profession when she served as the first woman National President of the United Architects of the Philippines. She demonstrated her vision, leadership and unrelenting vigor and zeal, by instituting various reforms within the organization. She also projected the UAP and the Philippines in the international scene as the first lady-architect to be elected as Chairperson of the Architects Regional Council of Asia or ARCASIA comprising a membership of 18 Asian countries. In recognizing her noteworthy achievements, she was conferred the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Presidential Medal and an Honorary Membership in Las Vegas, USA. Architect Reyes was awarded the most coveted distinction as Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in San Francisco, USA, the first woman architect from Southeast Asia to receive it. Her numerous commendations include The Award for Architecture in Design Excellence for the Caleruega Retreat House located south of Manila, Philippines by the UAP in 1996, The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni Award (Architecture) given by the UST in 2002, Distinguished Architecture Award given by the City of Manila, A special Cultural Award by Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, First Diamond Award for Architecture by the UST Graduate School in 1998. In 2008, she was bestowed as the Most Outstanding Professional of the Year in Architecture by the Professional Regulation Commission.