PRC OKs free exams for 21 fire survivors in R-2

TUGUEGARAO CITY – The 21 Nursing graduates of the University of La Salette (ULS), who survived the deadly hotel fire here on December 19 last year but were too distraught to take the Nursing board examination that same day, will now be allowed to retake the exam this July free of charge. In a memorandum, the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) ordered the non-forfeiture of examination fees of the 21 Nursing prospective examinees who survived the fire at the five-story Bed and Breakfast pension house. The pre-dawn fire had killed 16 people, including 10 Nursing graduates, five members of the family that owned the hotel and their housemaid. Thirty-two Nursing graduates who reviewed at the ULS in Santiago City survived the blaze, most of them by climbing out of the building’s windows, some with the help of rescuers. The Nursing graduates had checked into the hotel in preparation for the PRC exams scheduled to be held in the city later that morning. (See: Official: Tuguegarao fire death toll climbs to 16) Meanwhile, PRC regional officer Rodrigo Bayaki urged the applicants to the July 2011 Nursing licensure examinations to file their applications at the regional office here, in the case of Cagayan Valley residents, or at the central office or in any other regional and satellite office nationwide. Bayaki encouraged applicants to file early to avoid long queues during the April 15 deadline for repeaters and May 13 deadline for first timers. Cagayan Valley nursing board takers also breached the 30-percent national mark, tallying a 49.58-percent passing rate to post a higher percentage, the PRC chief observed.—Joel Nueva/JV, GMA News