Section 8. Powers, Functions, and Responsibilities of the Board.— The Board shall exercise the following powers, functions, and responsibilities:

1. Administer and implement the provisions of this Act;

2. Promulgate rules and regulations, administrative orders, and issuances necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act;

3. Prepare licensure examination questions, score, and rate the examinations and submit the results thereof to the PRC. The Board shall prepare, adopt, issue, or amend the syllabi or tables of specifications of the subjects in the licensure examination, in consultation with the academe and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED);

4. Recommend the issuance, suspension, revocation, or reinstatement of the COR, PIC or Special/Temporary Permits (STP) for the practice of pharmacy;

5. Administer oaths in accordance with the provisions of this Act;

6. Regulate and monitor the practice of pharmacy in the Philippines, including the practice of subprofessional services such as pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants, aides, and other medicine handlers, as described in this Act; adopt measures that may be deemed proper for the enhancement of the profession and the maintenance of high professional, academic, ethical, and technical standards; and conduct ocular inspection of pharmaceutical establishments and higher education institutions (HEIs), in coordination with concerned government agencies;

7. Promulgate and prescribe the Pharmacists’ Code of Ethics, Code of Technical Standards and Guidelines for the Professional Practice of the Pharmacy Profession, in coordination with the APO;

8. Represent the pharmacy profession in all fora involving concerns and issues related to pharmaceutical products and the practice of pharmacy;

9. Investigate cases arising from violations of this Act, the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, the Pharmacists’ Code of Ethics, Code of Technical Standards and Guidelines for the Professional Practice of the Pharmacy Profession, and other Board issuances; issue summons, subpoena ad testificandum and subpoena duces tecum to secure the attendance of witnesses or production of documents, or both, and other evidence necessary for such investigation or hearing; and render decision thereon which shall, unless appealed to the PRC, become final and executory after fifteen (15) days from receipt of notice of judgment or decision;

10. Delegate the he aring or investigation of administrative cases filed before the Board, except where the issue or question involves the practice of the profession, in which case, the hearing shall be presided over by at least one (1) member of the Board, to be assisted by a Legal or Hearing Officer of the PRC;

11. Conduct, through the Legal Officers of the PRC, summary proceedings on minor violations of this Act, the General Instruction to the Examinees, including the implementing rules and regulations issued by the Board, and to render summary judgment thereon which shall, unless appealed to the PRC, become final and executory after fifteen (15) days from receipt of notice of judgment or decision;

12. Issue and promulgate guidelines on CPD, in coordination with the APO;

13. Recommend the accreditation of the standardized training programs for and certifications of medical representatives or professional service representatives, pharmacy technicians, pharmacy assistants, pharmacy aides and other medicine handlers covered in Section 39, Article IV of this Act. The Board shall promulgate the criteria and guidelines in the accreditation of training programs and certifications as described above, in coordination with the APO and with other concerned government agencies;

14. Accredit Specialty Boards of Pharmacy based on the criteria that it shall establish and prescribe; and

15. Perform and discharge such other functions and responsibilities, as may be deemed implied, incidental, and necessary, to preserve the integrity of the pharmacy licensure examination and to enhance and upgrade the practice of the pharmacy profession in the country.