Cebu grad lands in Top 10 Occupational Therapist Licensure Examination

Local

A GRADUATE of a Cebu City-based university brought pride to the region after earning a spot among the topnotchers in the June 2025 Occupational Therapist Licensure Examination.

Denise Pantoja of Cebu Doctors’ University secured the 9th spot nationwide in the June 2025 Occupational Therapist Licensure Examination, according to results released by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) on Wednesday, June 4.

Pantoja shared the 9th rank with two other examinees, one from Davao Doctors College and another from Emilio Aguinaldo College, after all three garnered an average rating of 81.40 percent.

Topping this year’s exam was Kristine Allyza Carisma Esquivel from the University of the Philippines–Manila, who achieved the highest score with an average of 86.00 percent.

The examination was held on June 1 and 2, 2025, in multiple testing centers nationwide, including those in Metro Manila, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Pampanga, and Rosales.

Out of 239 examinees, only 101 passed, translating to a national passing rate of 42.26 percent, based on PRC data.

However, the PRC noted that no schools qualified for the list of top-performing institutions this cycle, which requires a minimum number of examinees and a high passing rate to be eligible.

This year’s result continues Cebu’s strong showing in the OT board exams. In December 2024, two Cebu-based graduates landed in the top 10: Reian Abao of Southwestern University ranked 4th with an 85.00 percent average, and Alliyah Fuentes of Velez College placed 5th with 84.80 percent.(TGP)