EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
S.B. No.
))
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SENATE
560
i r
'19 JUL 16 P2 50
INTRODUCED BY: SENATOR EMMANUEL D. PACQUIAO
AN ACT
PENALIZING THE IMPOSITION OF A ‘NO PERMIT, NO EXAM’ POLICY OR 
ANY SUCH POLICY THAT PROHIBITS STUDENTS IN ALL EDUCATIONAL 
INSTITUTIONS FROM TAKING THEIR PERIODIC, PRELIMS, MIDTERM OR 
FINAL EXAMINATIONS DUE TO UNPAID TUITION AND OTHER SCHOOL
FEES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 1987 Constitution recognizes the duty of the State to protect and promote the right of 
all citizens to quality education. Moreover, it mandates the State to make such education accessible 
to all.
Despite this Constitutional protection, there have been numerous instances wherein 
students are barred by school authorities from taking examinations due to failure to settle their 
tuition and/or other school tees.
The existing system of scholarship grants and other student loan programs have proven to 
be inadequate to meet the needs of underprivileged but deserving students. Some unforeseeable 
circumstances hinder students trom availing such financial assistance on time. In other cases, some 
students who are from families that are not necessarily poor but have suffered from sudden reversal 
of fortune or temporary setbacks may also cause the delay in the payment of tuition within the 
prescribed period by the school.
Prohibiting students from taking these examinations solely because of the non-payment of 
tuition and/or other school fees is a violation of the rights of students to education. The State has 
the urgent duty to protect these rights and provide students with the means to access quality 
education.
Hence, this measure seeks to protect the rights of students, while, at the same, aims to 
provide schools with the adequate protection to ensure the payment of tuition and other school fees.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought
EMMANUI
UIAO


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
' . 
i r  
<'
SENATE
S.B. No.
o G O
'19 JII 16 p2-50
T
INTRODUCED BY: SENATOR EMMANUEL Dl'l^ACQUIA
AN ACT
PENALIZING THE IMPOSITION OF A ‘NO PERM IT, NO EXAM’ POLICY OR 
ANY SUCH POLICY THAT PROHIBITS STUDENTS IN ALL EDUCATIONAL 
INSTITUTIONS FROM TAKING THEIR PERIODIC, PRELIMS, MIDTERM OR 
FINAL EXAMINATIONS DUE TO UNPAID TUITION AND OTHER SCHOOL
FEES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Anti ‘No Permit, No Exam’ Policy 
Act of 2019.”
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the policy of the State to ensure the accessibility of 
quality education and, towards this end, to exercise reasonable regulation of education 
institutions.
It is hereby declared unlawful for any educational institution, whether private or 
public, to prohibit any student from taking any examination, including but not limited to mid­
term or final examination, due to non-payment of tuition and other school fees.
Section 3. Coverage. This Act shall cover all educational institution, whether public or 
private, primary, secondary, post-secondary, technical-vocational institutes and higher 
educational institutions, including local colleges and universities.
Section 4. Rights of Students. Students shall have the right to take periodic school 
examinations, including but not limited to mid-term or final examination, notwithstanding the 
existence of unpaid financial obligations to the school.
Section 5. Rights of Schools. The school authorities shall have the right to refuse the issuance 
of school clearance to students with financial obligations to the school until all previous 
delinquencies are fully paid.
Section 6. Unlawful Act. In recognition of the rights of the students to take the school 
examinations, the following acts by educational institutions shall be considered unlawful:


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(a) Disallowing students with due and unpaid tuition and other school fees from taking 
any examination, including but not limited to mid-term or final examination;
(b) Requiring the students to secure a permit from the school authorities to take school 
examinations, including but not limited to mid-term or final exams, prior to the 
administration of the periodic examinations; and
(c) Compelling the students to pay upon enrollment a down payment or first installment 
equivalent to more than thirty percent (30%) of the total amount of tuition and other 
school fees for the entire semester or duration of the course.
Section 7. Penalties. Any school official or employee, including deans, coordinators, 
advisers, professors, instructors and other concerned individuals found guilty of violating any 
of the unlawful acts enumerated in Section 6 of this Act shall be punished by a fine of not 
less than Twenty Thousand pesos (PHP 20,000.00) but not more than Fifty Thousand pesos 
(PHP 50,000.00).
Fines collected from erring schools shall be put into a special fund that shall be used for 
scholarships administered by the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher 
Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Section 8. Implementing Guidelines. The DepEd, CHED, and TESDA, shall promulgate the 
implementing guidelines necessary to enforce the objectives of this Act.
Section 9. Separability Clause. If, for any reason or reasons, any part of the provision of this 
Act shall be held to be unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are 
not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
Section 10. Repealing Clause. Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, 
letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary' to, or inconsistent with 
the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.
Section 11. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two 
(2) national newspapers of general circulation. The publication shall not be later than seven 
(7) days after the approval hereof.
Approved,