Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY “HORI” G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS “NICK” ENCISO VIII 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The constitutionally protected freedom of speech and of associations are rights that are 
primarily exercised in institutions of higher learning. The youth, particularly students in 
colleges and universities should be exposed to this right. However, the very institutions 
which should encourage the exercise of these rights are their main suppressors. 
This bill seeks to provide further safeguards for the exercise of the cherished 
constitutional rights of free speech and association by students in institutions of higher 
learning by terminating government financial assistance to certain government-funded 
programs or activities received by such educational institutions for violation of these 
rights. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE  
TSUYOSHI ANTHONY “HORI” G. HORIBATA 
NICOLAS “NICK” ENCISO VIII 
September 13, 2022
8:00 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY “HORI” G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS “NICK” ENCISO VIII 
AN ACT 
TO PROTECT THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND OF ASSOCIATION RIGHTS OF 
STUDENTS ATTENDING INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION  
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act may be cited as the “Freedom of Speech and of 
Association on Campus Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to protect the speech 
and association rights of students attending institutions of higher education. Toward this 
end, the government shall ensure, within the context of a free and democratic system, 
the promotion of the right of every student in the exercise of their freedom of speech and 
association regardless of sex, age, creed, socio-economic status, physical and mental 
conditions, racial or ethnic origin, political or other affiliation. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For the purposes of this Act, the term: 
(1) “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of Education. 
(2) “Institution of Higher Education” means institutions offering tertiary degree programs 
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and post secondary programs. 
 
(3) “Tertiary Degree Programs” refer to courses of study leading to an initial or higher 
bachelor’s degree, as well as formal graduate studies leading to masteral, doctoral or 
similar degrees. It also includes courses of study which by themselves may be only for 
one-, two-, or three-year courses of study leading to less than a bachelor’s degree 
program, but which can subsequently be credited in full bachelor’s degrees. 
 
(4) “Post-secondary Programs” refer to courses of study which cannot be credited 
towards a bachelor’s degree but which require the possession of a high school diploma 
for admission, which are terminal in nature, and which are general for obtaining technical 
and vocational skills. 
 
(5) “Protected Speech” means speech that is protected under the 1987 Constitution. 
 
(6) “Protected Association” means the right to join, assemble, and reside with others that 
is protected under the 1987 Constitution.  
 
(7) “Official Sanction” (a) means expulsion, suspension, probation, censure, 
condemnation, reprimand, or any other disciplinary, coercive, or adverse action taken by 
an institution of higher education or administrative unit of the institution; and (b) includes 
an oral or written warning made by an official of an institution of higher education acting 
in his official capacity. 
 
(8) “Student” means those enrolled in and who regularly attend an educational institution 
of higher level of a person engaged in formal study. 
 
SECTION 4. Protection of Student Speech and Association Rights. - No student 
attending an institution of higher education on a full or part-time basis shall, on the basis 
of protected speech and association, be excluded from participation in, be denied the 
benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination or official sanction under any educational 


 
 
program, activity, or division directly or indirectly receiving financial assistance by the 
state, whether or not such program, activity, or division is sponsored or officially 
sanctioned by the institution.  
 
SECTION 5. Sanctions.  – 
 
(A) In General. – No funds shall be made available to an educational program, activity or 
division of any institution of higher education that the Secretary finds, after notice and 
opportunity for a hearing, has violated any provision of this Act. 
 
(B) Inapplicability to Student Assistance. – Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any funds 
that are provided under this Act for student financial assistance. 
 
(C) Exception to Sanctions. – This section shall not apply to an institution of higher 
education that is controlled by a religious or military organization, if the speech or 
association is not consistent with the religious teaching or military training of the 
institution. 
 
(D) Sanctions for Disruption Permitted. – Nothing in this Act shall be construed to 
prevent the imposition of an official sanction on a student that has willfully participated in 
the disruption or attempted disruption of a lecture, class speech, presentation, or 
performance made or scheduled to be made under the auspices of the institution of 
higher education.  
 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or 
inconsistent with, the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 


 
 
accordingly. 
 
SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. – Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,