Repubiic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS,

First Regular Session

eI

H.B.No, S262

Introduced by HONORABLE JUAN EDGARDO “SONNY” M. ANGARA.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Constitution mandates the State “to protect and promote the fight of alt
citizens to quality education at all levels and to take appropriate steps to make education
accessible to all.” (Art XIV Sec 1),

Various international instruments, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
Intemational Covenant on Economic, Social and Cuftural Rights, and the Convention on the
Rights of the Child, to which the Philippines is a signatory, have also deciared education as a
right and not just a privilege. Hence, the country is duty-bound to provide free, quality, and
accessible education

However, considering the rising cost of education, especially college education, more
and more high school graduates find it impossible to enroll in college or drop out and fail to eam

a degree.

Data from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) showed that enrollees in higher
education institutions (HEIs) from 2001 to the present have reached 2.56 million, but the
dropout rate reached an alarming 83.7 percent. This means that the country is producing 2.13-
million college dropouts annually while graduates stand at close to 500,000 only.

CHED records also showed that enrollment in tertiary education has not been
encouraging as it slowed down from 1999 to 2002, and then dropped gradually starting 2002 to
2003, with negative 0.8 percent growth in 2004-2005 for both public and private schools. Except
for the big jump in 1998-1999, enrollment has been sliding down, thereafter. Moreover, tertiary
education enrolment even in state universities and colleges shows a decelerating trend,
weakening to negative 1.2 percent growth in 2004-2005, despite the lower cost of public
education. In the case of private schools, the decline started as early as 2002.

Based on the Commission's 2008 data, out of 100 Grade 1 pupils, only 66 finish Grade 6
and only 58 of them enroll in first year high school. Of the 58, only 43 finish high school
However, only 23 of the 43 who finished high school enroll in collage and only 14 of the 23
eventually graduate from college.


Also disturbing is the National Statistics and Coordination Board (NSCB) data on the
ratio of graduates to enrollment for tertiary education, which stands at 16 to less than 18 percent
from 1994 to 2005. In the past 10 years, the NSCB reported that the total number of college
graduates increased by an average of only 2.9 percent, The number of graduates also
increased to only 481,862 in Academic Year 2009-2010 from 363,640 in AY 2000-2001

Considering that more than 26.5 percent or 3.8 millian Filipino families are living below
the poverty line, as reported by the NSCB 2009 Poverty Statistics and released in February
2011, access to tertiary education for bright and deserving children of these families would be
almost impossible, especially if they de not have the means to pay even for an entrance
examination, which is the initial step towards admission to a college degree program.

Thus, this bill aims to ensure that poor but deserving high school graduates are given
equal opportunities in applying for college admission to higher education institutions by
removing the first hindrance at the entry level, such as the prohibitive cost of entrance
examinations

In view of the foregoing reasons, immediate approval of this measure is eamestly
sought.

a ’
J fem
JUAN EXGARDO M. ANGARA
Lone trict
Province of Aurora


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

First Reguiar Session

HOUSE BILL NO._ 6262

Introduced by: HONORABLE JUAN EDGARDO M, ANGARA

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR FREE COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS TO
UNDERPRIVILEGED PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BELONGING TO THE TOP TEN
PERCENT (10%) OF THE GRADUATING CLASS

&e it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Free College Entrance Exam Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to expand and
further democratize access to quality education at the college level by instituting mechanisms
that protect the rights of underpriviteged but bright and deserving high school graduates.

The exemption from the imposition of entrance examination fees is one such mechanism
that will ensure that underprivileged, but bright and deserving high school graduates, are given
adequate assistance and equal opportunity to pursue their dreams of obtaining a coliege
education.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. For Purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean:

a) College Entrance Examinations — shall refer to examinations required by higher
education institutions on graduating high school students or high school graduates as
one of the criteria for determining admission to a four-year or five-year college degree
program in the said educational institutions;

b) Undemnivileged Public High Schoo! Graduates — shall refer to public high schoot
students who belong to the top 10 percent of the graduating class and whose parents
live below the poverty fine or belong to the poorest of the poor as determined by the
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and who are the qualified
beneficiaries of this Act;

©) Higher Education institution (HE)- shall refer to an educational institution that is
legally authorized to offer a program of education leading to the conferment of a degree.

SEC. 4, Coverage. This Act shail apply to all public and private HEIs offering degree programs,
including local colleges and universities, and shall cover underprivileged public high school
students graduating or who have graduated at the top 10 percent of the class and intending to
apply for admission in any public or private HEI in the country for a degree program.


SEC. 5. Qualification Requirements of Free College Entrance Examinations Beneficiary. A
student beneficiary eligible under this Act shall have the following entry requirements:

a) Must be a natural-bomn Filipino citizen;

b) Must be 2 graduating high school student or high school graduate from a public high
school and intends to enroll in any public or private HEI;

¢) Must belong to the top 10% of the graduating class; and
) Must have parents or guardians living below the poverty line as determined by the NEDA

SEC. 6. Penaities. Any HE! official or employee and other concemed individuals found guilty of
violating the provisions of this Act shall suffer the penalty of prision correccionat or imprisonment
from six (6) months and one (1) day to six (6) years and a fine of Seven Hundred Fifty
Thousand Pesos (P750,000,00).

In addition, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) may impose disciplinary sanctions
against any HE! official or employee violating the provisions of this Act pursuant to Section 13 of
Republic Act No. 7722, otherwise known as the Higher Education Modemization Act of 1994.

SEC. 7. implementing Rules and Regulations, The CHED, in coordination with the
Department of Education (DepED), Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges
(PASUC), the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA), and the
Association of Local Colleges and Universities (ALCU), shall issue the necessary rules and
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 8 Separabitity Ctause. if any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid,
the other sections or provisions not otherwise affected shall continue to be in full force and
effect.

SEG. 9. Repealing Clause. Ail laws, executive orders, decrees, instructions, rules and
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby amended,
repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 10. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at
least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,