Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 184

INTRODUCED BY:
HON. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill is filed pursuant to the Policy of the State in giving priority to
education in fostering patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress
and promote total human liberation and development. (Section 17, Article II of
the 1987 Constitution) More importantly, it has been mandated in. our
constitution the protection and promotion of the right of all citizens to quality
education at all levels and for the State to take appropriate steps in making
education accessible to all. (Section 1, Article XIV) Thus, the State is enjoined
to establish and maintain a system of subsidies and other incentives which
shall be available to deserving students in both public and private schools
especially to the under-privileged. (Section 2 (3), Article XIV)
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In making education including tertiaty level accessible to all Filipinos,
Republic Act No. 7722 otherwise known asthe Higher Education Act of 1994
has declared as State Policy the protection, fostering and promotion of the right
of all citizens to affordable quality education at all levels. In addition, the State
shall take appropriate steps in ensuring that education shall be accessible to
all.

In response thereto, the 15'> Congress has finalized House Bill No. 6577
which aims to make higher education accessible to all by eradicating the first
hindrance, that is, the entry level. This iE true considering that entrance
examinations are among the prohibitive costs for any student in gaining a
college degree. This bill seeks to provide for free entrance examination in all
State Universities and Colleges, local colleges and universities as well as in all

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private universities and colleges to deserving and qualified students. In the
end, even the under-privileged shall be given the ample hope in achieving a
college education towards the promise of a brighter future. For that matter,
this bill is being re-filed to continue the mandate of our constitution in making
education truly accessible to all Filipinos.

Hence, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

HON. GUSTAVO S. TAMBYNTING
24 District, Paranaque City



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

184

House Bill No.

INTRODUCED BY:
HON. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING

AN ACT GRANTING FREE COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS TO
GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATES, COLLEGE ENTRANTS OR TRANSFEREES APPLYING FOR

ADMISSION IN STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES AND LOCAL
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND TO UNDERPRIVILEDGED PUBLIC
HIGHSCHOOL STUDENTS BELONGING TO THE TOP TEN PERCENT (10%)
OF THE GRADUATING CLASS APPLYING) FOR ADMISSION IN PRIVATE
HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS.

Be 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 Examination 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
underprivileged 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 a$sistance and equal opportunity to
pursue their dreams of obtaining a college education.

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



(a) College entrance examinations refer to examinations required by
higher education institutions or graduating high school students or high school
graduates as one of the criteria for determining admissions to a four (4)-year or
five (5)-year college degree program in the said educational institutions.

(b) Underprivileged public high school graduates refer to public high
school students who belong to the top ten percent (10%) of the graduating class
and whose parents live below the poverty line or belong to the poorest of the
poor, as determined by the National Econamic and Development Authority
(NEDA) and the National Household Targeting System of the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

(c) Higher Education Institution (HEI) 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. - All state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local
colleges and universities (LCUs) offering degree-granting programs are hereby
required to provide free college entrance ¢xaminations to graduating high
school students, high school graduates, college entrants and transferees who
are applying for college admission.

All private colleges, universities or institutions of higher education or
degree-granting programs are hereby required to provide free entrance
examinations to underprivileged public high) school students belonging to the
top ten percent (10%) of the graduating class and who are applying for college
admission.

SEC. 5. Qualification Requirements for Free College Entrance Examination
Beneficiaries in SUCs and LCUs. -To be cligible to take the free college entrance
examination in an SUC or LCU, and applicant must be a natural-born Filipino
citizen and a graduating high school student or high school graduate, college
entrant or transferee and intends to enrol in any public HEI.

SEC. 6. Qualification Requirements for|Free College Entrance Examination
Beneficiaries in Private HEIs. - To be eligible to take the free college entrance
examination in a private HEI, an applicant must:

(a) Be a natural-born Filipino citizen;

(b) Be enrolled in or have graduated from a public high school; and


(c) Belong to the top ten percent (10%) of the graduating class as certified
by the public school and the Department of Education (DepED): Provided,
however; That the applicant’s parents or guardians live below the poverty line
as determined by the NEDA and the DSWD.

SEC. 7. Penalties. - Any HEI official or employee and other concerned
individuals found guilty of violating the provisions of this Act shall suffer the
penalty of prision correccional 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 HEI official or employee violating the
provisions of this Act pursuant to Section 8 of Republic Act No. 7722,
otherwise known as the “High Education Modernization Act of 1994”.

SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The CHED, in
coordination with the DepED, the Philippine Association of the 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. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the other sanctions or provisions not otherwise
affected shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All 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. 11. Bffectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette.

Approved,