Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 9754 
Introduced by Representative Lordan G. Suan 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to provide free civil service and professional licensure 
examination review for graduate students in public higher education institutions. 
Many Filipinos aspire to careers in government or regulated professions 
but face financial barriers to accessing the necessary review centers for 
professional licensure and civil service examinations. This piece of legislation 
aimed to support the academic and professional growth of graduate students in 
public higher education institutions in the Philippines, and to some extent to 
graduates of private higher educational institutions, by providing free civil 
service and professional licensure examination review, including materials, 
mock exams, and instructor-led sessions, which will assist them in their 
preparation for entering government service or practicing their respective 
professions. 
The 1987 Philippine Constitution, in promoting social justice and equal 
opportunities, mandates that the State shall give priority to education, accelerate 
social progress, and promote total human liberation and development. As the 
law-making body, Congress shall give the highest priority to the enactment of 
measures that protect and enhance the right of all the people to human dignity 
and to reduce social and economic inequalities. These are the guiding principles 
for the crafting of this bill.  
The need for this bill arises from recognizing that financial constraints 
often limit individuals, particularly those with exceptional academic and 
behavioral merits, from pursuing professional and civil service licensure. The 
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program outlined in the bill prioritizes individuals based on academic and 
behavioral merits and genuine needs. 
To ensure the effective implementation of the program, the bill 
establishes collaboration with review centers and a monitoring system that will 
evaluate the program's effectiveness. The Commission on Higher Education, 
Professional Regulation Commission, Civil Service Commission, and the 
Supreme Court, through the Committee of Bar Examiners, play vital roles in 
developing, implementing, and overseeing the program. Moreover, the failure to 
comply by institutions may result in administrative penalties. 
This proposed measure will promote equal access to professional and 
civil service examinations by removing financial barriers; help deserving 
individuals overcome financial hardship and achieve their career goals; 
encourage academic excellence and positive behavior through merit-based 
eligibility criteria; support economic development by increasing the pool of 
qualified professionals; and fulfill the State's constitutional mandate to promote 
social justice, human dignity, and equal opportunities. 
The bill underscores the government's commitment to levelling the 
playing field for individuals seeking professional and civil service licensure, 
acknowledging the broader societal benefits of an inclusive and accessible 
review process.  
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
LORDAN G. SUAN 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 9754 
Introduced by Representative Lordan G. Suan 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING 
FREE 
CIVIL 
SERVICE 
AND 
PROFESSIONAL 
LICENSURE EXAMINATION REVIEW FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS 
IN PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Free Review 
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Act." 
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SEC. 2.  Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to promote 
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and sustain the development of a reservoir of national talents consisting of 
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Filipino scientists, entrepreneurs, professionals, managers, high-level technical 
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manpower and skilled workers and craftsmen in all fields. Towards this end, the 
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State shall support graduate students and provide free review in preparation for 
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their civil service and professional licensure examinations, which are essential 
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for entering government service and practicing their professions.  
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SEC. 3. Free Review. – Public higher education institutions shall provide 
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a one-time free civil service and professional licensure exam review to their 
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graduate students, which include access to review materials, mock 
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examinations, and review sessions facilitated by competent instructors, either in 
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person or online. 
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For purposes of this Act, professional licensure examinations include 
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examinations administered by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) 
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and the Supreme Court of the Philippines through the Committee of Bar 
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Examiners.  
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SEC. 4. Eligibility. – All graduates of public higher education institutions 
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are eligible to avail of the free review provided under Section 3 of this Act. 
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Graduates of private higher educational institutions who have demonstrated 
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exceptional academic performance, commendable behavioral conduct, and a 
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genuine need for financial assistance may also avail of the free review.   
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SEC. 5. Program Development. – The Chairperson of the Commission on 
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Higher Education (CHED) shall, in coordination with the Chairpersons of the 
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Civil Service Commission (CSC), PRC and the Committee of Bar Examiners 
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formulate, implement and oversee the free review program.  
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SEC. 6. Collaboration with Review Centers. – The Chairperson of CHED 
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shall collaborate with review centers to enhance the free review program under 
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this Act. Private review centers may provide resources, training, and educational 
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materials to public higher education institutions.   
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SEC. 7. Monitoring and Evaluation. – The Chairperson of CHED shall, 
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in coordination with the Chairpersons of the CSC, PRC and the Committee of 
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Bar Examiners, establish a system of monitoring and evaluation to measure the 
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program's effectiveness. 
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An annual report detailing the implementation of this Act, including the 
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number of graduate students and its impact on civil service and professional 
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licensure exam passing rates, shall be submitted to Congress. 
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SEC. 8. Administrative Penalty. – The President and concerned officers 
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of public higher education institutions who deliberately refuse to provide free 
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civil service and professional licensure examination review to their graduate 
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students shall be subject to an administrative penalty as may be determined by 
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the CHED.  
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SEC. 9. Appropriation. – The amount necessary for the initial 
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implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current appropriation of 
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the participating public higher educational institutions. Thereafter, such sums as 
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may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included 
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in the annual General Appropriations Act.  
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SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) 
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days from the effectivity of this Act, the Chairperson of CHED shall, in 
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coordination with the Chairpersons of the CSC, PRC and the Committee of Bar 
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Examiners, issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 
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implementation of this Act.  
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SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. – All laws, executive orders, issuances, 
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rules, and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this 
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Act are repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 12. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.    
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Approved,