Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City, Philippines

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No,_2478

INTRODUCED BY: HON. MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEQDORO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The alarming state of the economy aggravated by the instability of our country's
political climate troubles the people in many ways. It may be one major problem that
had greatly hampered the advancement of quality and accessible education

As tuition and other school fees continue to increase both in public and private
schools, it is very difficult for most students, especially their parents, to make good on
their obligations to pay tuition fees on time. And this is disheartening since failure to do
such would mean being prevented by the school administrators from taking the mid-
term or final examinations.

The situation, indeed, runs counter to the pronouncements of the fundamental
law hich provides “that the State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to
quality and accessible education” and the State in recognition of the complementary
roles of public and private institution in the educational system “shall exercise
reasonable supervision and regulation of all educational institutions.”

Hence, this bill hopes to help students in their request for knowledge by declaring
it unlawful for any public or private school, to disallow any student from taking any
periodic or final exam for mere failure to pay tuition fees on time, while providing for
penalties for violation of such policy.

In view of the foregoing, cansideration of this bill is urgently sought.

Plastik, Tikit
MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEQDORO

Representative, 1* District
City of Marikina



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.__ 24°75,

INTRODUCED BY: HON. MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO

AN ACT
PROHIBITING PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM DISALLOWING STUDENTS
WITH UNPAID TUITION AND OTHER SCHOOL FEES TO TAKE PERIODIC OR FINAL
EXAMINATIONS, PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared unlawful for any public or
private school, to prevent or disallow its students from taking any periodic or final
examination due to non-payment of tuition and other school fees.

SECTION 2. Rights and Obligations. (1) The school authorities have the following
rights against students with financial obligations to their schools, which remain due and
unsettled:

a. To withhold the release of the grades of a student with delinquent account until the
unpaid tuition fees are fully paid

b. To deny admission or enrolment of any student having unsettled tuition or other
school fees at the next succeeding semester or at the next succeeding academic
year, as the case may be, until the previous delinquencies are fully paid; and

¢. To refuse issuance of school clearance to students with unsettled account.

(2) Students are hereby accorded the right to take periodic or final examinations,
notwithstanding existence of unpaid financial obligations in favor of the school

SECTION 3. Implementing Guidelines. - The Commission on Higher Education
shall issue such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of this
Act.

SECTION 4. Penalty Imposed. - Violations of the provisions of this Act shall be
Punished by the suspension and/or cancellation of the permits of the offending schools and
fine of not less than Php 20,000.00 but not more than Php 50,000.00.

SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - if any rpovision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the rémainder of the law or provision not otherwise affected shall remain
valid and subsisting,

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, presidential decrees, executive
orders, proclamations and/or admnistrative regulations which are inconsistent with the
Provisions of this Act are hereby amended, modified, superseded or repealed accordingly.

SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two newspapers of general
circulation

Approved.