Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
The 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 that for the protection and promotion of the right of all citizens to 
quality education at all levels, the State shall 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). 
In making education including tertiary level accessible to all Filipinos, Republic Act No. 7722 
otherwise known as the Higher Education Act of 1994 has declared as State Policy the protection, 
fostering and promotion of the right of all citizen to affordable quality education at all level. In 
addition, the State shall take appropriate steps in ensuring that education shall be accessible to all. 
In response thereto, the 15th Congress has finalized House Bill 6577 which aims to make higher 
education accessible to all by eradicating the first hindrance, that is, the entry level. This is 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 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. 
GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
August 1, 2022
2:04 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
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 THE 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”. 
SECTION 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 
assistance and equal opportunity to pursue their dreams of obtaining a college education. 
SECTION 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 Economic and Development
Authority (NEDA) and the National Household Targeting System of the Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD).
(c) Higher Education Institute (HEI) refer to an educational institution that is legally authorized to
offer a program of education leading to the conferment of a degree.
SECTION 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 
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entrance examinations 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. 
 
SECTION 5. Qualification Requirements for the Free College Entrance Examination 
Beneficiaries in SUCs and LCUs. – To be eligible 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. 
 
SECTION 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 Provided, however; That the 
applicant's parents or guardians live below the poverty line as determined by the NEDA and 
the DSWD. 
 
SECTION 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 additional, 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 1994". 
 
SECTION 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. 
 
SECTION 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. 
 
SECTION 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. 
 
SECTION 11. - Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette. 
 
Approved,