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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Seecinn

HOUSE BILL NO. “7531

Introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie”Castelo

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is a matter of sound government policy to give equal access to quality education most
especially at the college level to all newly-graduated high school students entering college
freshmen year across the entire educational landscape, namely: those coming from private
schools and more so from those coming from the public school system.

Itis only in this way that such access to education — be that a right or a privilege for every young
citizen in this country dubbed ‘hope of our fatherland’ — shall be truly democratic and a level
playing field. Certainly, no student especially those who come from low-income groups should
be worse disadvantaged in an emerging practice employed by some private universities or
colleges that essentially violate these tenets of equal access and a level playing field. With this
measure, no reservation fees should be demanded or such pre-enrolment fees be paid to any
university or college collecting the same. Neither should any university or college demand from
entering freshmen early submission of entrance requirements for the same to be non-
retractable.

A problem quite serious has emerged in our midst. This is the case of a negative externality,
quite unforeseen that had been created by the delay in the release of the results of so-called
UPCAT or the UP College Admission Test which apparently some universities or colleges that
likewise administered their own college admission tests have taken advantage of. Thus, some
universities or colleges resorted to demanding for reservation fees that in all consideration is not
a petty amount. Worse, it is an amount that is not refundable for those who likewise passed the
college admission tests of that university/college. Then what adds insult to injury is that at a
date even earlier than the scheduled release of results of the UPCAT, such universities or

lleges demand submission of entrance documents with the caveat that once submitted,
students can no longer retrieve them should they later decide to enrol in UP when ty found
out that they qualified per UPCAT results. Effectively therefore, the chance To-getat UP

This bill intends to divine wisdom by proposing henceforth a clear profibition be set by either the
DepEd or the CHED to proactively resolve this emerging problem that affect badly the plight of
With

Approval of this instant bill is Joe eet


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
‘Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 7531

Introduced by Rep. Winston “Winnie”Castelo

AN ACT
PROMOTING EQUAL ACCESS TO QUALITY COLLEGE EDUCATION AND A LEVEL
PLAYING FIELD ACROSS THE ENTIRE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND IMPOSING
APPROPRIATE SANCTIONS FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “Equal Access and Level Playing Field at
the College Level Act.”

SEC. 2. There shall be appurtenant Circular/s immediately issued by DepEd or CHED
and/or both to hereby prohibit one educational institution from taking advantage of another
educational institution through an emerging practice that defeats equal access to quality
education and a level playing field on the matter of enrolment to the detriment of aspiring or
prospective college freshmen.

Provided Further That, all universities or colleges across the collegiate levels in the
entire educational system shall henceforth have a uniform period of enrolment and standard
policy, be that in a public or private university or college. Such policies will be issued by the
cognizant implementing agency.

SEC. 3. The Department of Education and/or Commission on Higher Education shall
coordinate and collaborate toward insuring that all newly-graduated high school students
entering college will have equal opportunity to get enrolled in either a public or private university
or college. To this end, the payment of reservation fees or submission of entrance requirements
should follow a uniform schedule and practice across the entire college educational system as
that which will be imposed by the implementing agency.

Provided Further That, any violation thereof shall be cause for DepEd or CHED to
impose the corresponding sanctions it may deem appropriate against such university or college
that violates the principles of this Act.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval, its publication in the Official
Gazette, and in at least three (3) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,