, 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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) 
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First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.No. 1926 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article XlV provides: 
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.II.1L 22 P II :58 
SECTION 1. The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality 
education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. 
SECTION 5(3). Every citizen has a right to select a profession or course of study, subject 
to fair, reasonable, and equitable admission and academic requirements. 
These constitutional provisions protect the right of every student to be admitted in any 
institution of his choice. This bill seeks to prohibit discrimination and preferential treatment on 
the basis of sex, ethnic consideration, physical condition, religious belief, or political affiliation 
in connection with admission to an institution of higher education participating in any program 
authorized under the Commission on Higher Education. l 
1 This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
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AN ACT 
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,[LL 
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TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION AND PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT ON THE BASIS 
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OF SEX, ETHNICITY, PHYSICAL CONDITION, RELIGIOUS BELIEF OR POLITICAL 
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AFFILIATION IN CONNECTION WITH ADMISSION TO AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER 
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EDUCATION PARTICIPATING IN ANY PROGRAM AUTHORIZED UNDER THE 
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COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION L Short Title, - This Act shall 'be known as the "Anti-Discrimination in 
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College Admission Act" 
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SECTION 2, Declaration of Policy, - It is the policy of the State to protect, foster and 
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promote the right of all citizens to quality education particularly on tertiary level. In accordance 
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with this policy, the State is mandated to take appropriate steps to ensure that education shall be 
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accessible to all. 
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SECTION 3, Prohibition against Discrimination and Preferential Treatment, -
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(A) Prohibition, - No institution of higher education that participates in any program 
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authorized under the Commission on Higher Education shall in connection with admission to 
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such institution, discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to any person or group 
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based in whole or in part on the sex, ethnicity, physical condition, religious belief or political 
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affiliation of such person or group. 
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(B) Outreach Activities Permitted. - Paragraph (A) does not prohibit or limit any effort by 
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an institutipn of higher education to encourage and recruit qualified women and minorities to 
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seek admission to such institution if such recruitment or encouragement does not involve 
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granting preferential treatment, in selecting any person for admission, that is based in whole or in 
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part on sex, ethnicity, physical condition, religious belief or political affiliation. 
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SECTION 4. Enforcement. - The Commission on Higher Education shall be the 
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enforcement agency. As such, the Commission shall prepare the necessary rules and regulations 
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to implement the provisions of this Act, conduct investigations against violators of this Act. 
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SECTION 5. Penalties. - Any person violating any provision of this Act or.of the rules 
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and regulations promulgated shall, upon conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction, suffer 
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the penalty of imprisonment of not less than one month but not more than one year or a fine of 
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Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,OOO.OO) to Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,OOO.OO) or both, at the 
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discretion of the court. If the entity in violation of this Act is a corporation, partnership, or 
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association, the president, or administrator, or the person who has charge of the institution shall 
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be civilly responsible for any violation of this Act and/or rules and regulations promUlgated. 
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SECnON 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent 
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with, the provision ofthis Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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