FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
S.B.No. 
SENAT! -- 8 0 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Arlicle XIV provides: 
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 Coinmission on Higher Education.' 
* This bill was originally filed dwing the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
S. B. No. SENY!2 
8 0 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION AND PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT ON THE BASIS 
OF SEX, ETHNICITY, 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 
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 "Anti-Discrimination in 
College Admission Act." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect, foster and 
promote the right of all citizens to quality education particularly on tertiary level. In accordance 
with this policy, the State is mandated to take appropriate steps to ensure that education shall be 
accessible to all. 
SECTION 3. Prohibition against Discrimination and Preferential Treatment. - 
(A) Prohibition. - No institution of higher education that participates in any program 
authorized under the Commission on Higher Education shall in connection with 
admission to such institution, discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to 
any person or group based in whole or in part on the sex, ethnicity, physical 
condition, religious belief or political affiliation of such person or group. 
(B) Outreach Activities Permitted. - Paragraph (A) does not prohibit or limit any effort 
by an institution of higher education to encourage and recruit qualified women and 
minorities to seek admission to such institution if such recruitment or encouragement 
does not involve granting preferential treatment, in selecting any person for 


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admission, that is based in whole or in part on sex, ethnicity, physical condition, 
religious belief or political affiliation. 
SECTION 4. Enforcement. - The Commission on Higher Education shall be the 
enforcement agency. As such, the Commission shall prepare the necessary rules and regulations 
to implement the provisions of this Act, conduct investigations against violators of this Act. 
SECTION 5. Penalties. - Any person violating any provision of this Act or.of the rules 
and regulations promulgated shall, upon conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction, suffer 
the penalty of imprisonment of not less than one month but not more than one year or a fine of 
Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,OOO.OO) to Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,OOO.OO) or both, at the 
discretion of the court. If the entity in violation of this Act is a corporation, partnership, or 
association, the president, or administrator, or the person who has charge of the institution shall 
be civilly responsible for any violation of this Act and/or rules and regulations promulgated. 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent 
with, the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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