NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 1679
of tijf ^c;i ftarj)
23 JAN 16 P6:17
RECEIVED BV. 4
n
Introduced by Senator MANUEL "UTO" M. LAPID
AN ACT
MANDATING PRIVATE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS TO WAIVE THE 
COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMINATION FEES TO UNDERPRIVILEGED 
GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article XIV, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution mandates the State to protect 
and promote the rights of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take 
appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. Section 2(3) of the same 
further mandates the State to establish and maintain a system of scholarship grants, 
student loan programs, subsidies, and other incentives which shall be available to 
deserving students in both public and private schools, especially to the 
underprivileged.
It is thus proper to take appropriate steps to make education, which is an 
inalienable right, accessible to all, especially the underprivileged who consider 
education as a tool to liberate themselves from poverty. In order to do so, prohibitive 
costs and barriers must be removed. One such barrier is the entrance examination fee 
for private higher educational institutions (private HEIs). Many deserving high school 
graduates are intelligent enough to qualify for entrance and scholarships in universities 
but are unfortunately unable to prove their mettle because they are unable to afford 
applying to private HEIs.


This bill seeks to waive the college entrance examinations fees to 
underprivileged graduating high school students. Not only does this provide for truly 
deserved opportunities to many of our high school graduates, it also affords the private 
HEIs the opportunity to welcome among their ranks brilliant and promising youths, 
who are otherwise unable to apply. This can only raise the quality of their studentry 
and, ultimately, the prestige of their institutions.
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID
Senator 
>


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S, No, 1679
/(ftffitf of tlj? fei'crptarp
23 JAN 16 P6 :17
RECEIVED BV;
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid
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AN ACT
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MANDATING PRIVATE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS TO WAIVE THE
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COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMINATION FEES TO UNDERPRIVILEGED
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GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Free College Entrance
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Examinations Act.
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Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State
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to expand and further democratize access to quality college education in private higher
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education institutions by instituting mechanisms that promote the rights of the
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underprivileged graduating high school students.
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The exemption from the imposition of entrance examination fees is one such
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mechanism that shall give adequate assistance and equal opportunity to these
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students to pursue their dreams of obtaining a college education.
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Section 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
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(a) College entrance examinations - refer to the examinations required and
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administered by higher education institutions on college entrants that is a
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criterion for determining admission to a college degree program;


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(b) Higher education institution- refers to an educational institution recognized 
by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and is duly authorized to 
offer a program of education leading to the conferment of a degree;
(c) Private Higher Education Institution (Private HEI) - refers to a higher 
education institution not owned or controlled by the government or its 
instrumentalities and may be sectarian (usually non-stock, non-profit, duly 
incorporated, owned and operated by a religious organization) or non­
sectarian (not affiliated to any religious organization, duly incorporated, 
owned and operated by private entities); and
(d) Underpriviieged graduating high school students- refers to graduating high 
school students or high school graduates entering college, whose 
households have a combined income that falls below the poverty threshold, 
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).
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Section 4. Waiver of Fees. - All private HEIs are hereby mandated to waive
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college entrance fees to underprivileged graduating high school students who are
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applying for college admission.
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Section 5. Eiigibiiity. - A student shall become eligible as beneficiary under this
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Act when the following qualifications are met:
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(a) Must be a Filipino citizen;
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(b) Must be a graduating high school student of their graduating class and seeks
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to be admitted to a private HEI within the country; and
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(c) Must belong to a family whose combined income falls below the poverty
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threshold, as determined by the NEDA and the DSWD.
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Section 6. Sanctions. - The CHED shall reprimand any official or employee of a
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private HEI or other individuals who violate Section 4 of this Act, and impose
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disciplinary sanctions for a repetition of the same offense, pursuant to its powers
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under Section 8 (e) of Republic Act No. 7722, otherwise known as the "Higher
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Education Act of 1994."
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The CHED shall establish an office which shall address the concerns of eligible
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students who are prevented by any private HEI from availing of the benefits provided
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under this Act.
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Section 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from
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the effectivity of this Act, the CHED shall, in coordination with the Department of
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Education and the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the
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Philippines, issue the rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.
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Section 8. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any part or provision of this
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Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not
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affected shall remain in full force and effect.
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Section 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, decrees, instructions,
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rules and regulations contrary or inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby
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amended, repealed or modified accordingly.
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Section 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
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Approved,