FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
,. 
Senate Bill No. 1309 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The unhealthy state of our economy at present greatly burdens the 
society. The effect of our economic problems spans across almost all sectors, 
including the studentry. 
As tuition and school fees continue to increase in both private and public 
and private schools, more students find themselves struggling to meet the 
scheduled dates of payment since failure to do such would mean being 
disallowed by the school administrators from taking the mid-term or final 
examinations. 
To aid the students in their plight, this bill declares unlawful for any school, 
public or private, to disallow any student from taking any mid-term or final exam 
due to non-payment of tuition fees. 
Furthermore, this bill seeks to prescribe a reasonable compromise 
between the competing needs of students and the school administration. 
MANNY ILLAR 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1309 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT 
, :-, 
PROHIBITING PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM DISALLOWING 
STUDENTS WITH DELINQUENT TUITION FEES TO TAKE THE MIDTERM OR 
FINAL EXAMINATIONS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
, 
SECTION 1. Unlawful Practice.- It is hereby declared unlawful for any 
school, public or private, to disallow any student from taking any midterm or final 
examination due to non-payment of tuition fees not exceeding one installment 
under the established terms of payment prescribed by the school concerned and 
approved by the Department of Education. 
SECTION 2. Rights of Schools.- Students permitted to take mid-term or 
final examinations notwithstanding, the school authorities have the following 
rights: 
• 
a. The school authorities concerned are entitled to withhold the release of 
the grades of such students until the unpaid tuition, plus interest charges, 
are fully paid; 
b. A student with an unpaid tuition fee, may not be admitted by the school 
authorities concerned at the next succeeding semester classes or at the 
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next succeeding opening of a new academic year, as the case may be, 
until the prior delinquencies are fully paid; 
c, The school authorities concerned cannot be compelled to issue clearance 
to students with financial obligations to their schools, which remain due 
and unpaid. 
SECrlON 3. Obligation of Students- The students and/or their parents, 
unless waived by the school authorities concerned shall be obligated to pay an 
interest for the unpaid tuition fees, an amount equivalent to not more than 14% 
per annum, computed from the date of the examination taken until the tuition due 
and unpaid, are fully liquidated. 
SECTION 4. Implementing Guidelines.- The Department of Education 
shall promulgate the implementing guidelines necessary to enforce the objectives 
of this Act. 
SECTION 5. Penalty Imposed.- Violations of the provisions of this Act 
shall be punished by the suspension and/or cancellation of the permits of the 
offending schools and fine of not less than P20,OOO.OO but not more than 
P50,OOO.OO. 
SECTION 6. Effectivity Cluase, This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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