TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
I'd
JULIO P6:19
SENATE
s. No. 437
liK.i.i',
Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
AN ACT
MANDATING ALL PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO 
IMPLEMENT A NO COLLECTION POLICY
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Based on the Philippine Statistics Authority's Annual Poverty Indicators Survey 
(APIS) for the school year 2022 to 2023, 18.6% of children aged five (5) to twenty-four 
(24) years were not enrolled in school. One of the primary reasons cited for their non- 
attendance was financial constraints or the high cost of education. This highlights the 
urgent need for government action to ensure that no child is forced to stop schooling due 
to economic hardship, especially in light of the constitutional mandate to provide free 
public education at the elementary and secondary levels.
Under Section 1, Article XIV of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the State is 
expressly mandated to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education 
at all levels and to take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. 
Furthermore, Section 2(2) of the same Article provides that the State shall establish and 
maintain a system of free public education in the elementary and high school levels.
This bill seeks to give full effect to these constitutional policies by banning the 
collection of any form of fees or contributions from students enrolled in public elementary 
and secondary schools. Thus, it aims to ease the burden on low-income families, thereby 
fostering inclusivity and equal educational opportunities for all.


Ultimately, by enforcing a no-collection policy in public schools, the bill seeks to 
eliminate financial barriers that hinder student enrollment and retention, as well as 
address the significant financial challenges faced by parents and guardians in securing 
education for their children.
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
raffyt.
\..v
TULFO


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
I'd JULIO P6:19
SENATE
S. No. 437
Hi i.Mi-
Introduced by Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
AN ACT
MANDATING ALL PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO 
IMPLEMENT A NO COLLECTION POLICY
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress Assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "No Collection Policy in all
2 
Public Elementary and Secondary Schools".
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. -The State affirms its duty to uphold the right of all
4 
Filipinos to free and accessible quality education. It shall likewise ensure access to
5 
elementary and secondary education by eliminating ail forms of financial barriers and
6 
taking appropriate steps to make such education truly attainable. Towards this end, all
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public elementary and secondary schools shall adopt and enforce a no-collection policy
8 
to promote inclusive and equitable access to education.
9 
Sec. 3. No Collection Policy in AH Public Elementary and Secondary Schools. - No
10 
fees, charges, or contributions shall be collected from students enrolled in all public
11 
elementary, and secondary schools, whether during the enrollment period or at any time
12 
during the school year.
13 
Sec. 4. Coverage. - This prohibition shall cover, among others, contributions
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referred to as voluntary, such as those for the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, Girl Scouts
15 
of the Philippines, Philippine Red Cross, and the Anti-TB Fund Drive.


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Sec. 5. Allowable Voluntary Contribution for Higher Grade Levels.- For grade and
2 
year levels beyond Grade IV, no collection of any type shall be made during the
3 
enrollment period and the first month of classes. Starting on the second month of the
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school year, contributions for the following may be collected, but only on a voluntary
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basis:
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1. Boy/Girl Scouts Membership
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2. Red Cross Membership
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3. Anti-TB Fund Drive
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4. School Publication
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5. Membership in Student Organizations
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Sec. 6. Payment of School Publication Fee. -The school publication fee shall be
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set at the school level but shall not be more than Php 60.00 per elementary school pupil
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and Php 90.00 per secondary school student. The publication of a school newspaper,
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while not mandatory, is strongly encouraged, particularly at the secondary level in line
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with the campus journalism program.
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Sec. 7. Payment of Membership Fees for Student Organizations. - It shall be set
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by the organization subject to existing school policies on student organizations.
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Sec. 8. Prohibition on Mandatory Parents Teachers Conference Association
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Contributions (PTCA). - The Parents Teachers Conference Association, or any of its
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officers, shall in no case compel or require any parent, guardian, or student to contribute
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or donate, whether in cash, in kind, or in the form of services, for any project, program,
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or activity of the PTCA.
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Sec. 9. No Collection Policy for Graduation and Moving-Up Rites. - No fees shall be
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collected for graduation rites and moving-up ceremonies in all public elementary and
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secondary schools. All expenses related to these activities shall be charged to the
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Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) of the school.
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Sec. 10. Automatic Enrollment of Promoted PupHs/students. - Those who are
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promoted to the next grade or year level are considered automatically enrolled for the
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coming school year in the same school. Only pupils entering first grade, students entering
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first year high school, and transferees from another public school or a private school need


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only for sectioning purposes or any other pre-opening preparations as determined by the 
school administrators.
Sec. 11. Release of Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses. - Schools Division 
Superintendents are directed to release MOOE funds to schools without fiscal autonomy 
in the form of cash advance to ensure that operating funds are available at the start of 
the school year.
Sec. 12. Monitoring and Supervision. - Regional and division offices are advised 
to undertake monitoring activities during the enrollment period and the first month of 
classes to ensure that the provisions of this Act are strictly complied with.
Sec. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Education 
shall promulgate the rules and regulations to implement this Act within thirty (30) days 
from its effectivity.
SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders issuance, circulars, rules and 
regulation or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 15. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provision hereof not affected thereby shall 
continue to be in full force and effect.
Sec. 16. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the official gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,