NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The right of all citizens to quality education at all school levels is upheld by the 
Constitution.  It is therefore, the mandate of the State to protect this right and to provide the 
resources to implement this policy for the benefit of all citizens. 
This bill seeks to institute the appropriate mechanisms for ensuring quality education 
by the creation of an agency - the National Educational Assessment and Evaluation Authority 
(NEAEA)- that will monitor the educational processes and outputs and to oversee how 
effectively these are implemented. The NEAEA will be responsible for coordinating current 
testing efforts, particularly those that have been started by the Department of Education, 
particularly the National Education Testing and Research Center (NETRC) in its administration 
of the now-defunct National College Entrance Examination and the National Secondary 
Achievement Tests as incorporated in the Secondary Education Development Program.  
For purposes of screening, selection and promotion, school tests students at different 
stages in the educational ladder. It is however of utmost importance that the quality, validity 
and reliability of such tests be determined and local norms for foreign ones be developed.  
The administration of achievement tests at the highest elementary grade and in second 
year high school, the latter for career guidance and counseling purposes, as a valuable tool 
for assessment, is gaining popularity throughout the country. In addition, it is necessary to 
assess not only the students, but also the teachers and the school programs as well to gauge 
the quality of education. 
The NEAEA, as proposed in this bill, will improve the delivery of quality education and 
strengthen the linkage between the educational system and the country’s vital economic and 
industrial sectors. 
The enactment of this bill will rationalize the system for monitoring, testing and 
evaluation of the outputs of different grade/year levels in the elementary, secondary and 
tertiary levels.  
Immediate approval of this bill is therefore earnestly sought. 
 RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
March 16, 2023
7:00 pm
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NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
AN ACT 
CONVERTING THE NATIONAL EDUCATION TESTING AND RESEARCH CENTER 
(NETRC) INTO A NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION 
AUTHORITY (NEAEA), DEFINING ITS STRUCTURE, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the “National Education Assessment 
and Evaluation Authority Act”. 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby be declared the policy of the State to promote 
the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and to take appropriate measures to 
make such education accessible to all. 
Thus, to attain quality education, mechanisms shall be established to monitor 
educational processes and outcomes through appropriate assessment and evaluation 
systems. Assessment and evaluation, in view of their importance, shall be considered vital to 
the continuing pursuit of quality education.  
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act: 
(a)
“Authority” refers to the National Education Assessment and Evaluation Authority.
(b)
“Assessment” covers the broader scope than the restrictive connotations of the
term measurement. The process of assessment involves the appraisal of the level
or magnitude of some attribute.
(c)
“Evaluation” is the process of gathering data, which can be used as basis for
forming judgments, and to continuous decision making about programs,
processes and products.
(d)
“Testing” refers to systematic procedures for measuring samples of behavior
under controlled conditions.
(e)
“Equivalency, Certification and Accreditation” shall mean methods of assessing
and evaluating an individual’s level of proficiency in a specified area.
(f)
“Alternative Learning System” shall mean the non-school-based methods of
acquiring knowledge and skills.
SEC. 4. National Education Assessment and Evaluation Authority. To implement the 
policy declared in this Act, the National Education Testing and Research Center (NETRC) of 
the Department of Education, is hereby converted into a National Education Assessment and 
Evaluation Authority (NEAEA), hereinafter referred to as the Authority, which shall be attached 
for administrative purposes to the Office of the President until such a time that an appropriate 
body is created by law. 
SEC. 5. Composition of the Authority. The National Education Assessment and 
Evaluation Authority shall be composed of the Authority Board and its technical and 
administrative staff and personnel. 
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SEC. 6. Composition of the NEAEA Board. The Authority shall be governed by a 
Board, which shall be composed of the following members: 
 
 
Ex-Officio Members 
a) 
The Secretary of the Department of Education; 
b) 
The Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment; 
c) 
The Secretary of Department of Science and Technology; 
d) 
The Chairman of the  Commission on Higher Education; 
 
 
Regular Members 
e) 
A representative of public technical education and skills development 
institutions; 
f) 
A representative of private technical education and skills development 
institutions; 
g) 
A representative of public higher education institutions; 
h) 
A representative of private higher education institutions; 
i) 
An eminent educator in the filed of Measurement and Evaluation; 
j) 
An eminent educator in the field of Educational Research; and 
k) 
An eminent educator in the field of Psychology, Psychometrics, or 
Career Counseling. 
 
 
The regular members shall be persons known for their integrity and probity. The 
President, shall, upon the recommendation of their respective organizations and/or peers, 
appoint the regular members for a term of three (3) years without prejudice to one (1) 
reappointment. 
 
Among the first regular members, three (3) shall hold office for a term of three (3) years 
each; the next two (2) for a term of two (2) years each; and the last two (2) for a term of one 
(1) year each. 
 
The Chairman of the Board shall be elected by the members from among the regular 
members of a term of three (3) years, without prejudice to one re-election. He shall serve full-
time.  
 
The ex-officio member of the Board shall hold office during their incumbency.  
 
 
SEC. 7. Powers and functions of the Board. The Board shall have the following powers 
and functions.  
 
a) To formulate and implement national policies and standards on testing and 
evaluation, develop and administer various tests and other assessment 
instruments, utilize test and evaluation results to improve education; 
b) To develop achievement tests which will be administered at the end of Grade IV, 
Grade VI and fourth year high school and the aptitude tests to be administered not 
later than second year high school; 
c) To review, improve and oversee the implementation of all national testing 
programs; 
d) To conduct continuing research studies for refinement, standardization and the 
improvement of existing instruments and evaluation programs; 
e) To disseminate to concerned public the results of tests, research and evaluation; 
f) To devise equivalency measures between/among different tests; 
g) To accredit testing agencies; 
h) To coordinate and collaborate with different institutions, government and private, 
and other related agencies on matters pertinent to testing and evaluation; 
i) To provide consultative assistance to related agencies on testing and evaluation; 
j) To organize and constitute working committees or groups to carry out its functions; 


k) To call upon any department, bureau, office or government corporation, local 
government units and other concerned agencies for assistance; 
l) To provide training and technical assistance to staff and field personnel to 
safeguard the integrity of testing and evaluation activities and results; 
m) To collect fees, receive and maintain funds, grants, donations and bequests for the 
promotion of its aims and purposes; and 
n) To exercise other functions which are necessary for the effective implementation 
and to carry out the purposes of this Act. 
 
 
 
 
SEC. 8. Executive Officer; Term of Office; Rank and Emoluments. The Authority shall 
be headed by an executive officer, who shall be chosen by the Board and shall hold the rank 
and emoluments of Undersecretary. His/her term of office shall be for a period of five (5) years 
without prejudice to one reappointment. 
 
The executive officer shall execute and implement the policies, programs and 
resolutions of the Board. 
 
 
SEC. 9. Transitory Provisions.  
 
a) To provide continuity in the operations and services of the Authority, the incumbent 
officials and employees of the present NETRC affected under this Act shall 
continue to perform their respective duties and responsibilities, in a holdover 
capacity, and shall receive their corresponding salaries and benefits until such time 
when the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the Authority shall have 
been approved by the Board. 
 
Those personnel whose positions are not included in the new staffing pattern 
approved by the Board or who are not reappointed or who choose to be separated 
as a result of the reorganization shall be entitled to whatever compensation and 
benefits are due them under existing laws. 
 
b) All assets such as test items in the item bank, equipment, books, including 
Appropriation and other funds and liabilities of the NETRC shall be transferred to 
the Authority. 
 
c) The transition period shall not exceed one year from the effectivity of this Act.  
 
 
SEC. 
10. 
Appropriations. 
The 
amount 
of 
Two 
Hundred 
Million 
Pesos 
(P200,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated to initially implement the provisions of this Act. 
Thereafter, such funds as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be included 
in the annual General Appropriations Act.  
 
 
SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. Presidential Decree No. 146, and all executive orders, 
presidential decrees, administrative orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent 
with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
 
 
SEC. 12. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette and in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.  
 
 
Approved,