Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESHNTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HouseBillNo.      8639
Introduced by Representative Jaime R. Fresnedi
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This  proposed measure  is  envisioned as  an  opportunity  for  graduating  high  school
students and high school graduates who have good academic standing but lack the financial
capacity to have the chance to enter Private Higher Educational Institutions (PHEls). It seeks
to mandate these PHEls to waive the entrance examination fee to students who belong to the
top fifteen-percent ( 15%) of the high school graduating class.
A good education is often a privilege in this economy. As this bill acknowledges the
mere  fact that taking  college  entrance  exams  in private  academic  institutions  for  indigent
students can become costly, we therefore envision to break this financial barrier that hinder the
chance   of  these   students  to   enter  PHEls.   More   often  than  not,   bright   and  talented
undeaprivileged high school students do not have the same opportunity as those in the middle
to  upper  classes.  In  this  way  and  manner,  we  help  widen  the  realm  of opportunities  and
possibilities for our underprivileged youth.
The bill not only proposes to provide free entrance exams for these young hopefuls, but
also grant them the utmost priority to scholarships being offered by both the government and
by PHEls should they be successfully admitted.
The inequality in access to quality education has become a pressing concern for us over
the years. This should be a collective concern that must be addressed to create a positive impact
in  the  lives  of our  students  as  well  as  their  families,  regardless  of their  socio-economic
background.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is eamestly sought.
Lone District, Muntinlupa City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETHENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HoUsEBILLNo.8639
Introduced by Representative Jaime R. Fresnedi
ANACT
PROVIDING    OPPORTUNITIES    T0    UNDERPRIVILEGED    HIGH    SCHOOL
STUDENTS  TO  TAKE  COLLEGE  ENTRANCE  EXAMINATIONS  IN  PRIVATE
HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS FREE 0F CHARGE
Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  Of  Representatives  of the  Philippines  in
Congress Assembled:
SECTION ONE.  S¢orf rzt/e. -This Act shall be known as the ''Fj`ec Co//egg E#/rcz7?ce
Examinations for Bright and Talehied Underprivileged High School Students Act".
Sec. 2.  Dec/czrc}/z.o72 a/Po/7.ey. -It is hereby declared the policy of the State to expand
and  further  democratize  access  to  quality  college  education  in  private  higher  education
institutions (PHEls). Towards this end, it shall provide mechanisms that will enable bright and
talented  underprivileged graduating high school students and high school graduates belonging
to the top fifteen percent (15%) of their graduating class to enter these institutions.
The  exemption  from  the  imposition  of  entrance  examination  fees  is  one  such
mechanism  that  shall  give  adequate  assistance  and  equal  opportunity  to  these  students  to
pursue their dreams of obtaining a college education.
Sec.  3. Dc¢7!ztz.o# o/rerrms.  -For the puaposes of this Act, the following terms shall
be defined as follows:
a.    Co//egg    e#givc}#ce    exc77„z.#cz/z.o72s    refer    to    the    exalninations    required    and
administered  by  PHEls  on  college  entrants  that  is  a  criterion  for  determining
admission to a college degree program;
b.     f7z.g72er ec7#ccz/z.o7? z.77s/i./"/z.o77 refers to an educational institution recognized by the
Commission on  Higher Education  (CHED)  and  is  legally  authorized to  offer  a
program of education leading to the conferment of a degree;
c.    Prz.vcr/e fJz.gfeer Ed#ccJ/z.o# J#s/z./#/I.o# 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
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a  religious   organization)   or   non-   sectarian   (not   affiliated   to   any   religious
organization, duly incoaporated, owned and operated by private entities); and
d.   Underprivileged   gradrating   high   school   students   and   graduates   refer   to
graduating high school students or high school graduates entering college, whose
parents  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).
See. 4.  F7iec Co//egg E#/rcz77ce Excz77#.#cz/z.o77f. -The college entrance examination fees
in  PHEls  for  unprivileged  public  senior  high  school  graduating  students  and  graduates
belonging to the top fifteen percent (15%) of their graduating class shall be waived. It shall
be covered under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education fund administered by the
Commission on Higher Education - Unified Student Financial Assistance Secretariat (CHED
- UniFAST).
Sec. 5. gajc7/z/}ccz/z.o# Jteq24zteme#/I.  -A student shall become eligible as a beneficiary
under this Act when the following qualiflcations are met:
a.    Must be a natural-born Filipino citizen;
b.    Must be a graduating high school student or a high school graduate who belongs
to the top fifteen percent (15%) of their graduating class and seeks to be admitted
to a private higher education institution within the country; and
c.    Must belong to a falnily whose combined income falls below the poverty threshold,
as determined by the NEDA and the DSWD.
See. 6.  Additional Benef its f ;or Qualif ted Students. -Bened+ctfny srfuderlts of thi:his Alct
who are successfully admitted in PHEls shall be given priority to scholarships offered by both
the government and PHEls .
Sec. 7.  Scz72c/I.o7ts. -The CHED shall reprimand any official or employee of a private
higher education institution or other individuals who shall violate Section 4 of this Act, and
impose disciplinary sanctions for a repetition of the same offense, pursuant to its powers under
Section 8(e)  of Republic Act No.  7722,  otherwise known as the  "Higher Education Act of
1994„.
See.  8.   Implementing Rules and Regulations.  - Within ninety  (90)  days from the
effectivity of this Act, the CHED shall. In coordination with the Department of Education and
the  Coordinating  Council  of Private  Educational Associations  of the  Philippines,  issue the
rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.
Sec. 9.  Sapcrrczbz./I.fy C/czztse.  -If, for any reason, any part or provision of this Act is
declared  invalid  or  unconstitutional,  the  remaining  parts  or  provisions  not  affected  shall
remain in full force and effect.
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Sec.  10.   J2epeczJz.ng C/cr2/se.  -All laws,  executive orders, decrees, instructions, rules
and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby amended,
repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec.  11.   Ej7rec/z.vz.ty.  -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
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