Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

H. B. No. 3092

Introduced by HONORABLE CZARINA D. UMALI

EXPLANATORY NOTE

While we recognize that education is a right and not a privilege, poverty remains
as the prime factor in determining whether a student who is able to finish high school,
can pursue a dream of earning a degree that he can use to free his family from the
quagmire that plague them.

But even before he can start, a barrier has already been laid that effectively
douses cold water on his dream, the entrance examination fees.

This bill seeks to aid these poor but deserving students by eliminating this first
barrier, and ensure that they are given equal opportunities with others in pursuing their

dreams.

For this reason, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought

Lpuee D. UMALI

Representative
3" District, Nueva Ecija


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

3092

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: HONORABLE CZARINA D. UMALI

AN ACT
GRANTING FREE COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS TO GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS, HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES, COLLEGE ENTRANTS OR TRANSFEREES
APPLYING FOR ADMISSION IN STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES AND LOCAL
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND TO UNDERPRIVILEGED PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS BELONGING TO THE TOP TEN PERCENT (10%) OF THE GRADUATING CLASS.
APPLYING FOR ADMISSION IN PRIVATE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled,

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Free College Entrance Exam Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to expand and further
democratize access to quality education at the college level by instituting mechanisms that protect
the rights of underprivileged but bright and deserving high school graduates.

The exemption from the imposition of entrance examination fees is one such mechanism that
will ensure that underprivileged, but bright and deserving high school graduates, are given adequate
assistance and equal opportunity to pursue their dreams of obtaining a college education,

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. For Purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean

a) College Entrance Examinations — shall refer to examinations required by higher education
institutions on graduating high school students or high school graduates as one of the criteria
for determining admission to a four-year or five-year college degree program in the said
educational institutions;

b) Underprivileged Public High Schoo! Graduates — shall refer to public high school students
who belong to the top ten percent (10%) of the graduating class and whose parents live
below the poverty line or belong to the poorest of the poor, as determined by the National
Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the National Statistics Office (NSO), and the
National Household Targeting System of the Department of Social Welfare and
Development, who are the qualified beneficiaries of this Act;


©) Higher Education Institution (HEI) — shall refer to an educational institution that is legally
authorized to offer a program of education leading to the conferment of a degree.

SEC. 4. Coverage. All state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local colleges and universities
(LCUs) offering degree-granting programs are hereby required to provide free college entrance
examinations to graduating high school students, high school graduates, college entrants and
transferees who are applying for college admission

All private colleges, universities or institutions of higher education or degree-granting
programs are hereby required to provide free entrance examinations to underprivileged public high
school students belonging to the top 10 percent of the graduating class and who are applying for
college admission

SEC. 5. Qualification Requirements of Free College Entrance Examination Beneficiaries in
SUCs and LCUs. A student beneficiary eligible under this Act shall have the following entry
requirements

a) Must be a natural-bom Filipino citizen; and

b) Must be a graduating high school student or high school graduate, college entrant or
transferee and intends to enroll in any public HE!

SEC. 6. Qualification Requirements of Free College Entrance Examination Beneficiaries in
Private HEIs:

a) Must be a natural-bom Filipino citizen:
b) Must be enrolled in a public high schoo!:

c) Must belong to the top 10 percent of the graduating class as certified by the public-school
and the Department of Education (DepED); and

d) Must have parents or guardians living below the poverty line as determined by the NEDA,
NSO and DSWD.

SEC. 7. Penalties. Any HEI official or employee and other concerned individuals found guilty of
violating the provisions of this Act shall suffer the penalty of prision correccional or imprisonment
from six (6) months and one (1) day to six (6) years and a fine of Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand
Pesos (P750,000.00).

In addition, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) may impose disciplinary sanctions
against any HE! official or employee violating the provisions of this Act pursuant to Section 13 of
Republic Act No. 7722, otherwise known as the Higher Education Modemization Act of 1994

SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The CHED, in coordination with the DepED,
Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC), the Coordinating Council of
Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA). and the Association of Local Colleges and
Universities (ALCU), shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation
of this Act.


SEC. 9. Separability Clause. |f any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the
other sections or provisions not otherwise affected shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. 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. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at
least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,