SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regu/ar Session 
SENATE 
) 
) 
) 
Senate Bill No. 
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SEP 11 P 2 :27 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
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 must be developed. 
The administration of achievement tests at the highest elementary grades 
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. 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
) 
) 
) 
Senate Bill No. 
16 2 8 
'1) 
SEP 11 
P2 :27 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
CONVERTING THE NATIONAL EDUCATION TESTING AND RESEARCH 
CENTER (NERTC) 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 Act of 2013". 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It shall 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" shall remain the National Education Assessment and 
Evaluation Authority. 
b) 
"Assessment" covers the broader scope than the restrictive 
connotations of the term's 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-schoo I-based 
methods acquiring knowledge and skills. 
. 
SEC. 4. National Education Assessment a'1d Evaluation Authority. To 
implement the policy declared in this Act, the National Education Testing and 
Research Center (MNETRC) 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. 
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 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 and 
development institutions; 
g) A representative of public higher education institutions; 
h) A representative of private higher education institutions; 
i) An eminent educ.ato~ 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, 
upon the 
recommendation of their respective 


organizations and/or peers, for a term of three (3) years without prejudice to one 
(1) reappointment shall appoint them. 
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 form among 
the regular members of a term of three (3) years, without prejudice to one 
reelection. He shall serve full-time. 
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 publics the results of tests, research and 
evaluation; 
f) To devise equivalency measures between and 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 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; 
I) 
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 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 by 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 his Act shall continue to perform their 
respective duties and responsibilities, in a holdover capacity, and 
receiver their corresponding salaries and benefits until such time 
when the organizational structure and staffing pattern of the 
Authority will 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,OOO,OOO.OO) 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 inconsistency 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 on the official gazette and in two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved,