THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
S. No. 
5 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLM JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The constitutionally protected of speech and of association are rights which are primarily 
exercised in institutions of higher learning. The youth, particularly students in colleges and 
universities should be exposed to this right. However, the very institutions which should 
encourage the exercise of these rights are main suppressors. 
This bill seeks to provide further safeguards for the exercise of the cherished 
constitutional rights free speech and association by students in institutions of higher learning by 
terminating government financial assistance to certain government funded programs or activities 
received by such educational institutions for violation of these rights. 
MANUEL B. ILLAR, JR. 
P 


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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
. 
S. No. 
L
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INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR JR. 
AN ACT TO PROTECT THE FWEDOM OF SPEECH AND OF ASSOCIATION 
RIGHTS OF STUDENTS ATTENDING INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. This Act may be cited as the "Freedom of Speech and Association 
on Campus Act." 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy - It is the policy of the States to protect the speech and 
association rights of the students attending institutions of higher education. Toward this end, the 
government shall ensure, within the context of a free and democratic system, the promotion of 
the right of every student in the exercise of their freedom of speech and association regardless of 
sex, age, creed, socio-economic status, physical and mental conditions, racial or ethic origin, 
political or other affiliation. 
Sec. 3 , Definition of terms. For purposes of this Act, the term: 
(1) Secretary means the Secretary of Education Culture and Sports. 
(2) Institution of Higher Education means institutions offering tertiary degree programs 
and post secondary programs. 
(3) Tertiary degree programs refer to courses of study leading to master's, doctor's or 
similar degrees. It also includes courses of study which by themselves may be only for 
one-two- or three- year courses of study leading to less than a bachelor's degree 
program, but which can subsequently be credited in full bachelor's degrees. 


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(4) Post- secondary programs refer to courses of study which cannot be credited towards 
a bachelor's degree but which require the possession of a high school diploma for 
admission, which are terminal in nature, and which are general for obtaining technical 
and vocational skills. 
( 5 )  Protected Speech means speech that is protected under the 1987 Constitution. 
(6) Protected Association means the right to join, assemble, and reside with others that is 
protected under the 1987 Constitution. 
(7) Official 
Sanction- 
(A) means 
expulsion, 
suspension, 
probation, 
censure, 
condemnation, reprimand, or other disciplinary, coercive, or adverse action taken by 
an institution of higher education or administrative unit of the institution; and (B) 
include an oral or written warning made by an official of an institution of higher 
education acting his official capacity. 
(8) Students means those enrolled in and who regularly attend an education: institution of 
higher level of a person engaged in formal study. 
Section 4. Protection of Students Speech and Association Rights. 
No students 
attending an institution of higher education on a full-or part-time basis shall, on the basis of 
protected speech and association, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or 
be subjected to discrimination or official sanction under any educational program, activity, or 
division directly or indirectly receiving financial assistance by the state, whether or not such 
program, activity, or division is sponsored or officially sanctioned by the institution. 
Section 5. Sanction. 
(1) In General- No funds shall be made available to an educational program activity or 
division of any institution of higher education that the Secretary finds, after notice and 
opportunity for a hearing, has violated any provision of this Act. 
(2) Inapplicability to Students Assistance- Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any funds that 
are provided under this Act for financial assistance. 
(3) Exception to Sanctions- This section shall not apply to an institution of higher 
education that is controlled by a religious or military organization, if the speech or 


association in not consistent with the religious tenets or military training of the 
institution. 
(4) Sanctions for Disruption Permitted- Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent 
the imposition of an official sanction on a student that has willfully participated in 
the disruption or attempted disruption or attempted disruption of a lecture, class, 
speech, presentation, or performance made or scheduled to be made under the 
auspices of the institution of higher education. 
Section 6. Separability Clause. If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
Section 7. Repealing Clause. Any law, presidential decree, or issuance executive order, 
letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation not contrary to or inconsistent with, 
the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
Section 8. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,