Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. HARRIS CHRISTOPHER M. ONGCHUAN 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The universal access to quality tertiary education is a right cited in Section 1, 
Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution, and therefore must be protected and made more 
accessible to all Filipinos regardless of gender, age, and especially social class.  
This position is further supported by the 2030 Agenda, otherwise known as the 
Sustainable Development Goals, which was adopted by all United Nations Member 
States in 2015. Fourth among the seventeen goals listed in this resolution is the 
universal access to quality education. With this in mind, it is the national interest to 
remove all barriers to quality education.  
Although much progress was made in this advocacy, practices such as the 
issuance of college entrance exam fees continue to hinder many students from 
pursuing higher education. It should be the priority of the government to waive such 
fees for those who do not have the financial means, such as those living below the 
poverty line, and those who have proven themselves to be academically excellent.  
This legislation proposes that all degree-offering higher education institutions 
in the undergraduate level waive college entrance exam fees to underprivileged high 
school graduates living below the poverty line, and to high school graduates 
belonging to the top ten percent (10%) of their batch. Furthermore, it will give the 
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) the power to sanction any Higher 
Education Institution that does not waive college entrance exam fees to those who 
qualify for this subsidy.  
In view of the foregoing, the passage of the bill is earnestly sought.  
HARRIS CHRISTOPHER M. ONGCHUAN 
August 30, 2022
8:02 am
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 Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.  _________ 
Introduced by Representative 
HARRIS CHRISTOPHER M. ONGCHUAN 
AN ACT  
MANDATING ALL HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS TO WAIVE THE 
COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMINATION FEES TO UNDERPRIVILEGED 
GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND HIGH SCHOOL 
GRADUATES BELONGING TO THE TOP TEN PERCENT (10%) OF THE 
GRADUATING CLASS WHO ARE APPLYING FOR COLLEGE ADMISSION 
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 
Examinations Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
expand and further democratize access to quality college education in higher 
education institutions (HEIs) by instituting mechanisms that promote the rights of 
the underprivileged and deserving high school graduates. 
The exemption from the imposition of entrance examination fees is one such 
mechanism that shall ensure that underprivileged and deserving high school 
graduating students and high school graduates are given adequate assistance and 
equal opportunity to pursue their dreams of obtaining a college education. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act: 
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a) College entrance examinations – refer to the examinations required and 
administered by higher education institutions on college entrants as one of the 
criteria for determining admission to a college degree program; 
b) Higher education institution – 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; and 
c) Underprivileged graduating high school students and graduates – refer to 
graduating high school students or high school graduates entering college, 
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) 
and the National Household Targeting System of the Department of Social 
Welfare and Development (DSWD). 
SECTION 4. Waiver of Fees. — All HEIs offering degree-granting programs at the 
undergraduate level are hereby mandated to waive college entrance examination fees 
to underprivileged graduating high school students and high school graduates 
belonging to the top ten percent (10%) of the graduating class who are applying for 
college admission. 
SECTION 5. Qualification Requirements. - A student shall become eligible as 
beneficiary under this Act when the following requirements are met: 
a) Must be a natural-born Filipino citizen; 
b) Must be a graduating high school student or a high school graduate belonging 
to the top ten percent (10%) of the graduating class entering college and 
intends to enroll in any HEI within the country; and 
c) Must have parents or guardians living below the poverty line, as determined 
by the NEDA and the DSWD. 
SECTION 6. Sanctions. — The CHED shall reprimand any HEI official or employee 
and other concerned individuals violating Section 4 of this Act and impose 
disciplinary sanctions pursuant to its powers under Section 8 of Republic Act No. 
7722, otherwise known as the “Higher Education Act of 1994,” for a repetition of the 
same offense. 
  
SECTION 7. 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 necessary rules and regulations to fully implement the 
provisions of this Act. 


 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause. - 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. 
SECTION 9. 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. 
SECTION 10. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved.