The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) welcomes Republic Act (RA) No. 12006, which mandates private higher education institutions to remove college entrance examination fees and charges for eligible students applying for college admissions.

The Commission believes that this law will not only reduce the burden on Filipinos’ finances but will also open doors and opportunities for young people who do not have enough resources to access education, particularly in private higher education institutions (HEIs).

To be eligible for the waiver of college entrance examinations in private HEIs, RA 12006 requires the graduating student to be a natural-born Filipino citizen, belong to the top ten percent (10%) of his or her graduating class, and come from a family whose combined household income falls below the poverty threshold as defined by the National Economic and Development Authority, or must be unable to sustainably afford their minimum basic needs, including food, health, education, housing, and other essential amenities of life, as certified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Article XIV, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution declares that the “State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.” Furthermore, this aligns with Article 26, Section I of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which states that everyone has the right to education.

CHR also emphasizes the need to prioritize the marginalized, vulnerable, and disadvantaged sectors, including but not limited to students from rural areas, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups. Moreover, while we commend and acknowledge the waiver of college entrance exam fees, we also advocate for the establishment of more robust scholarship programs in private HEIs so students will have greater opportunities to pursue and complete their college education without the burden of financial limitations.

We commend the efforts and initiatives made by our legislators in making education more accessible to all. As the Philippines continues to progress, the Commission views this law as a significant step toward recognizing the economic, social, cultural, and human rights of the people, especially the right to education.###