FREE COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS, BULACAN ECONOMIC ZONE BILLS LAPSE INTO LAW

MANILA, Philippines — The bills waiving college entrance examination fees for qualified students and creating the Bulacan Special Economic Zone and Freeport have both lapsed into law, the Palace said Friday.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO), in a statement, said Republic Act (RA) 12006, or the Free College Entrance Examinations Act, lapsed into law on June 14.

Meanwhile, RA 11999, or the Bulacan Special Economic Zone and Freeport Act lapsed into law on June 13.

Under the Constitution, a bill lapses into law when the President does not act on it within 30 days. 

RA 12006 “exempts qualified graduates and graduating students from payment of entrance examination fees administered by private higher education institutions (HEIs).”

Qualified students must be a natural-born Filipino citizen, must belong to the top 10 percent of their graduating class and must belong to a family whose combined household income falls below the poverty threshold as defined by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).

Qualified students are also required to apply for college entrance exams to any private higher schools within the country, and must satisfy all of the school’s requirements.

The new law authorizes the Commission on Higher Education to determine and impose appropriate sanctions against private schools for violating the law, and is mandated to promulgate the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the law within 60 days from its effectivity in coordination with the Department of Education. 

The Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines, or its equivalent institution, will also be consulted for drafting the IRR. 

BEZA 

RA 11999 established the Bulacan Special Economic Zone Freeport or the Bulacan EcoZone (BuZ) and created the Bulacan Special Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (BEZA).

Under the law, the BEZA shall be organized within 180 days upon effectivity of the law and will manage BuZ where San Miguel Corporation’s project for a new international airport will be located.

In consultation with Neda, BEZA shall establish the general framework for land use, planning and development for the area covered by BuZ, consistent with the Philippine Development Plan of the government.