An Act Implementing a Centralized Admission Test on all

Philippine Colleges and Universities

EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 17 provide:
SEC. 17 The State shall give priority to education,
science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster
patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress,
and promote total human liberation and improvement.
Article 14, Section 1 further provides:
SEC. I. 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.

A Centralized Admission Test is a standardized aptitude test used to evaluate

suitability for admission in all Colleges and Universities nationwide, each having its own
discretion of requiring a result they think is commensurate with their standards. Such test
is to be taken on a students last year of Senior High school; therefore making tertiary
education more accessible to all, without the Colleges and Universities respective fees
one has to pay in order to take their entrance exams.
Colleges and Universities capitalizing on its prestige has been very problematic
nowadays. This is so because then people would have to pay for entrance exams different
from each College or University they intend to go to. Its burdensome on the part of the

parents to bear the costs and the students to take risks, to pass if not all, at least one of the
college or university he/she has applied for.
The bill establishes equal opportunities unhindered by the students capacity to
pay for admission to their desired college or university. It promotes a meaningful
education by not capitalizing on the established prestige or standards, being such
commensurate to monetary value.

Jeanne Lavin M. Aguilar

An Act Implementing a Centralized Admission Test on all

Philippine Colleges and Universities
Section 1.Short title This Act may be cited as the Centralized Admission Test
Act of 2016 or CAT Act of 2016
Section 2.Declaration of Policy- It is the policy of the State to prioritize quality
education and take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.
Section 3.Scope- The Centralized Admission Test shall be implemented on all
undergraduate programs of colleges and universities in the Philippines, applicable to
students who have finished their Senior High School, and have
their last year of Senior High. Under circumstances that
undergrad degree and wishes to earn another,
admission test conducted by the

taken such during

one has already earned an

he/she is still required to take such

Education Board.

This is not applicable on post-graduate degrees such as Law, Medicine, Masters,

Doctorate and other degrees similar to the foregoing.
Section 4.Objective- This Act aims to establish equal opportunities to access a
meaningful and complete education by eradicating relative priced entrance examinations.
Section 5.Definitions - In this Act, the terms are defined as follows:
(a) Centralized Admission Test - a standardized aptitude test used to evaluate suitability
for admission in all Colleges and Universities nationwide, each having its own discretion
of requiring a result they think is commensurate with their standards.

(b) Admission test aptitude exam given by colleges and universities to undergrad
students who wish to apply to their institution, by which each one is different from the
other, and the payment thereof is different from the other.
(c) CHED Commission on higher Education is responsible for monitoring and
regulating the curriculum and admission of students in the tertiary level.
(d) DepEd Department of Education is responsible for monitoring and regulating the
curriculum and admission of students in the pre-school, primary and secondary level.
(e) Undergraduate Students those who have completed an undergraduate program.
(f) Educational Board Board consisting of 3 members from DepEd and 3 members from
CHED.
(g) Testing Centers- those centers regulated by DepEd and CHED where they administer
the Centralized Admission Test.
(h) Testing fee- shall be included in the assessed fees of a senior graduating student, or an
undergraduate student who shall pay directly to the testing center determined by the
education board.
Section 6.Discretion of Colleges and Universities- This act shall scrape the individual
entrance examination of each college and university in the
doing such does neither in any way aim to diminish
determination and prestige, nor lower

Philippines.

However,

the institutions distinction, self-

such standards and legacy.

In order to attain justification upon which colleges and universities screen

their

respective applicants, this act bestows them the discretion of determining the

range

of grade one has to achieve on his/her CAT to be

the

able to be considered on

program of their choice. Furthermore, this act

to classify the quota of a certain
considering, and

maintains to the institution the

power

program. The act of interviewing, screening,

reconsidering shall be within the college or universitys discretion

and cannot be abridged in anyway by this act.

Section 7.Applicability on Students- This act is applicable to students who are in their
last year of Senior high school, where the admission exam is to

be

held

and

conducted by the Education board either in their respective schools or in any CAT testing
centers identified by such board in cases of

students

who

formerly

earned

an

undergraduate degree but whishes to earn another.

a. Senior High School students are required to take the Centralized Admission Test in
order to comply with requirements of the college or university of their choice. An amount
of five hundred pesos shall be included on the students statement of account, to be
remitted to the Education board for the materials and maintenance of their testing centers.
The exam may be conducted either in their respective schools or in any of the identified
CAT testing centers.
b. Undergrad students with the intention of earning another undergrad degree are
still required to take the CAT in order to comply with the requirements

of the college

or university of their choice. An amount of five hundred pesos shall be paid directly to
the office any testing centers. The exam will be conducted in any of the identified CAT
testing centers.
Section 8.Role of the Department of Education (DepEd)- The DepEd shall be responsible
in making sure that all Senior High School students, who are in their last year have taken
the said CAT within their school premises except when a student misses the exam for
whatever reason, DepEd should see to it that they take the exams on the identified CAT
testing centers three (3) months before the school year ends.

Section 9. Role of the Commission on Higher Education(CHED)- The CHED shall be in

charge of administering the said exam, in collaboration with the Department of education,
creating the Education board. The CHED Chairman shall include in its regular functions
the following:
(a.) To plan, implement and administer the aptitude test to be given to students who are
mentioned in Section 7 of this Act;
(b.) To identify and maintain the testing centers of the CAT;
(c.)To closely coordinate with Department of Education in identifying the number of
students taking the test;
(d.)To make sure that the CAT is free from deceit, prejudice, contrary to public policy and
order;
(e.) To make written recommendations to students relative to the results they have
achieved; and
(f.) To be open to any college or universitys inquiry for verification of recommendation
of an applicants performance on the said exam.
Section 10. Prohibited Acts.
(a) Persuading, inducing or influencing a CHED or DepEd official to perform an act
constituting a violation of rules and regulations duly promulgated by competent
authority or an offense in connection with the official duties of the latter, or allowing
himself to be persuaded, induced, or influenced to commit such violation or offense.

(b) Directly or indirectly requesting or receiving any gift, present, share,

percentage, or benefit, for himself or for any other person, in connection with any
contract or transaction between the CHED and DepEd and any other party.
(c) Denying any student or applicant under this act to take the said exam.
(d) Institutions insisting to have their own admission exam.
SEC 11. Penalties. - The first violation of any provision of this Act
shall cause the suspension of the license to operate or the business permit of
the establishment or the person concerned for not less than one (I) week but
not more than four (4) weeks and a time of not less than Twenty thousand pesos
(P20,000.OO) but not more than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,OOO.OO).
The second violation of any provision of this Act shall cause the
suspension of the license to operate or the business permit of the establishment
or the person concerned for not less than four (4) weeks and a time of not less
IS than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,OOO.OO) hut not exceeding Two hundred fifty
thonsand pesos (P250,OOO.00): Provided, however. That the procedure of
notice and hearing shall have been complied with prior to the imposition of the
said penalties.
Section 12. Report to CHED. - Upon an eligible entity's completion of a
project supported under this section, the eligible entity shall prepare and submit a
report to CHED regarding:
1. the effectiveness of the program in expanding the equal accessibility of admission in
colleges and universities;
2. the impact of the program on the colleges and universities;
3. educational resources created or adapted under the grant, including

instructions on where the public can access each educational resource;

4. all project costs, including the value of any volunteer labor and institutional capital
used for the project.
Section 13. Report to Congress. - Within two (2) years from the
effectivity of this Act and every year thereafter, CHED shall submit a report to the
appropriate committees in Senate and the House of Representatives detailing the
following:
1. the CAT created or adapted under this Act; and
2. the extent of the adoption and use of the CAT.
Section 14. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation
contrary to or is inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed,
modified, or amended accordingly.
Section 15. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Sgd.
Jeanne Lavin M. Aguilar

References
1987 Philippine Constitution
Senate Bill no. 380
H. No. 7137
USA SAT program
Merriam-Webster Dictionary