House OKs bill granting free college entrance exams to poor students

The House of Representatives has approved a bill granting free college entrance examinations to poor high school students belonging to the top 10 percent of the graduating batch.   The chamber passed on third and final reading on Monday night House Bill 6577, which seeks “to widen access to higher education” by removing the “prohibitive” cost of college entrance exams.   The measure seeks to waive entrance exam fees in all state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the country.   Private higher education institutions, meanwhile, are required to provide free college entrance exams to graduating high school students whose parents live below the poverty line, and who belong to the top 10 percent of the graduating batch.   Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara, one of the bill’s authors, said waiving the college entrance exam fees will provide students “greater opportunity to get into the best schools” where they can avail some form of scholarships.   Long overdue landmark legislation   "This is a landmark legislation that is long overdue," Angara said in a statement. "Without question, the bill is one great equalizer for the poor that will surely have a positive impact on our nation's long-term fight against poverty."   Other authors of the bill are Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino, Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, Negros Oriental Rep. Pryde Henry Teves, Taguig City Rep. Sigfrido Tinga and A TEACHER party-list Rep. Mariano Piamonte.   The Senate version of the measure, filed by Senator Manuel Villar Jr., is currently pending at the committee level. Once both chambers of Congress pass the bill, a bicameral conference committee will be convened to reconcile the two versions of the measure. Once the bicameral committee approves the bill, it will be returned to the House and Senate for ratification. It will then be submitted to Malacañang for the signature of the President. — Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK, GMA News