The Senate on Monday approved bills prohibiting the “No Permit, No Exam” school policies and imposing a moratorium on student loan payment during emergencies on the third and final reading.
The Upper Chamber, during the plenary session, approved Senate Bill 1359, or the “No Permit, No Exam” Prohibition Act, and Senate Bill 1864, or the Student Loan Payment Moratorium During Disasters and Emergencies Act, authored by Senator Francis Escudero, with 22 affirmative votes.
Escudero, chairman of the Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education, thanked his colleagues for the approval of the bills as no one opposed nor abstained in voting for the measures.
“With the approval, the bills are now a step closer to their enactment into laws for the President’s signature,” he said.
The proposed legislation is now headed to the Bicameral Conference Committee.
Senate Bill No. 1359, covering both public and private schools, seeks to prevent the implementation of the “No Permit, No Exam” policy and to restrict any policy that prevents learners from taking educational assessments due to unsettled financial or property obligations, such as tuition and other school fees.
Instead, schools are encouraged to enforce other interventions such as withholding the release of diplomas or certificates, denying admission or enrollment in the succeeding school year or semester, refusing the issuance of applicable clearances, and pursuing the settlement of outstanding financial or property obligations through appropriate legal action.
Meanwhile, Senate Bill 1864 authorizes the postponement of student loan collection amid emergencies.
The moratorium shall be effective for the duration of the state of calamity or emergency and 30 days after lifting the state of calamity or emergency. During that time, no penalty or interest shall be collected on the deferred payments.