Lapid wants poor college graduates spared from gov’t professional exams fees

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid has filed a bill that seeks to exempt indigent college graduates from paying fees for professional examinations administered by the government.

Senate Bill No. 276, or the Free Professional Examinations Act, will cover college graduates who do not have visible income or support, or whose incomes are insufficient for the basic needs of his or her family, as determined by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). 

Lapid said the bill seeks to lessen the burden of graduates from poor families by allowing them to take government-administered exams for free. 

“Maaring ito ay maliit na halaga lamang para sa iba, ngunit sa mga estudyanteng galing sa mahihirap na pamilya na nakatapos ng pag-aaral sa pamamagitan ng scholarships o ‘di kaya naman ay nagtapos sa ating mga State Universities and Colleges kung saan libre na ang edukasyon, ito ay napakalaking bagay na,” Lapid said in a statement on Wednesday. 

Among the licensure and professional examinations covered by the bill are the ones given by the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC), eligibility examinations conducted by the Civil Service Commission, and bar examinations given by the Supreme Court. /kga