PROPOSITION: LIBRT: The Senate Bill No.

1359 or the "No Permit, No Exam

Prohibition Act" be enacted in the Philippines in all Public and Private Institutions from
Elementary, Secondary, Post-Secondary Technical-Vocational, and Higher Education.
NECESSITY CONSTRUCTIVE SPEECH
To Dear Jury, Our Teachers, Classmates, Good Afternoon.
Have you ever wondered why some students struggle to pursue their dreams despite their
exceptional academic performance? Could it be because of their inability to afford the exorbitant
costs?
I avail myself with relief of the opportunity of speaking to all of you today. Let me, then, speak
about the current status of our education system and why we need to pass the bill.
Senate Bill No. 1359, also known as the "No Permit No Exam Policy Prohibition Act," is a
proposed legislation in the Philippines that seeks to prohibit schools from requiring permits or
certifications from students before they can take licensure examinations. The bill aims to
promote the welfare of students by removing unnecessary barriers that hinder their academic
pursuits and their chances of getting employment in their chosen fields. If passed into law, this
bill will significantly benefit students who face financial constraints or bureaucratic hurdles in
obtaining permits or certifications, particularly those who come from low-income families. The
bill was first filed in the Senate on August 5, 2019, by Senator Joel Villanueva, and is currently
pending in the Senate Committee on Education, Arts, and Culture.
First, let us define what the word permit means. Permit as used in the Senate Bill No. 1359 refers
to any document that a student needs to secure in able to engage in a specific activity,
particularly taking examinations. The financial capability of the individual is a factor considered
in the issuance of the permit.
Throughout the years, we witnessed several students giving up their passion because of their
financial stability. According to 2020 PSA's Annual Poverty Indicators Survey, about 21.2
percent of population 5 years old and over finished high school or
junior high school and 11.3 percent had a college degree or higher, with higher percentage
among females (13.6%) than males (9.0%). And one of the highest reasons for not attending
school is due to employment. In addition, the National Capital Region reported the highest
proportion for not attending school due to employment.
From these mentioned data, we can see that most students in our country are not financially
capable to continue their study. We have to realize the need to pass the ban to 'No Permit, No
Examination' Policy. And I hold the conviction that the passing of Senate Bill No. 1359 is a must.
We need to act together to eradicate this discrimination our schools is doing to our marginalized
students which is our main victim of this inhumane policy.
Also, according to a survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2019, around
16.6% of Filipinos live below the poverty line. This means that they do not have enough income
to cover their basic needs, including education. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a
significant economic downturn, making it even more difficult for families to afford education for
their children.

In light of these challenges, passing the ban to the "No Permit, No Exam" policy is necessary to
ensure that all students, regardless of their financial status, have equal access to education. By
removing this discriminatory policy, we can create a more inclusive education system that
provides opportunities for all students to thrive and reach their full potential.
There is also a 2017 study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies found that low-
income families in the Philippines face significant financial barriers to accessing education, such
as high tuition fees and transportation costs. For a latest study, in a 2020 survey conducted by the
National Union of Students of the Philippines, 84% of respondents reported having difficulty
paying for their tuition fees, while 63% reported having difficulty paying for other school fees.
These studies and data provide compelling evidence that the high cost of education in the
Philippines is a significant barrier to accessing quality education, particularly for marginalized
students. Banning the "No Permit, No Exam" policy is an important step towards making
education more accessible and inclusive for all students in the country.
The passing of the bill could also be an opportunity to make a great effort to re-establish the
education sector in the Philippines from being a gothic into a modern and less discriminatory
system. But all these backward accusations belong to history. It may be not good, for others, to
use such hard words against about the past. It is the future, not the past, that demands our earnest
and anxious thought. We are wishing for a better education system. We believe that what is more
important is the welfare of our students. After all, what we all want is a clear path to progress. To
live our lives without any fear from anyone — most especially from our own education system
that we all rely on.
Allow me to emphasize this statement to everyone, "Many students fall from the rungs, not
because they do poorly in class, but because they do poorly in life.”