Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 10609)
The short title of Republic Act No. 10609 is the "Protection of Students' Right to Enroll in Review Centers Act of 2013."
The declared policy is to promote and protect the right to education as enshrined in the Philippine Constitution, ensuring that students are protected against abuses by Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) regarding their right to choose their review centers.
The Act covers all public and private Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs), including local colleges and universities, offering courses that require professional licensure examinations.
The unlawful acts include: (1) Compelling students to take review classes not part of the curriculum in a HEI-chosen review center; (2) Making review classes a prerequisite for graduation or course completion; (3) Forcing students to enroll in a HEI-chosen review center and pay related fees; (4) Withholding transcripts, diplomas, certifications, or essential documents to coerce attendance in a HEI-chosen review center.
Violators shall suffer prision correccional (imprisonment from six months and one day to six years), a fine of Seven hundred fifty thousand pesos (P750,000.00), suspension from office, and revocation of professional license. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) may also impose disciplinary sanctions.
HEI officials or employees, including deans, coordinators, advisers, professors, and other concerned individuals, can be held liable.
If any provision is declared unconstitutional, the validity of the other provisions of the Act shall not be affected, as stated in the Separability Clause.
The Act takes effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two newspapers of general circulation.
It provides that all laws, presidential decrees or issuances, executive orders, letters of instruction, administrative orders, memoranda, rules, and regulations inconsistent with this Act are amended, modified, or repealed accordingly.