Part 2
Education
1. RA 11984, No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act
This Act applies to all public and private basic (K to 12) institutions, higher education institutions, and technical-vocational institutions with courses of more than 1 year.
The institutions are required to allow disadvantaged students who are unable to pay tuition and other fees to take scheduled periodic and final examinations without the need for a permit.
2. RA 12077, Student Loan Payment Moratorium During Disasters and Emergencies Act
This law applies to students enrolled in State Universities and Colleges, Local Universities and Colleges, private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), and public and private Technical-Vocational Institutions (TVIs) who reside in areas that are under a State of Calamity or Emergency.
READ: Significant new laws in 2024
It provides for a moratorium on the payment of all fees, charges, and costs related to student loans incurred for higher education and Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs. However, it seems that this law covers only loans administered by the HEIs or TVIs themselves, by the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education Board, the Commission on Higher Education, or any other government agency or instrumentality. The moratorium shall be in effect during the calamity or emergency and up to 30 days after it is lifted.
3. RA 11997, Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act
All public school teachers have been granted a tax-exempt Teaching Allowance to cover the purchase of teaching supplies and materials, payment of incidental expenses, and the implementation of various learning delivery modalities. The allowance is P5,000 for the school year 2024-2025 and P10,000 for the following school years.
4. RA 12006, Free College Entrance Examinations Act
This law stipulates that students who have graduated or are about to graduate are eligible for a waiver of college entrance examination fees and charges at Philippine private schools, provided they meet certain conditions. These conditions include being a natural-born Filipino, belonging to the top 10% of their graduating class, and having a family income below the poverty threshold.
The waiver applies only to examination fees and charges and does not cover other requirements imposed by the schools.
5. RA 12080, Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act
Statistics indicate that in the Philippines, 17% of young people had contemplated suicide yet fewer than 1% have sought professional help.
This law aims to institutionalize the promotion of mental health in basic education, significantly strengthening government efforts to address the “alarming” mental health concerns among the youth. It mandates the establishment and implementation of mental health and well-being programs in both public and private schools. Additionally, care centers will be set up in every public basic education school to provide support for students’ mental health needs.
Social
1. RA 11982, An act amending the Centenarians Act of 2016
Under this measure, Filipinos, whether residing abroad or in the Philippines, who reach the age of 80 will receive a cash gift of Php10,000. They will continue to receive the same amount every five years thereafter, up until the age of 95. Upon reaching 100 years of age they will receive Php100,000.
2. RA 11983, the New Philippine Passport Act
This law repeals the Philippine Passport Act of 1996 and aims to create a new generation of Philippine passports that meet international standards.
The law authorizes the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to offer offsite and mobile passport services in locations outside consular offices and foreign service posts.
Philippine consular officials in foreign countries are empowered by the DFA Secretary to issue, deny, or cancel passports within their area of jurisdiction, in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
In matters of national security, public safety, and public health, the DFA Secretary—or any authorized consular official—may deny the issuance or cancel a passport, except when the safety and well-being of the Filipino citizen are at risk.
The law also allows for the issuance of Emergency Passports and Emergency Travel Certificates in specific circumstances. Additionally, the Convention Travel Document is available to stateless persons, refugees, or individuals granted asylum in the Philippines.
It is important to note that the Philippine passport may only be confiscated by the DFA, not by any other entity or individual.
Industry
1. RA 11985, Philippine Salt Industry Development Act
The law aims to achieve salt self-sufficiency in the Philippines by addressing the current reliance on imports, which account for 90% of the country’s salt requirements — approximately 500,000 metric tons annually. It seeks to provide support to local salt farmers and producers to reduce this dependency.
Key provisions of the law include:
• Exempting salt from all taxes
• Constructing farm-to-market roads for salt production
• Providing training and technical assistance to salt producers
• Exempting machinery and equipment for salt production from import duties
• Allocating public lands for salt production
• Promoting and mandating the use of domestically produced salt in government programs
These measures are designed to strengthen the local salt industry and ensure a sustainable supply of salt for the country.
2. RA 11996, the Eddie Garcia Law
This law seeks the protection and ensures the welfare of workers in the movie and television industry. Under the law, the workers shall be protected by their employers or principal in the workplace. The law provides for the implementation of work hours, wages and other wage-related benefits, social security and welfare benefits, basic necessity, health and safety, working conditions and standards, and insurance.
The law also mandates strict compliance with occupational safety and health standards and calls for continued upskilling and reskilling of workers.
To be continued.
(The author, Atty. John Philip C. Siao, is a practicing lawyer and founding Partner of Tiongco Siao Bello & Associates Law Offices, an Arbitrator of the Construction Industry Arbitration Commission of the Philippines, and teaches law at the De La Salle University Tañada-Diokno School of Law. He may be contacted at jcs@tiongcosiaobellolaw.com. The views expressed in this article belong to the author alone.)