The country’s top ten graduates in various public high schools are entitled to enter state universities and colleges (SUCs) in their respective regions without taking the entrance examinations, including the University of the Philippines College Admission Test or UPCAT.
The exemptions of top 10 high school graduates from various public schools in the country will be implemented through the Republic Act 10648 or Iskolar ng Bayan Law.
According to Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo, the Iskolar ng Bayan Law, has a transitory provision exempting all scholars under the program from taking the entrance tests of SUCs during the first six years of its implementation.
The congressman also noted that at least 80,000 graduates are expected to benefit from the Iskoar ng Bayan Law. He was quoted as saying “This is an affirmative action policy that guarantees disadvantaged but gifted public high school graduates slots in SUCs, without having to go through a rigorous screening or elimination process, which is basically what an entrance test is,” Romulo said.
Although the Iskolar ng Bayan Law will give credits to the Top 10 High School graduates, the University of the Philippines stated that they will prioritize UPCAT passers for the school year 2015-2016 over the top high school graduates covered by the Iskolar ng Bayan Law.