CAMARINES Sur Representative Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. pushed for a measure that will mandate all educational institutions to hold mandatory consultations before increasing miscellaneous fees.

Villafuerte said the consultation should involve the students, parents or guardians, alumni, teachers and other non-teaching personnel.

He stressed that students and other stakeholders have the right to know and be consulted on what they are paying for.

Under House Bill 9115 or the proposed Miscellaneous and Other Fees Consultation Act, all schools, higher educational institutions and centers should conduct the consultation before submitting documents and notices for the increase of their miscellaneous and/or other fees.

In case no consensus is reached, the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education or the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority can decide in a summary proceeding whether the proposed increase should be granted.

Once enacted into law, the DepEd, CHED and TESDA can stop or penalize schools, HEIs or centers that violate the law.