THE House of Representatives approved on second reading House Bill 9015 or the proposed Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program Act.

In his sponsorship speech, Committee on Higher and Technical Education Chairperson and Baguio City Rep. Mark Go said that people with proven competency should have access to educational opportunities to realize their full potential and prepare for higher career paths.

“We all know that the acquisition of knowledge and skills does not only take place within the confines of the classroom,” he said.

The ETEEAP is an equivalency and accreditation pathway for obtaining a bachelor’s degree for high school graduates, postsecondary technical-vocational graduates, and college undergraduates with at least five years of professional experience.

Go said that institutionalizing the ETEEAP as an alternative learning program will allow workers, employees, professionals, and other undergraduate adults with acquired competencies to obtain a degree by recognizing their work experience, knowledge, abilities, and expertise as school credits.

HB 9015 was principally authored by TINGOG Party-list Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre.