SENATOR Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. has filed a bill prohibiting educational institutions from barring disadvantaged graduating students from participating in graduation ceremonies due to outstanding financial obligations, such as unpaid tuition, miscellaneous, or other school fees.

Revilla’s Senate Bill 2783 covers all public and private basic education institutions, higher education institutions, and technical-vocational institutions.

The senator emphasized that graduation is a significant milestone in a student’s life, a time to celebrate their achievements with family, friends, and fellow graduates.

“This marks the beginning of a new chapter in their lives, allowing them to reflect on their future and make important decisions, such as whether to pursue higher learning, gainful employment, or start a business,” Revilla said in his explanatory note.

Under the proposed measure, all public and private educational schools are mandated to accommodate and allow disadvantaged graduating students to attend their graduation ceremony, regardless of any balance or arrears to their payment of tuition fees, miscellaneous fees, and other school fees.