WHEREAS, Section 2, Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall establish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the people and society and, that the State shall encourage non-formal, informal and indigenous learning systems, as well as self-learning, independent and out-of-school study programs particularly those that respond to community needs;

WHEREAS, the emerging medium-term and long-term Philippine development plans have both envisioned the expansion and strengthening of the system of academic equivalency and validation of the knowledge and expertise derived by individuals from relevant work experiences and high-level, non-formal training in order to harness their full potentials;

WHEREAS, there is a need to provide individuals with proven competence, access to opportunities that will prepare them for higher value jobs required for achieving global competitiveness, advancing strategic concerns of the State and promoting sustainable development; and

WHEREAS, it is recognized that education and the acquisition of higher expertise are processes that also take place in the world of work and beyond the confines of the classroom as exemplified by the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT) of the Accreditation and Equivalency Program, the distance education programs of pioneering higher education institutions (HEIs), and the Dual Training System institutionalized through Republic Act 7686.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the power vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to expand and strengthen the tertiary education equivalency and accreditation program to benefit deserving individuals.

SEC. 2. The CHED shall discharge the following additional powers and functions in relation to the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program:

a) certify, after thorough evaluation, the pertinent work experiences and knowledge or expertise acquired by individuals from high-level, non-formal and informal training toward the awarding of an appropriate academic degree;

b) determine the deficiencies of an applicant/awardee that would need remedial studies or academic supplementation through formal course work in order to satisfy pertinent requirements of a degree applied for;

c) develop, on a continuing basis and with the assistance of technical panels and other competent authorities, standards, creative methodologies and criteria for a diversified mode of assessing skills, values, knowledge and levels of competence which should include, but not be limited to, instruments such as written examinations, practical work and/or laboratory demonstrations and qualification portfolio assessments;

d) deputize and/or accredit agencies, organizations and higher education institutions which will conduct equivalency assessments, develop assessment instruments, provide academic supplementation and/or award degrees within their area of competence or specialization;

e) safeguard the continuing integrity and quality measures of the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program by linking and cooperating with appropriate development and regulatory agencies and institutions;

f) update the Social Development Committee of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board on the implementation of the program for policy coordination and monitoring purposes; and

g) set standard fees and other administrative charges for accreditation that will contribute to and be part of the Special Account of the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program under the Higher Education Development Fund (HEDF).

SEC. 3. The CHED, pursuant to Section 2 of this Executive Order, may convene as the need arises, a consultative or advisory body for the purpose of providing broad-based inter-agency consultation, to be composed of:

SEC. 4. The TESDA, DECS, DOST, PRC, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shall extend to the CHED the necessary assistance and technical support in the operationalization of the framework of continuing education and the system of accreditation and equivalency.

SEC. 5. To ensure the effective implementation of the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program, the CHED shall organize a permanent Technical Secretariat composed of highly competent individuals with recognized expertise in alternative learning systems and educational assessment. The Technical Secretariat shall provide technical support to and shall be provided by and be lodged within the CHED. In addition, the CHED may contract the services of external technical experts and authorities on equivalency and educational measurement.

SEC. 6. The funding requirements for the initial year of operation of the Expanded Tertiary Education Accreditation and Equivalency Program shall be sourced from the Higher Education Development Fund (HEDF) in an amount to be approved by the CHED and administered by the CHED, subject to the standard government accounting and auditing practices. The funding for the succeeding years shall be included in the regular appropriations and the CHED may tap the HEDF as a supplemental source of funding whenever necessary and required for the effective implementation of the Program.

The CHED shall create a Special Account in the HEDF exclusively for implementation of the Expanded Tertiary Education Accreditation and Equivalency Program.

SEC. 7. All executive issuances inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SEC. 8. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE in the City of Manila, this 10th day of May in the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Ninety-Six.

(Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS
President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) RUBEN D. TORRES
Executive Secretary