A new law in the Philippines now requires private higher education institutions to waive college entrance exam fees for qualified students.

The “Free College Entrance Examination Act,” authored by Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., aims to increase access to tertiary education for disadvantaged but academically excellent students.

To be eligible, students must be Filipino citizens, in the top 10% of their graduating class, and from families below the poverty threshold. The law applies to all private higher education institutions in the country.

“This law will help many students who can’t afford entrance exam fees pursue their dreams through education,” Revilla said in a statement.

The legislation follows another recent law authored by Revilla prohibiting the “no permit, no exam” policy in both public and private schools.

Revilla pledged to continue pushing for more education-focused legislation, stating, “We will wholeheartedly work to elevate the status of every Filipino student.”