President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed into law Republic Act No. 12124, officially institutionalizing the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP).

The signing of the law marks a significant development for the program, which provides an alternative pathway for qualified Filipinos to earn academic degrees through the recognition of prior learning and relevant work experience.

ETEEAP Becomes Part of the Tertiary Education System

Under Republic Act No. 12124, the ETEEAP is now formally recognized as part of the country’s tertiary education system.

The law provides a framework for identifying, assessing, validating, and assigning equivalent academic credits for prior learning acquired through formal, non-formal, and informal learning systems, as well as relevant work experience. Qualified individuals may then be granted appropriate academic degrees based on these assessments.

Key Provisions of the New Law

According to the Presidential Communications Office, the ETEEAP Act will:

• Recognize prior learning obtained through various learning systems.
• Consider relevant work experience in the assessment process.
• Provide equivalent undergraduate-level and special graduate programs for qualified applicants.
• Establish a structured accreditation and assessment system under the supervision of CHED.
• Create a stronger legal framework for the implementation of the ETEEAP nationwide.

CHED to Lead Program Implementation

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will serve as the lead agency responsible for implementing the ETEEAP Act.

Its responsibilities include:

• Deputizing higher education institutions authorized to offer ETEEAP.
• Developing standards for assessing skills, knowledge, values, and competencies.
• Granting or revoking authority of participating higher education institutions.
• Monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the program.
• Conducting consultations with relevant agencies and stakeholders.
• Setting standard fees and administrative charges related to accreditation.

OPSD to Serve as Permanent Technical Secretariat

To support the effective implementation of the law, the Office of Programs and Standards Development (OPSD) under CHED will be strengthened.

The OPSD will serve as the permanent technical secretariat responsible for carrying out functions necessary for the implementation of the ETEEAP Act.

Who May Apply Under the ETEEAP Act?

The law provides eligibility requirements for individuals seeking equivalency and accreditation.

Applicants must:

• Be Filipino citizens residing either in the Philippines or abroad.
• Be at least 23 years old at the time of application.
• Have completed a secondary school program, as evidenced by a high school diploma or an equivalent qualification.
• Possess at least five years of aggregate work experience related to the academic degree program being sought.

Looking Ahead

With the signing of Republic Act No. 12124, the government has formally institutionalized the ETEEAP as an alternative educational pathway within the Philippine higher education system.

As CHED begins implementing the law through deputized higher education institutions, qualified Filipinos may continue to pursue academic credentials through the program’s established equivalency and accreditation process.

Attribution: Information in this article was derived from an official news release of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Republic of the Philippines, titled “PBBM Signs Law on Alternative Education Program,” published on March 5, 2025.