Out of the 1,683 private higher education institutions (HEIs), 451 or 27 per cent applied for tuition and other school fees increase this year. Of them, 354 or 21 per cent have been approved by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). The 413th Regular Commission En Banc Meeting approved the final figures verified and presented by the Office of Student Services after a month of careful scrutiny of the submissions. The final figures are based on consolidated reports of the 16 CHED Regional Offices (excluding ARMM). Regions NCR, IV-A and III have the most number of HEIs i.e. 308, 230 and 202 in that order. Out of the 95 HEIs that applied for tuition increase in NCR, 72 have been given the go signal, while IV-A and III with 64 and 55 applications had 52 and 37 approvals respectively. The average tuition fee increase per unit for school year 2013-2014 is PhP37.45 or 8.5 per cent nationwide. This is the lowest percentage increase in the past ten years. Increase in the three largest regions, were as follows: NCR had a per unit tuition fee increase of PhP64.04 or 6.79 per cent, IV-A, PhP48.81 or 7.86 per cent and III, PhP44.48 or 8.86 per cent. The highest increases were in regions II, PhP31.26 or 12.25 per cent, V, PhP44.77 or 11.83 per cent and I, PhP34.10 or 11.12 per cent. The average increase in other school fees nationwide is PhP194.62 or 7.58 per cent. Section 42 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 232 or the Education Act of 1982 stipulates that “Each private school shall determine its rate of tuition and other school fees or charges… subject to rules and regulations promulgated by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports” (now DEPED, TESDA and CHED). The other legal provisions designed to regulate tuition and other fees lie in RA 6728 or the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act…