Sen. Benigno "Bam” Aquino IV INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines –A senator urged private schools Tuesday to forego of lavish graduation ceremonies and instead donate to the rehabilitation of areas ravaged by recent disasters in Eastern Visayas.

"Our countrymen in devastated areas still need our help,” Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam” Aquino said in a statement.

He also reminded public elementary and high school officials about the existing Department of Education (DepEd) policy that prohibits collection of graduation fees.

The senator pointed out that under DepEd Order No. 8, series of 2005, graduation fees or any other kind of contribution is not a prerequisite for graduation.

"Any public school official who will prevent a student from graduating due to failure to pay any kind of graduation fee will be subjected to administrative sanctions,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate committee on youth.

The senator backed Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro’s call not to collect any fees from parents for the graduation ceremonies.

The practice of collecting graduation fees, he said, must stop because the 1987 Constitution mandates the government to provide free public education at the elementary and secondary levels.

"No less than the 1987 Constitution protects our rights to free education and we must take the necessary steps to uphold this provision,” said the senator.

Aquino then called on the public to report to the DepEd public school officials who would violate the order.

"We need to put a stop to this and one way of doing it is to get the public’s cooperation as they are our eyes and ears on the ground,” he further said.