Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 27

Introduced by Representative Leandro Legarda Leviste

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This measure seeks to provide an allowance for every Filipino student, which shall be given to
students at all grade levels, regardless of socioeconomic status, on the condition that the student
satisfies minimum class attendance requirements. Granting this indiscriminately would make this
allowance more widely beneficial and efficient. This would be in addition to other scholarship or
educational assistance programs, as this covers only a small percent of the total cost of a student's
education, and aims to help cover costs for food, transportation, technology, and school supplies,
to encourage attendance, increase graduation rates and improve academic performance.

This allowance would serve a similar purpose as providing in-kind assistance in the form of food,
transportation, technology, or school supplies for every Filipino student, but such in-kind
assistance would be more logistically difficult to deliver nationwide, and comparatively inflexible
and inefficient. By giving a cash allowance, with the help of digital payment systems, this program
can give Filipino students equitable and efficient access to educational assistance.

Various government programs already recognize the need and effectivity of providing allowances
to students. Several local government units already provide educational assistance to their
constituents, as do other national government programs to a selected number of students, while
students in other countries benefit from government-funded food, transportation, technology, and
school supplies. Providing educational assistance for every Filipino student is a good investment
in the same way that doing so has already been a good investment for other students.

This measure is not intended to divert funding away from any other government program. Instead,
it is premised on the attractive returns of investing in the education of the next generation of
Filipinos, whose increased incomes would support greater tax revenues to service the debt
resulting from this measure, through a program that would efficiently and directly benefit the
country’s future taxpayers. To contribute to this program, the government would also offer tax
incentives and seek donations and other funding sources to support the national student allowance.

In view of at foregoing, the passage of this bill is urgently sought



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 27

Introduced by Representative Leandro Legarda Leviste

An Act Establishing a National Student Allowance Program

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “National Student Allowance
Program Act of 2025”.

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is the declared policy of the State to protect and
promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, shall take appropriate steps to
make such education accessible to all, and shall assign the highest budgetary priority to education.

Seetion 3. National Student Allowance Program (NSAP). All Filipino students enrolled
at all levels, including kindergarten, elementary, high school, and college, shal! be entitled to an
allowance of at least One Thousand Pesos (Php 1,000) at the start of every school year and up to
every month of the school year, at such amount and frequency as may be determined by the
President in consultation with the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher
Education (CHED), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and Department of Finance
(DOF), for the purpose of augmenting expenses incurred by students attending school from
including but not limited to food, transportation, technology, and schoo! supplies.

Section 4, Conditions for Entitlement. — A Filipino student shall receive the allowance
subject to being enrolled in school and satisfying the minimum attendance requirements for classes
so far during a given month of at least Eighty Percent (80%) or as otherwise determined by the
DepEd and CHED. Alll Filipino students who satisfy the foregoing conditions shall be eligible for
the allowance. This allowance shall be in addition to and shall not replace or diminish any other
public or private scholarships, allowances, or financial aid extended to the student.

Section 5. Disbursement. — For below 18-years-old students, disbursements shall be made
to the parent or guardian, and for at least 18-years-old students, disbursements shall be made
directly to the student. The DepEd and CHED shall provide students with direct and secured access
to the allowance through any number of Authorized Government Depository Banks (AGDBs). For
localities not adequately served by an AGDB, the DepEd and CHED may, by itself or through an


AGDB, contract the services of rural banks, thrift banks, cooperative banks, and institutions
engaged in money remittances duly accredited by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Section 6. Funding. ~ The amount necessary to carry out the initial implementation of this
Act shall be included in the respective budgets of the departments and agencies concerned in the
annual General Appropriations Act. The DepEd, CHED, and DOF may explore new revenue
sources and loan mechanisms and shall accept donations or grants to fund the NSAP.

Section 7. Incentives. ~ Private entities shall be allowed to make donations to fund the
NSAP, which donations shall be exempt from donor’s tax and shall be entitled to an additional
deduction from the gross income equivalent to one hundred percent ( 100%) of such expenses. The
government shall campaign for and formulate incentives to encourage donations to the NSAP.

Section 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the DepEd and CHED, in coordination with the DBM, DOF, and other
concerned government agencies and stakeholders, shall issue the rules and regulations
implementing the provisions of this Act.

Section 9. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional,
the remainder of this Act not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 10. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, rules, and
regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
amended, or modified accordingly

Section 11. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation,

Approved,