Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1290

INTRODUCED BY HON. LUIS JOSE ANGEL N. CAMPOS, JR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Itis a known fact that for some reason or the other some of our senior citizens
could not to complete or start their education. However, advance age should not be a
reason to deny a person his/her basic right to quality education.

Section 1, Article XIV, of the Philippine Constitution states that “the State shall
protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and shall
take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.”

As seen above, the right of any person, regardless of age, to access quality
education is enshrined in our Constitution. In addition, the United Nations
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared that it
“believes that education is a human right for all throughout life and that access must
be matched by quality”.

Under the foregoing principles senior citizens who still wish to continue, finish
or even start their formal education should be given such opportunity.

This bill seeks to give our senior citizens such opportunity by exempting them
from paying tuition fees in public schools and universities.

For the foregoing reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

1280

House Bill No.

AN ACT PROVIDING FREE EDUCATION FOR SENIOR CITIZENS IN ALL
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

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

SECTION 1: Short Title - This Act shall be known as “Free Education for

Seniors Act”.

SECTION 2: Declaration of Policy - It is the State’s duty to provide its citizens
access to quality education regardless of their age. This bill seeks to ensure that quality
education is made available to Senior Citizens by exempting them from the payment
of tuition fees in any public school or university.

SECTION 3: Exemption from the payment of tuition fees - Senior Citizens as
defined in this Act shall be exempt from paying tuition fees in any public school or
university in the Philippines.

Senior Citizens availing of this exemption shall still be required to comply with
the minimum admission requirements of the school he/she wishes to enroll in.

No additional academic requirements shall be imposed on Senior Citizens to
avail of the exemption from payment of tuition fees under this Act.

SECTION 4: Who are considered Senior Citizens - For the purpose of availing the
exemption from payment of tuition fees under this Act, any Filipino who is already
sixty (60) years old or older shall be considered a Senior Citizen.

SECTION 5: Which schools or universities are considered public - For the purposes
of this Act, any school or university which receives regular funding from the

government shail be considered a public school or university.

SECTION 6: Implementing rules and regulations - Within thirty (30) days from


the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Education together with the Commission
on Higher Education, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to further
carry out this Act.

SECTION 7: Separability clause - If any part or provision of this Act is declared
invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts thereof not affected thereby shall remain
valid.

SECTION 8: Repealing Clause ~ All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulation
or part thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SECTION 9: Effectivity Clause - This Act shalll take effect fifteen (15) days upon
completion of its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved,