EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S.B. No
SENATE
727
___ 
. . 
--____
o( li).- 
cretflvp
•19 
JUL 24 AH '35
Introduced by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN
AN ACT
PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS TO STUDENTS ENROLLING IN 
TEACHER EDUCATION AND PROVIDING INCENTIVES FOR TEACHING
IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
A UNESCO report recently elucidated on how the Philippines failed to 
reach its Year 2015 targets on the Millennium Development Goals of Education 
for All. One of the goals set is for our country to Improve on the Quality of our 
Education. It simplifies the four (4) strategies to achieve this, one of which is to 
overcome the inequalities in learning by allocating the best teachers to the most 
challenging parts of our country. Thus, this bill seeks to respond to the need to 
provide more teachers in the rural areas where there is seemingly a dearth in 
good teachers that arises in the inequality of the quality of education of our 
learners, especially in the public school.
It is envisioned that by establishing a scholarship program for deserving 
students who want to pursue a career in teacher education, the government 
shall be developing highly qualified educators to serve in the remote rural areas 
of our country. The incentive is for the student to acquire a four-year full-time 
scholarship and the security of an employment upon graduation.


In view of the urgent need to be able to accomplish the MDGs, 
though belatedly, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
. GATCHALIAN


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE 
S.B. No.
of thp *.'TPtflrp
•19 JUL 24 AH 36
RECt . Ct'
Introduced by SEN. WIN GATCHALIAN
AN ACT
PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS TO STUDENTS ENROLLING IN 
TEACHER EDUCATION AND PROVIDING INCENTIVES FOR TEACHING
IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House o f Representatives o f the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Teacher
2 
Education Scholarship Program o f 2019'.
3 
SEC. 2. Declaration o f Policy. - It is the policy of the State to give
4 
priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to
5 
foster 
patriotism 
and 
nationalism, 
accelerate 
social 
progress, 
and
6 
promote total human liberation and development. Towards this end, the
7 
State shall continue to develop programs that will encourage the youth to
8 
pursue an education in teaching and provide them with opportunities for
9 
employment by serving their countrymen as rural teachers.
10 
SEC. 3. Genera! Objectives. - A scholarship program shall be
11 
offered to deserving students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of
12 
Science in Education degree or training in teacher education to provide said
13 
students with incentives to pursue a teaching career in their home regions or in
14 
other rural areas.
15 
SEC 4. Scholarship Program - This Act envisions a four-year
16 
full-time Teacher Education Scholarship Program, hereinafter referred to as the


1 
Program, to be offered to deserving students, based on meritocracy for those
2 
eligible, who will take up teacher education or Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of
3 
Science 
in 
Education, 
or 
any 
other
4 
teacher training program or course under Republic Act No. 7836, otherwise
5 
known as the "Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act o f 1994."
6 
The 
graduates 
of 
the 
Program 
shall 
render 
services 
and 
be
7 
integrated into any public school in their home region or other rural
8 
public elementary or secondary school in the Philippines as provided for under
9 
Section 6 of this Act.
10 
SEC. 5. EligibilitY and Qualifications. -  Without prejudice to the
11 
minimum requirements set forth in Republic Act No. 10687 or the Unified
12 
Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Act, there
13 
shall be an annual selection through appropriate examinations and screening
14 
processes of those who shall be admitted to the Program. The candidates shall
15 
be 
chosen 
from 
among 
qualified 
secondary 
graduates,
16 
whether from 
the 
private 
or 
public 
high 
schools. 
The 
qualified 
and
17 
selected 
scholars shall 
be granted 
scholarship to enroll 
in a teacher
18 
education 
course 
covering 
expenses 
for 
matriculation 
and 
other
19 
school fees, prescribed textbooks, supplies and equipment, clothing and
20 
uniform allowances, and other related miscellaneous expense.
21 
At 
least ten 
(10) 
candidates 
per province 
shall 
be chosen 
to
22 
participate in the Program every year.
23 
An applicant whose family's combined gross income falls below the
24 
official poverty threshold as determined by the National Economic and
25 
Development Authority or those whose 
parent is a 
barangay worker,
26 
government 
employee, 
or 
a 
member 
of 
an 
indigenous
27 
cultural community shall be given priority in the selection.
28 
SEC. 6. Genera! Conditions fo r Admission to the Scholarship. - A
29 
teacher education scholar shall be accepted to the Program and shall receive
30 
and continue to enjoy the benefits of the scholarship until the completion of the
31 
course, subject to the following conditions:
32 
a) The 
scholar 
shall 
pass 
the 
entrance 
or 
admission
33 
examinations and related requirements of the school where the scholar


1 
intends to enroll;
2 
b) The scholar 
shall 
carry the 
full 
load 
of subjects 
prescribed
3 
per semester and shall, under no circumstance, drop a course which will
4 
result in under-loading;
5 
c) The scholar 
may 
be 
allowed, 
for 
valid 
reasons, 
to 
defer
6 
enrollment and of availing of the scholarship for a period not exceeding
7 
one school year;
8 
d) Upon 
completion 
of the 
course 
and 
other 
relevant training,
9 
the scholar shall agree to teach in any public elementary or secondary
10 
school in the scholar's home region or in any rural public school for a
11 
period of at least five (5) years;
12 
e) The scholar shall 
repay the full cost of the scholarship and
13 
related benefits received in the event of the scholar's failure to complete
14 
the teaching education course without valid cause; and
15 
f)The scholar shall 
sign 
an 
agreement 
stating 
the 
terms 
and
16 
conditions of the scholarship.
17 
SEC. 6. Secretariat - The Chair of the Commission on Higher Education
18 
(CHED) may create a Secretariat to provide administrative and technical
19 
assistance to effectively and efficiently implement the Program. It shall perform
20 
the duties and responsibilities as may be determined and delegated by the
21 
CHED 
Chair. 
The 
support 
staff, 
as 
may 
be 
created, 
shall 
be
22 
recruited 
preferably 
from 
any 
accredited 
teacher 
organization 
or 
the
23 
academe.
24 
SEC. 7. 
Donations^ Grants and Other Contributions. - The
25 
CHED may accept any donation, contribution, bequest, grant, in cash or
26 
services, whether local or foreign, which may be made by individuals and
27 
organizations, to fund the Program. Such donation, contribution, bequest, grant,
28 
in cash or services shall be exempt from the donor's tax and the same shall be
29 
considered as an allowable deduction from the gross income in the computation
30 
of the income tax of the donor in accordance with the provisions of the National
31 
Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.
32 
Proceeds from at least two (2) draws of the Philippine Charity
33 
Sweepstakes every year shall also be allocated to finance the Program.


2 
SEC. 
8. 
Appropriations. 
- 
The 
sum 
of 
Fifty 
Million 
Pesos
3 
(Php50,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated for the initial implementation of
4 
this 
Act. 
Thereafter, 
such 
funds 
necessary 
for 
its 
continued
5 
implementation 
shall 
be 
included 
in 
the 
appropriations 
of 
the
6 
CHED in the annual General Appropriations Act.
7 
SEC. 9. Im plem enting Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty
8 
(60) 
days 
from 
the 
approval 
of 
this 
Act, 
the 
CHED 
shall,
9 
in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd) and in consultation
10 
with schools offering education for teachers and other relevant stakeholders,
11 
issue such rules and regulations as may be necessary for the effective
12 
implementation of this Act.
13 
SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act
14 
is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions
15 
not affected shall remain in full force and effect.
16 
SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
17 
regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of
18 
this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
19 
SEC, 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
20 
after its 
publication 
in 
the 
Official 
Gazette or 
in 
a 
newspaper 
of
21 
general circulation.
1
Approved,