Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

‘Y
RECEIVED
omre2 2 OCT 2016

6190 Fp
SEVE! 7

F

ENTH CONGRESS
‘st Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO, 4244

Introduced by Representative Salvador B, Belaro, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The start of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)
Economic Community in 2015, a phenomenon which is otherwise known as
“ASEAN Integration”, presents both opportunities and challenges for our
county.

With its avowed intention to form a single regional ‘market and
production base for the 10 ASEAN members composed of the Philippines,
Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei Darusallam, Myanmar,
Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, and the consequent free flow of goods, services,
investments, skilled labor and free movement of capital, it is a phenomenon
which both the government and the private sector should be ready to accept and
prepare for so as to get the most therefrom.

As the ASEAN Integration appears to be a game-changer in Philippine
foreign economic relations, there should be corresponding initiatives in the
academe so that the country can meet the challenges of ASEAN Integration.

A good start among our institutions of higher learning, which this Act
hopes to achieve, in this regard, is to offer courses on ASEAN studies either on
the collegiate or graduate level and to support undertakings or scholarships

related thereto.
SAI Vivo B./BELARO, JR.

Representative
1-Ang Edukasyon Party List


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SEVE EENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4244

Introduced by Representative Salvador B. Belaro, Jr.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING AN ASEAN STUDIES AND SCHOLARSHIP
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 “ASEAN Studies
and Scholarship Act of 2016”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. In an era of regional cooperation such as what
the ASEAN Integration brings, it is the duty of the government to prepare the
country and its citizens for the opportunities and challenges that it brings.

SEC. 3. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is hereby mandated to
establish a scholarship program whereby there should be at least one faculty
member of every State University or State College who shall be given a
scholarship to pursue graduate studies in studies relating to the economy,
culture and society of any or a combination of the ten member nations of the
Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). Each scholarship grant
shall enable the scholar to pay for his tuition and other related expenses,
including reasonable lodging expenses, in any public school in the Philippines
where he or she will be pursuing such graduate studies provided that as much as
possible, such scholarship grant may be pursued in a college or university in any
of the ASEAN member countries pursuant to faculty exchange study programs



between the college or university of origin of the scholar and the university in
any of the other ASEAN member countries where the scholar will be studying.

SEC. 4. Alll state universities and colleges in the country are likewise mandated
to explore the possibility of offering college and post-graduate studies relating
to the economy, culture and society of the member-states of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and to offer incentives to students who are
enrolling in such studies

K 5. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in collaboration with
the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is mandated to formulate the rules and
regulations of this Act.

SEC. 6, The funds necessary to carry out the provision of this Act shall be
included in the General Appropriation Act of the year following its enactment
into law and thereafter

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or provision not otherwise affected
shall remain valid and subsisting.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. All laws, orders, issuances rules and regulations or
parts thereof inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
modified or amended accordingly.

SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved