FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
S E N A T E  
S.B. 
Introduced by Senator Villar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Education is considered an earnest wealth. The signifigance of education 
is thus reflected in the provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution: 
“The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to 
quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make sure 
education accessible to all.” 
1. 
2. 
“The State shall 
(3) establish and maintain a system of scholarship grants, student loan 
programs, subsidies and other incentives which should be available to deserving 
students in both public and private schools, especially the underprivileged.” 
The empowerment of the people through education is therefore a mission 
and which is addressed by this bill through the institutionalization and the 
strengthening ok an existing program for free education to deserving employees 
in the national and local government. 
This is consistent with the declared 
provision in the 1987 Philippine Constitution stating, “[tlhe Civil Service 
Commission, as the central personnel agency of the Government, shall establish 
a career service and adopt measures to promote morale, efficiency, integrity, 
responsiveness, progressiveness, and courtesy in the civil service. It shall 
strengthen the merit and rewards system, integrate all human resources 
development programs for all levels and ranks, and institutionalize a 
management climate conducive to public accountability x x x“ (Art. E-B, Sec. 3). 
This legislation is submitted with the intention of professionalizing the 
public sector. Scholarship grants in the skill and training level, as well in courses 
leading to baccalaureate degrees and graduate school programs are guaranteed 
to deserving government employees under this Act. 
To the government, an 
advantage is likewise noted: core areas of studies which may be the demand of 
the future are the premier concentration of this program. 
Premises considered, the immediate enactment of this legislation is 
recommended. 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
S E N A T E  
S. B.?&5 
~ 
Introduced by Senator Villar 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTIONALIZING A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM OF GOVERNMENT 
EDUCATlONlSCHOLARSHlP GRANTS TO DESERVING NATIONAL AND 
LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND 
FOROTHERPURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Tulong Aral sa 
Empleyado ng Gobyerno Act of 2008”. 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is declared a policy of the State to 
promote morale, efficiency, integrity, responsiveness, progressiveness and 
courtesy in the civil service; to institutionalize a merit and reward system in the 
form of free education or scholarship grant to deserving civil servants; to 
integrate scholarship programs towards human resources development in the 
government; and to establish a management climate where potentials are tapped 
and utilized to the fullest and the best virtues harnessed and instilled in the minds 
of every proud government personnel. 
phrases shall have the following definitions: 
a. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms - As used in this Act, the following words and 
“Tulong Aral sa Empleyado ng Gobyerno” shall refer to the comprehensive 
government sponsored 
program under this Act 
providing free 
education or scholarship grants to deserving employees of the national 
and local governments. 
“Short-term training grants” shall refer to the government assistance 
under this Act for scholarship or training programs of not more than six (6) 
month duration in upgrading of skills of government employees in clerical, 
trade, crafts, custodial, technical and related services. 
b. 


C. 
”Baccalaureate degree grants” shall refer to government assistance 
under this Act for scholarship programs consisting in four-or five-year 
continuous studies leading to an academic title or course diploma. 
d. “Graduate school grants” shall refer to government assistance under this 
Act in a specialized field of study in post graduate level where a 
baccalaureate degree or training experience is a prerequisite. 
SEC. 4. The Scholarship Program - There is hereby adopted the “Tulong 
Aral sa Empleyado ng Gobyerno” program, a nationwide scholarship program 
offering free education or scholarship grant to all government employees in the 
national and local government levels who want to pursue short-term 
trainings/courses, baccalaureate degree courses, and/or graduate school 
education programs in accordance with the requirements under this Act. 
For this purpose, the existing Local Scholarship Program (LSP) and the 
Local Scholarship Program for Skilled Workers in Government (LSPSWG) being 
undertaken and handled by the Civil Service Cornmission shall be incorporated 
into the “Tulong Aral sa Empleyado ng Gobyerno” program under this Act. 
SEC. 5. Scholarship Grant Thrusts - The Civil Service Commission 
(CSC), in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and 
Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA), shall formulate 
the core areas of studies for the training, education or scholarship grants covered 
under this Act, including, but not limited to the sciences, fiscal management and 
public finance, economics, the technical and technological, entrepreneurial fields 
and similar other areas which are geared towards technology development and 
modern governance and management approaches. 
SEC. 6. Selection Procedure - Employees in the national and local 
governments who possess the following qualifications shall be eligible under the 
scholarship program: 
a. A permanent or temporary appointment at the time of filing; 
b. An aggregate of at least two (2) years work experience in government; 
c. A performance rating of at least ‘Satisfactory’ 
d. Not more than forty-five (45) years old as of last birthday; 
e. Good health; and 
f. Absence of pending administrative case: 
Provided, That in the case of the graduate school grants, the consecutive 
a. A bachelor’s degree from a college or university of good standing; 
b. Absence of a masteral degree; and 
c. Non-availment of any foreignllocal scholarship grant from the 
government in the past two (2) years prior to the school year the 
employee will study: 
in the last two (2) 
performance appraisal period 
rating periods; following additional requirements shall also be imposed: 


Provided, further, That a written or oral examination may be administered 
by the Civil Service Cornmission or through a Screening and Selection 
Committee to be chaired by the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, with 
the Secretaries of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, the 
Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Interior and local 
Government and the Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education, or their 
representatives, with the rank of at least an Assistant Secretary, as members. 
SEC. 7, Private Sector Initiative - Private sectors are encouraged to 
align their existing free education or scholarship programs with the program 
envisioned under this Act. 
Contributions to the fund supporting the scholarship program under this 
Act shall be deductible from the annual taxable income to the extent of twenty 
percent (20%) thereof in the case of individual taxpayers and one hundred twenty 
percent (120%) thereof in the case of corporations, firms or entities, or such 
contributions may be considered as an input value-added tax, at the election of 
the contributor. 
SEC. 8. Rules and Regulations - The CSC, in coordination with the 
DECS and CHED, shall formulate the necessary rules and regulations for the 
implementation of this Act and the determination of courses covered under the 
program, as well as the application procedure, the nomination process, if any, 
responsibilities of the grantee; additional benefits; and other matters. 
SEC. 9. Funding Source - The sources of funds for the implementation of 
a. For its first year of implementation, the appropriations set aside for the 
Local Scholarship Program and Local Scholarship Program for Skill 
Workers in all offices of the Government. 
this Act shall be, as follows: 
b. For the succeeding years of implementation, such amounts as are 
needed shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act and 
complemented by the savings generated from the different bureaus, 
offices and agencies and by contributions extended by private 
corporation, companies and entities. 
SEC. I O .  Separability Clause - If, for any reason, any provision of this 
Act is declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof which 
are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SEC. 11. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 12. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation, whichever comes earlier. 
Approved,