HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

7 RECEIVED
Republic of the Philippines 18 JUL ove
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DATE: Y JUL 2016

Quezon City

TINE:

BY:
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session TRATIONIUKNT:

1652 BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE

H. B. No.

Introduced by HONORABLE BELLAFLOR J. ANGARA-CASTILLO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article 4, Section | of the Constitution mandates that the State should "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.” However, access to tertiary education in the country
remains a challenge especially to the poor and the underprivileged.

‘A nationwide NEDA-commissioned survey entitled “Ambisyon 2040", which looks into
the aspirations, values and principles of Filipinos, showed that 79 percent of Filipinos aspire for
a simple and comfortable life which includes having the capacity to provide college education for
their family. Unfortunately, an Annual Poverty Indicators Survey released by the Philippine
Statistics Office showed that almost 30 percent of high school graduates could not attend
college because of its high cost.

This bill seeks to appease this problem by establishing a mechanism that will enable
poor Filipino families, especially the beneficiaries of the government's Pantawid Pamilyang
Pilipino Program (4 Ps), to have at least one college graduate. Through the institutionalization of
the Expanded Student Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA), a student-
grantee will be entitled to a maximum of P60,000 per academic year to cover the cost for tuition
and other school fees to complete the student-grantee's degree program. State universities and
colleges shall monitor the academic performance of the grantees at the end of each academic
year until the grantees have graduated

This bill ultimately ensures that even the poor and underprivileged Filipino families will
be provided the opportunity to have at least one family member who graduated from college, an
effective tool that will help every Filipino family rise from poverty, and enable them to contribute
to national development

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

BELLAFLOR A ANGARA-CASTILLO
“Representative

Lone District, Province of Aurora


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

H. B. No.

1652

Introduced by HONORABLE BELLAFLOR J. ANGARA-CASTILLO

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A MECHANISM TO ENABLE POOR FILIPINO FAMILIES TO HAVE AT
LEAST ONE COLLEGE GRADUATE BY INSTITUTIONALIZING THE EXPANDED STUDENT
GRANTS-IN-AID PROGRAM FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION (ESGP-PA) AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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 “One Family, One Graduate Act”.

SEC. 2, Declaration of Policy. Its the policy of the State to protect and promote the right of
all Filipino citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make
such education accessible to all. Further, it is the policy of the State to establish and maintain a
system of grants, scholarships and subsidies, which shall be available to deserving students,
especially to the underprivileged, to help poor families rise from poverty and contribute to
national development

SEC. 3. Objective. This Act aims to contribute to the National Government's thrust to effectively
address poverty by increasing the number of graduates in higher education among poor
households and by ensuring that these graduates are employed in high-value occupations. This
ensures that qualified household beneficiaries of the government's Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino
Program (4Ps) shall have at least one family member who has graduated from college.

SEC. 4. Establishment of an Expanded Student Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty
Alleviation. An Expanded Student Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty (ESGP-PA) shall be
established, which shall be exclusively granted and used for the tertiary education of poor but
deserving students belonging to indigent households under the National Household Targeting
System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR), identified by the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD), or informal sector families. Potential student-grantees shall be enrolled
in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in course offerings aligned with the priorities of the
government.

SEC. 5. Coverage. Grantees of ESGP-PA shall be limited to poor but deserving students,
giving priority to 4Ps beneficiaries who are qualified to enroll in selected SUCs to take up priority
programs of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)

SEC, 6. Entitlement. A student-grantee shall be entitled to a maximum of Sixty Thousand
Pesos (60,000.00) per academic year or Thirty Thousand (F230,000) per semester. The
amount shall cover the cost of tuition and other school fees, academic and extracurricular
expenses, purchase of textbooks, board and lodging, transportation, clothing, medical needs
and other valid related education expenses and support services to complete the student-
grantee’s degree program.

SEC. 7. Selection of Student-Grantees and Role of DSWD. The DSWD shall identify and
validate potential student-grantees from among the household beneficiaries of the 4Ps Program,
which shall be submitted to participating SUCs for admission process. It shall likewise
coordinate necessary interventions for the student-grantee and family at the local level, and co-
monitor with CHED the implementation of the program.

Page 1


SEC. 8. Creation of the National ESGP-PA Committee. A National ESGP-PA Committee
shall be created, which shall be composed of the following:

CHED Chairperson, as Chairperson of the Committee
Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), member

Secretary of the Department of Welfare and Development (DSWD), member

Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), member

President of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC),
member

ORNs

SEC 9. Functions of the National ESGP-PA Committee. The Committee shall have the
following functions

Oversee the operation and implementation of the program;
Enhance the policies that will ensure that the services provided by the program shall
serve the target student-grantees;

Orient SUCs on the implementation of the program;

Reallocate unfilled slots to other equally deserving student-grantees

Decide on appeals, grievances, complaints, request for additional slots; and

Monitor and evaluate the administration and implementation of the program.

no

pane

SEC. 10. Qualifications of Student-Grantees, Student-grantees must have the following
qualifications to be eligible for the program:

Identified "4Ps’ beneficiary;

Physically and mentally fit;

High school graduate or equivalent;

No other higher education scholarship/grant from public institutions;
Pass the entrance exam and academic requirements set by the SUCs;
Pass the requirements set by the National ESGP-PA Committee; and
Must enroll in CHED Priority programs.

Nogaens

SEC. 11, Responsibilities of Student-Grantees.

1. Carry a full load per semester as prescribed in the curriculum and finish within the
required period of the program.

2. Maintain a satisfactory academic performance in accordance with the policies and
standards of the SUC

3. Enter into a return service agreement of 2 years after graduation

4, Adhere to the terms and conditions stipulated in the Contract.

SEC. 12. Responsibilities of Parents/Guardian of Student-Grantees.

4. Sign the Contract with the SUCs as the executor of the program.

2. Ensure that related expenses and other incidental expenses for health and clothing shall
be paid on time.

3, Ensure that recipient will religiously attend his/her classes, minimize absences, and
complete schoo! requirements.

4, Ensure that all financial benefits directly received by the grantee shall only be spent on
legitimate purposes and on time.

5. If the beneficiary is the head of the family, he shall assume the foregoing responsibilities
to complete his studies.

SEC. 13. Monitoring and Reporting by State Universities and Colleges. State Universities
and Colleges (SUCs) where grantees of the ESGP-PA are enrolled shall monitor and report to
the ESGP-PA Committee the academic performance of the grantees at the end of each
academic year until the grantees have graduated

SEC. 14. Appropriations. The DBM shall release directly to the respective SUCs the amount
of Two Billion Five Hundred Million Pesos (P2,500,000.00) for the student-grantees and the
activities of the program for each academic year, which shall be included in the Annual General
Appropriations Act.

Page 2


eyHAHsene

ae
12
13
4
15

SEC. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The CHED, in consultation with the DSWD,
DOLE, DBM and PASUC shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the
provisions of this Act, within six (6) months from its effectivity.

SEC. 16. Separability Clause. If any provision or part of this Act is held unconstitutional or
invalid, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect,

SEC 17. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees or issuances, executive orders,
administrative orders, rules or regulations contrary to or inconsistent with, the provisions of this
Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.

SEC 18, Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation,

Approved,

Page 3