Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL no’ 567

Introduced by Representative Marlyn PrimiciasAgabas

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

The Philippines, in order to hamess more effectively the opportunities
abounding the era of globalization, has to recognize the vital role of science and
technology as the foundation of future economic development. With globalization
giving rise to rapid technological change, increased competition among nations, the
expansion of the services sector, and increasing mobility of skilled labor, the country
should look for ways and means to sustain its strengths, even fortify its staple
resources, so that it may not lose out on opportunities while participating in the world
arena.

The National Science and Technology Plan for 2002-2020 or NSTP 2020
states that biotechnology and information and communications technology stand out
as having great potential for less developed countries in the era of globalization. Yet
in the Philippines, opportunities in these fields are not well-recognized partially due to
lack of government support to students who wish to pursue tertiary studies in the said
fields. Sadly, there are only two (2) scholarship grants being given by the Department
of Science and Technology every year in Natural and Applied Sciences, Engineering
and Information and Communications Technology which offer limited financial
benefits and subsidies to grantees.

This proposed National Scholarship Program will help correct the oversight of
government education grants by providing high school graduates greater access to
education opportunities in a more equitable manner. It will institutionalize a more
focused approach toward science and technology education by ensuring that every
poor and deserving high school student who has the capacity to pursue a career in
science and technology shall have the unequivocal support of the government.

This proposed measure underscores this fact and shall mandate the
government to embrace this concept more tightly.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is urgently sought

i,

MARKYN/PRIMICIAG-AGABAS
6" District, Pangasinan



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bu.No.8967

Introduced by Representative Marlyn Primicias-Agabas

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS IN SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY COURSES IN EVERY PROVINCE OF THE
COUNTRY, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. There shall be selected annually from the graduating
classes of all public high schools in each province of the country, poor but
deserving students who shall be granted scholarships in science and
technology courses.

SECTION 2, The Scholarship shall be in the form of Financial
Assistance to cover tuition and registration fees, book allowance, board
and lodging fees or transportation allowance, and a monthly stipend for
living expenses in an amount as the college or university, where the
grantee shall enroll, may determine as reasonable and necessary.

SECTION 8. For the purposes of this Act, Science and Technology
Courses shall refer to courses in the area of Allied, Natural and Applied
Sciences, Engineering, and Information and Communications Technology.

SECTION 4. No student shall be granted the scholarship unless he
or she possesses the following qualifications:

(1) He must belong to the top one (1) percent of the high school
graduating class, and attain and maintain, such tests, standards, or
criteria as will insure that he is specifically gifted in and/or inclined to
study the particular college course of his preference:


(2)He must be of good health, excellent moral character, and
unquestionable integrity;

(3) He must be a natural-born citizen of the Philippines; and

(4) Must have qualified for admission to the college or university as
well as to the course the scholar intended to enroll.

SECTION 5, The Commission on Higher Education, in consultation
with the Department of Science and ‘Technology, shall provide an annual
listing of Science and Technology Courses that may be availed by scholars
and update the same in consideration of the country’s Science and
Technology requirements.

SECTION 6. In order to provide for an equitable allotment of slots
for scholarship grantees, the Scholarship under this Act shall be geared
towards enlisting more scholars from poor provinces of the Philippines.

SECTION 7. Any scholar who shall fail to finish his intended course
within the time he is expected to graduate or has shifted to courses not
otherwise provided in the CHED listing of eligible courses without
justifiable reasons as may be determined by CHED shall be liable to
reimburse the Government of all expenses and financial assistance
received under this Act.

SECTION 8. In order to encourage graduates of the scholarship
program under this Act to work in his city/municipality, they shall be
entitled to the following incentives:

(1) Priority for job placement in the province where the grantee is a
resident or in any government agency desiring or requiring the graduate's
educational competencies or in the private sector in positions appropriate
to his area of education or training:

(2) Access to government research facilities in the conduct of
research and development projects and other science and technology
services; and

(8) Priority in government post-graduate scholarship grants locally
and abroad.

SECTION 9. For the purposes of this Act, the Commission on
Higher Education in coordination with the State Scholarship Council shall
implement this Act and shall exercise and perform the following specific
functions and duties:

(1) To screen and approve candidates for scholarships;


(2)To prescribe such tests and standards, which candidates for
scholarship shall attain and maintain as will insure that he will perform
excellently in the particular field of study of his choice;

(8) To determine the number of scholars:

( To help the qualified scholar in selecting the college or
university in which he wants to enroll;

(4) To approve or fix the different expenses which shall be provided
to individual scholars and authorize the payment thereof out of the fund
appropriated by law;

(5) To enter into contract/Memorandum of Agreement with the
colleges and universities where the recipients enrolled; and

(©) In general, to do such acts, adopt such measures, enter into such
arrangements, or issue such rules and regulations as may be proper for
the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 10. The amount necessary for the effective
implementation of this Act shall be charged to the appropriations of the
Commission on Higher Education under the current General
Appropriations Act. Thereafter, such sum as may be provided for its
operation shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 11. If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder or any provision hereof not affected
thereby shall remain in force and effect.

SECTION 12. All laws, decrees, executive orders, presidential
issuances and other administrative rules and regulations or parts thereof
which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.

SECTION 18. This Act shall take effect immediately after its
publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,