FIFTI~U:NTH CONGRESS OF TIlE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF TIlE l'HILIl'l'INES ) 
Third Regular Sessiun 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. :12 79 
Introduced by Scnator Ellgan\o ,T. Angara 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
--,1\ 
Despite many science, technology, cngineering, and mathematics (STEM) 
scholarships developed and implemented by the Department of Science and 
Technology (DOST), the Philippines is stilllac;king in competent STEM professionals 
and teachers I. Many studies cOITelate the quality of teaebers and of teaching to student 
achievements in science2 lind subsequently, to their choice to build science careers. 
With this in mind, this measure proposes new scholarships, which arc open to courses 
on the scicnces, mathematics, and engineering, with additional incentives Cor 
graduates to return service by tcaching science and mathematics subjects in public or 
private high schools. 
The proposed bill also aims to fast track the creation of a critical bose of good 
science ancl mathematics teachers in high schools, in anticipation or the future 
implcmentation of K-12 curriculum. II plans to build on the current DOST-SEI 
undergraduate S&T scholarships by capturing current students in STEM courses in 
their last two years of study, and by offering them scholarships in cxchange for 
teaching high school science, mathematics, or technology courses Cor a corresponding 
two ycars as l'cturn-ol:service. Also, the bill introduces the option 01' hiring retired or 
unel1lployed science professionals as fiJII- or part-timc science teachers in high 
schools. 
Furthermorc, this measurc gives additionnl incentives to these liJture teachcrs 
"-
by upgrading their salaries to the equivalent to that of Special Science Teachers in the 
Philipp inc Science High School System, and by offering them scholarships to pursue 
Education units, should they wish to quali ty for the Licensure Examinnlioll Cor 
Teachers (LET), thl'OugiJ the Normal Schools. 
I The DOST cUlrcnlly rUlls numerous ulldetgrad aile! gradualc scholarshIps, however the Philippines un!y has 
157 sClcllIisls Hllll engineers PCI million population (NSTP 2002-2(20). 
? RiCh, Colleen K "No SClcnce Teacher Len Be,hind." From A,jason S'jJlr/l George Mason Univelsily, 2009 
Accessed III !lUpj/~~Lmill!,QiJu/n!l1191Jll~&DleIJUJ~pintF<\J199-G(11l~~<'ln-l~xccrnl,p_df 13 November 20 I O. 


Students---most 
of whom. arc 
intimidated 
by 
daunting 
scholarship 
requirements, if not by scicnce's "diI1lcult" reputation alone-should be given 
allractive incentives not only to go into STEM courses, but the opportunity to also 
tcach these to high school students. This hopcfi.I1ly creates positive feedback whieh 
would assure a continuing feeder system by generating a wider interest in STEM 
through quality teaching in the secondary schools. 
For these reasons, the swift approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 


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2 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Third Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 3279 
Introduced by Senator Edgardo J. Angara 
AN ACT 
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C> -, :I' 6 
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STRENGTHENING THE TEACHING OF SCIENCE AND 
MATHEMATICS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS BY 
SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS AND ENGINEERING GRADUATES, 
PROVIDING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND INCENTIVES THEREFOR 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Chapter I. GENERAL PROVISIONS 
3 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This act shall be known as the "S&T Scholarships 
4 
with Teaching Incentives Act of2012." 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ Science, technology and engineering are 
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essential for national development and progress. The State shall give priority to research 
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and development, invention, innovation and their utilization. Priority shall also be given 
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to science and technology education, training and services. 
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In line with the above, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote the 
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development of the counuy's science and technology manpower in line with economic 
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development and to provide the capability reqnired in the areas of research, development, 
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innovation as well as their utilization. As such, it is important that the State provide for 
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quality science and mathematics teachers at the secondary level, which would encourage 
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more students to pursue careers in science and technology. 
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Therefore, the State shall provide for scholarships to deserving science students 
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and other specially-gifted citizens to enable them to pursue higher education or training 
20 
in areas of science, technology and engineering, and to provide incentives for them to 
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become secondaty school teachers, especially in their home regions. 
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SEC. 3. General Objectives. - To carlY out the measure, this Act shall strengthen 
3 
the countly's science and technology education by fast tracking graduates in the sciences, 
4 
mathematics, and engineering who shall teach science and mathematics subjects in 
5 
secondary schools throughout the countly. Towards this end, scholarships shall be 
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provided to finance the education of talented and deserving students in their third year of 
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college, and pursuing a degree or t1'aining in areas of science and technology, and to 
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provide incentives for them to pursue a career in teaching in high schools, especially in 
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their home regions. 
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Chapter n. UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA 
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SEC. 4. Scholarship Program. - This Act builds on the cun-ent Science and 
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Technology Scholarships offered by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), 
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through its Science Education Institute (SEI), as provided for in Republic Act No. 7687, 
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otherwise known as the "Science and TechnolO!,'Y Scholarship Act of 1994." It envisions 
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a fast t1'acking of more science, technology, and engineering graduates by offering 
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scholarships to deserving students in these courses in their third year of undergraduate 
20 
study, based on their competitiveness and merit. It also offers additional incentives to 
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attract the 'graduates of this scholarship program into teaching science, mathematics and 
22 
technology courses in a public or private high school. 
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SEC. 5. Eligibility. - The following are qualifications for the scholarship with 
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teaching incentive. Applicants must: 
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• 
Be a Filipino citizen; 
• Be a regular third-year college student at the time of award; 
• Be cun-ently emolled in any of the state universities or colleges, or in 
private universities, especially in Commission on Higher Education 
(CHED)-compliant programs, under any of the identified priority S&T 
courses; 
• 
Have a general weighted average (GWA) of 83% or better during their 
first and second year of college; 
• 
Qualify in the lmtior-Level Science Scholarship Examination; and 
• Execute a Service Contract in which they agree to teach as their return 
of service (ROS). 
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SEC. 6. Award Amounts. - Recipients are entitled to an annual award for full-
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time study equal to the annual tuition and fees charged to students attending an approved 
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undergraduate program at any school in the comtt!y, public or private, with minimum 
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slots awarded in private schools to off-set differences in tuition costs. 
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SEC. 7. Duration. - Recipients shall be entitled to an award for the last two years 
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of undergraduate study, or the last tln'ee years for those enrolled in five-year courses such 
3 
as engineering, while matriculating in an approved program. 
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SEC. 8. Approved Courses and Priority Programs. - Recipients shall pursue 
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degrees in science, technology and engineering, as identified and approved by the DOST 
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as priority S&T courses. Applicants who are currently emolled under such counes under 
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the CHED-compliant programs will be given priority. 
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SEC. 9. Terms and Conditions. - Applicants for the scholarships must execute a 
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service contract in which they: 
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Agree to any of the approved return of service conditions; and 
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Agree to repay the amounts disbursed plus interest pursuant to the terms 
of their service contract. 
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Failure to comply with the terms of the service contract will result in the full 
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repayment (plus penalties, if applicable) of all award monies received within a specified 
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time limit. 
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Chapter m. RETURN OF SERVICE CONDITIONS AND INCENTIVES 
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SEC. 10. Return of Service Conditions. - Award recipients must teach full-time 
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high school subject(s) in Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics; or Information 
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Technology or Agricultural, Aquaculture or Fisheries Technology, both in the university 
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and technical-vocational tracks in the secondaty education curriculum, for a minimum of 
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two years, in a public or private high school. 
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SEC. 11. Incentives Schemes. - The following are incentives granted to qualified 
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graduates who shall be hired to teach at a public or private high school for a minimum of 
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two years. They shall be entitled to: 
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• 
A statting salary grade equivalent to that of a Special Science Teacher I in 
the Philippine Science High School System; 
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Priority for job placement in any high school, public or private, of his/her 
choice within the countJ.y, with first priority in his/her horne province; 
• 
A one-time relocation allowance should he/she be assigned in a place other 
than the perruanent residence; 
• 
Scholarships in identified teacher education institutes for Science Education 
courses; and 
• 
Pass the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) within five years of 
hiring. 
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Recipients of the four- or five-year S&T Undergraduate Scholarship of DOST-SE1 
2 
under R.A. No. 7687 may also opt to teach full-time the courses identified in Section 10 
3 
of this Act, for a minimum of two years at a public or private high school in their home 
4 
region. This Act amends the service obligation specified in R.A. 7687, and ensures that 
5 
these scholar-graduates, once hired as teachers, are entitled to a return-of-service ratio of 
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one year service for every two years scholarship enjoyed. 
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SEC. 12. Teacher Training. - The Philippine Normal University (PNU), being 
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the National Center for Teacher Education per Republic Act No. 9647, otherwise known 
10 
as "Philippine Normal University Modernization Act of 2009" and its network of 
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universities in teacher education like the National Network of Normal Schools (3NS), as 
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well as CHED-compliant programs in Teacher Education and centers for teacher training 
13 
recognized by CHED and DepEd, are hereby tasked to provide training for hired teacher~ 
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under this program. For this purpose, one thousand (1,000) scholarships are mad~ 
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available evelY year to these hired teachers to be sow'ced from the Higher Education 
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Development Fund (HEDF), as administered by CHED. 
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Chapter IV. OPTIONS FOR OTHER SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, 
ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS GRADUATES 
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SEC. 13. Eligibility of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics 
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(STEM) Graduates. - Other STEM graduates and professionals, who are not recipients 
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of the scholarship program provided for in this Act, may also appJy to teach science, 
25 
mathematics, or technology subjects in a public or private high school. Applicants must: 
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• 
Be a Filipino citizen; 
• 
Must have graduated willi a science, technology, engineering, or 
mathematics degree, willi a GW A of 83% or better from a reputable 
university; 
• 
Must be at least 40 years of age at the time of application; and 
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• Not have a service obligation under another program in conflict wit4 
DOST -SE1 obligations. 
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Qualified graduates and professionals shall also be entitled to teacher training 
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programs in any teacher education institution, as specified in Section 12 of this Act, to 
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prepare them into full-time teaching in a public or private high school in their home 
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regIOn. 
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Chapter V. IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES 
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SEC. 14. Science Education Institute (SEI). - The DOST-SE1 shall be the main 
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implementing agency of the provisions in this Act. The SEI shall be responsible for 
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evaluation, award-giving, and monitoring of scholarship grants and awardees. The 
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Institute is also tasked with coordinating with other relevant agencies in the fulfillment of 
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the goals of this Act. 
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SEC. 15. Department of Education (DepEd). - The DepEd is hereby tasked to 
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ensure job placement and hiring of qualified graduates under this program as secondary 
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school teachers in science, mathematics, and related technology courses, and to ensure 
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that these teachers are hired at Special Science Teacher sahuy grade levels, as specified 
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in this Act. The Department is also tasked with the evaluation and monitoring of hired 
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teachers under this program, 
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For this purpose, the Depattment shall create new contractual positions in public 
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high schools to ensure placement of the qualified teachers under this program, It shall 
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also establish a special fund that private high schools may tap to meet the required salaty 
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upgrade of these hired teachers, 
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Chapter VI. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
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SEC. 16. Review and Monitoring. - The DepEd, CHED, and DOST shall report 
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to the President and Congress after the first three years, and annually thereafter, on the 
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implementation of the provisions of this Act and submit recommendations for its 
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improvement. 
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The Departments are also tasked to monitor the hiring in high schools of scholars 
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under this program, and to undertake such tracer studies and include these in the annual 
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repOlts, 
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SEC. 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from 
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approval of this Act, the DOST and the DepEd shall promulgate the lUles and regulations 
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to effectively implement the provisions of this Act. 
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SEC. 18. Appropriations Clause, - An additional amount of Two Hundred 
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Million Pesos (Php200,000,000,00) annually is hereby appropriated for the two-year 
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scholarships of an additional 1,500 students per year under the DOST-SEI S&T 
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Undergraduate Scholarship Program, to be sourced from the earnings of Philippine 
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Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Philippine Charity 
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Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), for the next seven years, or until 10,000 new teachers have 
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been hired under this program, 
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In order to provide the necessaty funds for the new contractual positions created 
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under this Act, an amount of Two Hundred Million Pesos (Php200,000,000,00) shall be 
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appropriated to the DepEd, beginning two years from the effectivity of this Act, and for 
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ten years thereafter, for the upgraded salaries of hired teachers under this program, 
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SEC. 19. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
2 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
3 
remain valid and subsisting. 
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SEC. 20. Repealing Clause. This Act amends the service obligation specified in 
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Section 13 of R.A. 7687, otherwise known as the "Science and Teclmology Scholarship 
1 
Act of 1994." All other laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, and 
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administrative regulations or parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or 
9 
modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 21. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette and at least two (2) national newspapers of general 
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circulation. 
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Approved, 
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