Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESHNTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NG.
Introduced by Representative Ivan Howard A. Guintu
EIXPLANATORY NOTH
Section 2, Article 14 of the Constitution states that "[t]he State shall establish and maintain
a system of scholarship grants, student loan programs, subsidies, and other incentives which shall
be   available  to   deserving   students   in  both  public   and  private   schools,   especially  to  the
underprivileged." Furthermore, "[t]he State shall also establish, maintain, and support a complete,
adequate, and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the people and society."
According  to  data  from  the  Commission  on  Higher  Education,  there  were   115,458
enrollees in the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries programs for Academic Year 2019-2020. Ch
the  other  hand,  there  were  33,429  enrollees  in  the  natural  sciences,  including  geology  and
meteorology.
Agriculture is considered to be the backbone of our country. Filipinos living in rural areas
rely on agricultural activities to support themselves and to provide food on our plates. According
to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing industry contributed
9.6 percent to our Gross Domestic Product in 2021. However, the agricultural sector in the country
is at risk. According to former agriculture secretary William Dar, the Philippines will face a critical
shortage of farmers in just  12 years if the government will not encourage Filipinos to take up
farming.
Meanwhile, being situated in the "Pacific Ring of Fire," our country has always been prone
to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Along with this, as we  are located in the Northwestern
Pacific Basin, there are about 20 typhoons that enter our area of responsibility per year.  Since
1990, the Philippines has faced 565  such disasters, killing thousands and costing us billions of


pesos in damages. The frequency of natural disasters that strike the country underscore the need
for preparedness, and in order to do so, the country needs more experts in geosciences.
Considering the critical importance of agriculture and fisheries, geology, and meteorology
in the Philippines, it is regrettable that there is a low number of eurollees in these programs. It is
essential that the State shall encourage more enrollees in these programs.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESHNTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINHTHENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HOUSE BILL No.  8 8 04
Introduced by Representative Ivan Howard A. Guintu
AN ACT
EXPANDING THE BENHFITS 0F SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SCHOLARSHIP
GRANTEES 0F AGRICULTURE, GEOLOGY, AND METEOROLOGY PROGRAMS,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7687, OTHERWISE KNOWN
AS THH ``SCIENCE AND THCHNOLOGY SCHOLARSHIP ACT 0F 1994"
Be  it  e:riacted by  the Senate  and the  House Of Representatives  Of. the  Philippines  in Congress
assembled:
SHCTION 1. Sfoorf rl.#e. -This Act shall be known as the "Expanded Benefits of Science
and Technology Scholarship Grantees of Agriculture, Geology, and Meteorology Progralns Act."
SEC.  2.  Section  7  of Republic  Act  No.  7687,  otherwise  known  as  the  "Science  and
Technology Scholarship Act of 1994" is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 7. Assistance to Grantees. -The grantee of the scholarship program under this
Act is entitled to  financial  assistance which may include tuition and other school  fees,
outright grant for prescribed textbooks  and  essential  school  supplies,  outright grant for
prescribed military science and physical education uniform, transportation expenses and
monthly living allowance: Provided, however, That in the granting of financial assistance,
the availability of funds, purchasing power of the peso and rate of financial assistance given
under other government scholarship programs must be considered.
SECTION  7-A.  ADDITIONAL  ASSISTANCE  TO  SCIENCE  AND  TECHNOLOGY
SCHOLARSHIP  GRANTEES  ENROLLED  IN  AGRICULTURE,  GEOLOGY,  AND
METEOROLOGY PROGRAMS -IN ADDITION TO THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE


AND  OUTRIGHT  GRANTs  THAT  ARE  ENTITLED  To  GRANTEEs  oF  Tlm
SCIENCE AND TECIINOLOGY SCHOLARSIHP, GRANTEES ENROLLED IN THE
AGRICuLTURE, GEOLOGy, AND p`maTEOROLOGy PROGRAMS ARE ENTITLED
TO  AN ADDITIONAL  MONTHLY  STIPEND:  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  THAT  IN
THE GRANTING OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, TIH AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS,
PURCHASING POWER OF TEE PESO AND RATE OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
GIVEN UNDER OTHER GOVERNRENT  SCHOLARSIHP PROGRAMS  MUST BE
CONSIDERED.
SHC. 3. All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, or other issuances or
parts  thereof inconsistent  with  the  provisions  of this  Act  are  hereby  repealed  or  modified
accordingly.
SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,