Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _279 1

Introduced by Representative Marlyn Primicias-Agabas

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 1, Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution declares that the State
shall 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. Section 5(5), of the same Article also declares that the State shall assign
the highest budgetary priority to education and ensure that teaching will
attract and retain its rightful share of the best available talents through
adequate remuneration and the other means of job satisfaction and
fulfillment.

It cannot be denied that education is a vital consideration on which the
development of our country depends. This should clearly include
opportunities for teachers who play an essential role in delivering quality
education and values formation among students.

The dedication and zeal of teachers especially in public schools does
not only end at teaching but extends, as demonstrated in the recent
automated elections and 2010 Census, to other national programs in which
their participation was indeed a critical factor in spelling the success of such
programs. Sadly, their plight remains bleak with a measly basic salary and
lack of incentives for economic and learning advancement.

Tn view of the foregoing, it is then imperative for the government to
provide our public school teachers additional benefits appropriate to their
profession and needs. The proponent believes that this is an opportune time
to recognize their efforts by providing a scholarship financial assistance
program in state universities and colleges for dependents of public school
teachers. This financial assistance will go a long way in promoting their
economic welfare in light of the Constitutional mandate.

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

ve
MARLYN PRIMICIAS-AGABAS
6th District, Pangasinan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1
HOUSE BILL NO. _ 27 94

Introduced by Representative Marlyn Primicias-Agabas

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A SCHOLARSHIP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IN STATE
UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES FOR DEPENDENTS OF PUBLIC
SCHOOL TEACHERS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR,

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — The State recognizes the essential
role of public school teachers in the delivery of quality education to students.
For these purposes, the State shall provide for programs that will benefit not
only the teachers but also their dependents.

SECTION 2. Title. — This Act shall be known as “Scholarship
Assistance Program for Dependents of Public School Teachers Act of 2010.”

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, public
school teachers shall mean all persons engaged in classroom teaching, in any
level of instruction, on full-time basis, including guidance counselors, school
librarians, industrial arts or vocational instructors, and all other persons
performing supervisory and/or administrative functions in all schools,
colleges and universities operated by the Government or its political
subdivisions; but shall not include school nurses, school physicians, school
dentists, and other school employees.

Dependent shall mean a legitimate, illegitimate child, or legally
adopted child of the public school teacher as herein referred.

State universities and colleges (SUCs) shall mean those chartered
public higher education institutions established by law, administered and
financially subsidized by the government.

SECTION 4. Form of Assistance. — The Scholarship grant shall be in
the form of financial assistance to cover one hundred percent (100%) of the
total tuition and registration fees in an amount as the State University or
College, where the dependent shall enroll, may determine as reasonable and
necessary.


Only one (1) dependent for each qualified public school teacher may
avail of the grant provided in this Act.

In case the dependent, at the time of the effectivity of this Act, already
receives the same or similar benefit, or more than what is provided herein, he
or she shall be entitled to that grant which is more beneficial to the
dependent.

SECTION 5. Qualifications for Dependents. — No dependent shall be
granted the scholarship unless he or she posses the following qualifications:

(1) He or she must be a natural-born citizen of the Philippines;

(2) He or she must be of excellent moral character and unquestionable
integrity; and

(3) Must have qualified for admission to the university or college as
well as to the course the dependent intends to enroll.

SECTION 6. Other Qualifications. — In order for dependents of public
school teachers to benefit from this Act, the latter must possess the following
qualifications:

(1) He or she must be of excellent moral character and unquestionable
integrity;

(2) Must be in good standing and in the service at the time of the
application and until the dependent shall finish the course, except for those
having fulfilled the age and service requirements of the applicable retirement
laws in which case the dependent shall be allowed to continue until he or she
shall finish the course; and

(3) Must not have been convicted of any crime punishable with more
than six (6) years of imprisonment.

SECTION 7. Assistance to Retired Public School Teachers. —
Dependents of public school teachers who have already retired upon the
effectivity of this Act may avail the Scholarship grant in the form of financial
assistance to cover fifty percent (50%) of the total tuition and registration
fees in an amount as the State University or College, where the dependent
shall enroll, may determine as reasonable and necessary.

Only one (1) dependent for each retired public school teacher may avail
of the grant provided in this Act.

SECTION 8. Program Implementation. - For purposes of this Act, the
Commission on Higher Education in coordination with the Department of
Education shall prescribe the necessary implementing rules and regulations
for the Scholarship Assistance Program within ninety (90) days upon the
effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 9. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the effective
implementation of this Act shall be charged to the appropriations of the


Commission on Higher Education and the Department of 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 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is
held invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or provision not
otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or
issuance, executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or
regulation to the contrary to, or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is
hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly.

SECTION 12. Effectivity.—'This Act shall take effect immediately after
its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,