Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS.
‘Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6386

Introduced by Representative Roman T. Romulo
Lone District of Pasig, City

EXPLANATORY NOTE

“The test of our progress is not whether
we add more to the abundance of those who
have much, it is whether we provide enough for
those who have too little.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt

This representation is truly grateful and humbled by the support given
by the 16!" Congress in the passage of the Iskolar ng Bayan Law and the
Unified Student Financial Assistance for Tertiary Education (Unik AST) Act
Alll of these laws started from my hope and vision of someday making it
possible for education to be free for those who cannot afford it.

Granting that the Constitution mandates that basic education be free
for all, there has been a clamor for our public higher educational institutions
(HEIs) to offer tertiary education that is also free for all. However, given the
current profile of students enrolled in our different state universities and
colleges, it appears that not all students enrolled come from the poorest of the
poor to whom the State is bound to provide access to education. For the State
to subsidize the education of all, including those who have the means to pay
for tertiary education will result in social equality thereby widening even
more the gap between the rich and the poor.

No less than the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said that,
“Given the highly inequitable structure of Philippine society ~ where opportunities
are highly skewed against the poor and the cash strapped lower middle class
~ we contend that government subsidy for the deserving poor must be higher



than for non-poor students, In fact, the poor must be fully subsidized while
those with the economic means to pay for their entire education many times
over must share the cost of their education, through the payment of tuition,
differentiated by social class”

In view of the above-mentioned considerations, this representation
seeks to continue to move for free education for those who need it most by
mandating the State to provide free college education to all students coming,
from families with a gross monthly income of fifty thousand pesos
(Php50,000.00) or less. The amount is pegged at fifty thousand pesos, above
the minimum wage, so as to include children of our nurses, teachers, etc.
Aside from those who are underprivileged, I also sought to specifically extend
the benefits of free college education to their children because they are the
typical tax paying middle class citizens who we all wish to empower. With a
tight budget to pay for rent, food, utilities, allowance and transportation, truly
it is about time for the State to give back and help them in ensuring that their
children be able to obtain the graduate degree that they need for purposes of
employment and financial security for their respective families.

‘Truly, this is another measure that brings life to the saying that, "Those
who have less in life should have more in the law.”

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

cee

ROMAN T. ROMULO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

HousE BILLNo. 6386

Introduced by Representative Roman T. Romulo
Lone District of Pasig City

AN ACT PROVIDING FREE COLLEGE EDUCATION FOR
STUDENTS COMING FROM FAMILIES WITH GROSS MONTHLY
INCOME OF FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (PHP50,000.00) AND
BELOW IN STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

Section 1. Title - This Act shall be known as the "Free College Education Act";

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to
promote social justice and pursuant thereto, provide all Filipino citizens
access to quality education;

Section 3. Coverage of Free College Education. - Tuition, miscellaneous and
other school fees of qualified student beneficiaries under this Act shall be
fully subsidized by the national government when he or she enrolls in college
or in courses in pursuance of a bachelors degree, certificate degree, or
comparable undergraduate degree in any state university or college (SUC)
The cost of living allowance needed to ensure that a student finishes his/her
selected program as well as other educational expenses may also be included
subject to availability of funds;

Section 4, Qualified Beneficiaries, - All students enrolled or about to enroll in
any state university or college coming from families with a gross monthly
income of fifty thousand pesos (Php50,000.00) shalll be entitled to free college
education as defined in the previous section: Provided, That beneficiaries
shall remain in good academic standing;

Section 5. Recourse of Unqualified Students. - For unqualified students such
as those enrolled in private universities or colleges, or those coming from
families. whose monthly gross income is above fifty thousand pesos


(Php50,000,00) who wish to avail of free college education or other financial
istance may resort to similar benefits provided for under R.A. No, 10648
otherwise known as the Iskolar ng Bayan Act or R.A. No. 10687 otherwise
known as Unified Financial Assistance for Students in Tertiary Education
(UniFAST) Act, as the case may be;

Section 6. Role of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). The CHED
shall determine the qualified beneficiaries under this Act through its Office of
Student Services (OSS). The CHED Chairperson shall include in the regular
functions of the OSS the following additional functions

(a) To plan, implement and monitor yearly work programs, evaluate
and submit annual reports in pursuance to the objectives of this
Act;

(b) To screen applicants, receive documentary proof, and identify who
are eligible for free college education based on the provisions of this,
Act;

(c) To issue the proper certification which constitutes proof of
qualification for free college education which qualified beneficiaries
shall present upon enrollment with a guaranty that the tuition,
miscellaneous and other school fees shall be paid by CHED;

(4) To maintain and regularly update, on a per semester basis, the list
of the beneficiaries of this Act and to review, evaluate and asses:
their academic standing;

(ec) To monitor the extent of implementation of this Act and to impose
penalties on violators of this Act; and

() To perform such other functions as may be determined by the
CHED Chairperson.

Section 7. Role of State Universities and Colleges - State universities and
colleges shall be required to accept students for enrollment upon presentation
and submission of the certification issued by the CHED that they have met the
qualifications under this Act: Provided, That all SUCs shall not refuse
enrollment should there be delay in payment on the part of the CHED:
Provided further, That SUCs are prohibited to collect any form of payment
from qualified beneficiaries with an agreement to reimburse the same upon
payment of the CHED;

Section 8. Payment by the CHED. - The CHED shall ensure full payment of
tuition, miscellaneous and other school fees of all qualified beneficiaries
under this Act due to the state universities and colleges concerned within
thirty days upon submission of their claims. Educational expenses and cost of
living allowance shall be directly given to qualified students subject to such
rules and regulations to be promulgated by CHED.

Section 9. Appropriations. - ‘The amount of Fifteen Billion Pesos (Php
15,000,000,000.00) shall be initially appropriated from the Social Fund of the
Office of the President to implement the provisions of this Act. Thereafter,


such amount necessary to effectively carry out the provisions of this Act shall
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act;

Section 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations, - ‘The CHED shall
promulgate the implementing rules and regulations to ensure the efficient
and effective implementation of this Act within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act;

Section. 11. Separability Clause, - Should any part of this Act be declared
unconstitutional, the rest of the provisions of this Act shall continue to be in
effect;

Section. 12, Repealing Clause. - All laws, decreed and orders or parts
thereof which are contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby
repealed, amended or modified accordingly. Nothing in this Act shalll affect
the existing scholarship and financial assistance programs being implemented
by other government agencies.

Section. 13. Effectivity, - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following
its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2)
newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes earlier.

APPROVED,