Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _279 3

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.

The State also recognizes the vital role the Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) play in the
maintenance of our country’s peace and order and public safety and security.

In view of the foregoing, it is then necessary for the government to
provide our military and police force additional benefits in order to promote
and improve their welfare. A scholarship program in state universities and
colleges for their dependents will serve as a catalyst in alleviating their social
and economic conditions which, in turn, will boost their morale in providing
excellence in service.

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

Yeh /
MARLYN)PRIMICIAS-AGABAS
6th District, Pahgasinan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _ 279 8

Introduced by Representative Marlyn Primicias-Agabas

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IN STATE
UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES FOR DEPENDENTS OF MEMBERS OF
THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES (AFP) AND THE
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE (PNP), 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 the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National
Police (PNP) in the maintenance of peace and order and public safety and
security. For these purposes, the State shall provide for programs that will
benefit the dependents of our military and police personnel.

SECTION 2. Title. — This Act shall be known as “Scholarship Program
for Dependents of AFP and PNP Personnel Act of 2010.”

SECTION 8. Definition of Terms. ~ For purposes of this Act, AFP and
PNP Personnel shall mean all those in the active service, including those who
are incapacitated by reason of his or her functions and duties.

Dependent shall mean a legitimate, legitimated, illegitimate child, or
legally adopted child of the AFP or PNP personnel 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 AFP or PNP personnel may
avail of the grant provided in this Act.


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. Qualifications for AFP and PNP Personnel. — In order for
dependents of AFP and PNP Personnel 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

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

SECTION 7. Program Implementation. — For purposes of this Act, the
Commission on Higher Education in coordination with the Armed Forces of
the Philippines and the Department of Interior and Local Government shall
prescribe the necessary implementing rules and regulations for the
Scholarship Assistance Program within one hundred twenty (120) days upon
the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 8. Appropriations. — 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 9. 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 10. 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 11. Efféctivity. — This Act shall take effect immediately after
its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,