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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

454

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Manuel Luis T. Lopez

EXPLANATORY NOTE

According to the 2013 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey
(‘FLEMMS”) conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority ("PSA") one in every ten or
about 4 million Filipino children and youth were out-of-school in 2013. The study further
showed that there was a higher proportion of persons who are out-of-school among the
youth who are aged 15-24 years old, Also, according to the FLEMMS, the top 5 reasons
why children and the youth do notattend school anymore are the following: (1) Marriage;
(2) Family income not sufficient to send the child to school; (3) Lack of personal
interest; (4) Housekeeping; (5) High Cost of education. This shows that there is a strong
connection between the financial capacity and position of the student and his family in
determining whether he/she will attain a college degree.

In another study conducted by the World Education News and reviews ("WENR")
in 2014, for tertiary level education, there are a total of 2.02 million students enrolled in
private schools while there are 1.54 million in public schools. With this great number of
tertiary level students, providing them with additional discounts and benefits would
greatly improve the quality of our student population as they will now be able to worry
less about the financial expenditures for their school supplies and materials.

This bill, which was first filed in the 17" Congress and has been pending with the
Committee on Basic Education and Culture since May 3, 2017, seeks to provide students
and their families the necessary financial assistance by providing them with discounts
with regards to all their educational related purchases. It also seeks to improve the
quality of education in the Philippines by lessening the financial burden on the students
and their families as well as making attending school more enjoyable and convenient.

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

M af

HON. MANUEL JAfiS T. LOPEZ
Reprs rative
1% District, of Manila


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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

454
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Manuel Luis T. Lopez

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AN ACT
GRANTING BENEFITS AND DISCOUNTS TO STUDENTS FOR ALL EDUCATIONAL
RELATED PURCHASES AND EXPENSES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Student Assistance Act
of 2019,”

SEC, 2. Declaration of Policy. - The 1987 Constitution provides that “the State
shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and
independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that
provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living,

and an improved quality of life for all.”

It further provides that “The State shall give priority to education, science and
technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate

social progress, and promote total human liberation and development.”
In addition, the Constitution provides 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.”

Consistent with these Constitutional Principles, it is the declared policy of the


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State, to provide the necessary incentives and support to its students for them to be

become productive citizens and eventually contribute to nation building.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms are defined

as follows:

as

Student- refers to all persons currently enrolled and admitted by the
covered Educational Institutions regardless of whether he/she has paid the

school tuition fee in full. Those who are considered on Leave of Absence

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(‘LOA’) status shall not enjoy the privileges provided in this Act.
Educational related purchases- refers to all purchases made by the student

or his parents/ guardian of all school supplies and materials as laid out in

this act or those analogous therewil
Educational Institution- refers to all schools, colleges, and universities duly
accredited by the Department of Education (“DEPED"), Commission on
Higher Education ("CHED"), and the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority ("TESDA") providing educational services to its
students.

Covered Establishments and Institutions - refers to all commercial
establishments engaged in the sale of school supplies and materials
directly used by the student in the fulfillment of the requirements of
his/her respective educational institution.

Valid School 1D- the duly issued identification card provided by the school

to its students, which must correspond to the current school year only.

SEC. 4. Coverage. - All qualified students upon presentation of their valid school

ID, shall be qualified to avail the discount provided in this Act on all their educational

related purchases in accordance with the duly prescribed guidelines established by the

Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act. Only the valid school ID shall be accepted

by the covered establishments as proof that the student is indeed qualified for the

discount.

SEC. 5. School Materials and Supplies included. - The items that must be

accorded the student discount shall include but shall not be limited to the following:


a. Academic Books or any other book which must be included in the

2 prescribed list of the respective educational institution;

3 b. Uniform;

4 c. Ball pens, pencils, highlighters, and all other essential writing materials;

5 d. Notebooks;

6 e. Writing Paper, bond paper, and all sizes of intermediate pad paper;

7 f. Allother materials analogous to the foregoing and those deemed necessary

8 and essential for educational purposes.

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10 SEC. 6. Student Discount Rate. - A discount amounting to 15% shall be granted
11 to all students for their purchase of all the essential and necessary educational related
12 materials. To avail of the discount, the student must present his valid school ID for the
13 specific school year. The purchases must also be in accordance with the threshold limit
14 as will be provided in the Implementing Rules and Regulations.
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16 SEC. 7. Procedure. - In order to avail of the student discount as provided in this
17 Act, the student or his parent/guardian must present to the covered establishments the
18 valid school ID and the purchases shall only be limited to the items laid out in this Act or
19 _ in its implementing rules and regulations.
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2 The covered establishments must then issue a corresponding receipt which must
22 contain the discount granted.
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24 SEC. 8. Penalties. - Failure of the cashier to comply with the provisions of this Act
25 without any sufficient and valid justification shall be punished by imprisonment of not
26 less than 1 day but not more than 30 days or a fine of not less than Five Thousand Pesos
27 (P5,000) but not more than Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000) or both.

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29 If the violator of this Act is the operator, manager, and owner of the covered
30 establishment and institution, the officer involved or in charge shall be punished with
31 imprisonment of not less than 3 months but not more than 1 year or a fine of not less than
32 One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000) but not more than Five Hundred Thousand
33 Pesos (PS00,000).


In all cases, the manager, operator, and owner of the covered establishment or
institution shall be held liable for any violation of this Act and shall suffer the penalties as

mentioned in the immediately preceding paragraph.

SEC. 9. Transitory Provision. - All Covered Establishments and Institutions are
given a grace period of 45 days from the approval of the Implementing Rules and

Regulations to create the necessary logistical and technological requirements to make

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effective the grant of discounts to all students. After the lapse of the said period, all
covered establishments and institutions must be ready to comply with the provisions and

requirements as laid out in this Act.

SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations and Standard Forms. - Within
sixty (60) days from the promulgation of this Act, the necessary rules and regulations for
the proper implementation of its provisions shall be formulated by the appropriate
government office or agency in coordination with all the stakeholders and covered

establishments and institutions.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, ordinances, executive orders,
administrative orders, rules, regulations, decrees, and other issuances or parts thereof,
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby revoked, repealed, or

modified accordingly.
SEC. 12. Separability Clause. -If any provision of this Actis held unconstitutional
or invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall continue in operation and

remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 13. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in a newspaper of general circulation or the Official Gazette.

Approved,