NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
of tl)f ^'.ctrtniT
*22 DEC 14 PI *44
SENATE
S. B. No. 1614
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
CREATING AN ADVANCED STUDIES DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR 
EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYEES FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE 
SECTOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Thousands of Filipino students have acquired advanced degrees and 
specialized training in foreign countries through various scholarships grants either of 
local or foreign funding. While these local and overseas scholarship programs have 
produced a sizeable number of high-level professionals for the country, these 
programs have also resulted in a significant brain drain for our country. The 2022 
edition of the Fragile States Index (FSI) by Fund for Peace reveal that, although the 
Philippines has improved in its overall ranking of fragile states in the world, it still 
ranks 50th out of 179 countries. According to the FSI Economic Indicator, our 
country yielded 5.1 out of 10 in the Human Flight and Brain drain category.1
A number of returning scholars have not found the opportunity to maximize 
utilization of their newly acquired knowledge and training. As a result, many of them 
leave the country in search of greener pastures abroad.
It is imperative that the Philippines should devise a program for overseas 
education and training for the brightest and most promising Filipinos who are 
already employed (or self-employed) in a branch of science or technology along 
identified priority areas. Such a program shall affect the pooling together of all 
foreign and local (public or private) sponsorship intended for further education, 
enrichment, and training of exceptionally able and highly motivated and employed 
Filipinos.
1 https://www.bworldonline.eom/infographics/2022/07/18/461550/philippines-2nd-most-fragile-state- 
in-southeast-asia/ ; https://fragilestatesindex.org/country-data/.


The proposed legislation endeavors to provide the Philippines a continuing 
supply of highly trained leaders for industry, research, and academe. Under the bill, 
the maximum utilization of returning talents will be coordinated under a single 
governing body where all scholarships under foreign and local sponsorship are 
pooled together.
Approval of the bill is, thus earnestly requested.
SONNY ANGARA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
d-a snuni?
72 DEC U PI ■•44
SENATE
S. B. No. 1614
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
CREATING AN ADVANCED STUDIES DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR 
EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYEES FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE 
SECTOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. - This bill shall be known as the "Penslonado Act of
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2022".
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policies. - Human resources developments are essential
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for economic development and progress. In the pursuit of economic development
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and progress, the state shall give priority to the creation of a critical mass of elite
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professionals who shall take the lead in harnessing science, technology, and related
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disciplines towards accelerating the productivity of the country's human resources.
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Consonant with this trust, it is hereby declared a policy of the state to devise
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a program for exceptionally able and highly motivated employees, preferably aged
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30-40, from the government, the private sector and/or the self-employed to
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undertake advanced studies in a branch of science, technology, or related fields of
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learning on which depends the development and progress of the country. As such, it
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shall provide for fellowships to enable them to pursue advanced studies or research
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in their field of expertise.
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The State shall develop a critical mass of first-rate specialists in various
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disciplines and areas of specializations vital to national development to form a
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collective national "think tank" who shall place continuously their knowledge and


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skills at the service of the nation, be it in industry, the academe, or the highest
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policy-making levels of government, with the government taking the lead in
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harnessing their knowledge and skills for the greatest good of the country.
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Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms are
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hereunder defined accordingly:
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a) Post-graduate refers to a formal degree course program of training/research
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requiring at least a Master's Degree for entry; a student pursuing such
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program;
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b) 
Advanced studies refer to a post-graduate problem-oriented program of
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studies and/or research, not necessarily leading to a degree, undertaken for
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further specialization or advanced knowledge in a specific field of a study, or
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to acquire specialized knowledge and/or skills in a particular area of science
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or technology; and
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c) 
Pensionado refers to a Filipino citizen selected and supported by the
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Philippine government under this program to undertake advanced studies in
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selected institutions of higher learning or recognized research centers, in
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fields relevant to the officially-declared priority areas for development.
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Sec. 4. Estabiishment of a Program. -There shall be established under the
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Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in coordination with non-government
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organizations (NGOs), the private sector and other government agencies, namely,
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the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Trade
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and Industry (DTI), and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), a
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fellowship program to be called as the "Pensionado Program" for Filipinos employed
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in the government and the private sectors and those who are self-employed.
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The program shall pool together all fellowships, scholarships, training grants
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sponsored or extended by foreign government, agencies and other bodies, as well
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as by local agencies and organizations, whether public or private, intended for
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advanced studies in international centers of advanced learning, scholarship and
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research.
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Sec. 5. Estabiishment of a National Secretariat; Functions and Composition. -
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There shall be established a National Secretariat, hereafter referred to as the
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"Secretariat", with the following functions:


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b)
c)
d)
e)
a) Identify, and assist in negotiations with sponsors (foreign and local, public 
and private) of fellowships, scholarships and grants;
Provide assistance to the selection panel in accomplishing its work;
Provide the Pensionados continuing assistance from the time of selection thru 
the time of their return to the country, including assistance for the productive 
utilization of their newly-gained expertise;
Serve as the administrative arm of the government for the program; and 
In general, promulgate and implement the policies and guidelines governing
the Program.
The National Secretariat shall be headed by an Executive Officer with the rank 
of Assistant Secretary, to be appointed by the President of the Republic of the 
Philippines, upon the recommendation of CHED. Members of the Secretariat shali 
consist of representatives from CHED, NEDA, DTI, and DOST. These representatives 
shall be seconded to the Secretariat for a period of one year, subject to renewal 
every year. Service rendered thereat shall be considered as part of their 
performance for promotions purposes.
Sec. 6. Number of Pensionados and Length of Grant - There shall be 
selected twenty-four (24) fellows annually - three (3) fellows for each priority 
discipline/industry field of the eight (8) vital disciplines or areas of specializations 
identified by the CHED in consultation with the NEDA as frontiers or new areas 
essential for pushing the economic and social development thrusts of the country. 
The scholarship shall be for a period not exceeding three (3) years.
Sec. 7. Selection Process. - There shall be a Selection Panel under the 
Secretariat consisting of three (3) university presidents and two (2) eminent 
members from the academe to be appointed by the CHED. They shall serve on a 
staggered basis for the purposes of continuity and consistency, each for a term of 
three (3) years. The Selection Panel shall make the final selection of the 
Pensionados from among the nominees from the academe, industry and research 
centers. The integrity and objectives of the program are paramount considerations 
for the panel in making the selection.
Sec. 8. Qualifications. - In order to qualify for the Feilowship Program, the 
applicant must be:


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a) 
A Filipino citizen;
b) 
Gainfully employed;
c) 
A college degree graduate, with honors;
d) 
With demonstrated leadership and proven exceptional performance in his/her 
present work;
e) 
Enthusiastic in undergoing further training; and
f) 
Willing to sign a contract requiring him/her to return to his/her job in another 
capacity after training.
Sec. 9. Place of Study. - The Pensionados shall be sent to a foreign country 
well-known for its advanced stage in particular discipline of area of specialization. 
Training and education may be an academic institution, research and development 
(R&D) center or a major industrial establishment with and R&D program. It may or 
may not lead to an advanced academic degree.
Sec. 10. Assistance to Grantees. - The Pensionado is entitled to the following 
benefits:
a) 
Up to three (3) years leave with pay, including allowances and other benefits;
b) 
One economy round-trip air fare to and from the host country plus other 
travel expenses required for foreign travel;
c) 
Clothing allowance to be determined by the Secretariat;
d) 
Monthly stipend while on study abroad, of such amount to determined by the 
Secretariat;
e) 
Books/Instructional Materials/Research allowance of such amount to be 
determined by the Secretariat; and
f) 
Health, Travel, and Insurance fees of such amount to be determined by the 
Secretariat.
Sec. 11. Program Funding. - The cost of each fellowship grant shall be shared 
by the Pensionado's employer and the National Government. The employer pays the 
salary, allowances and other benefits due the Fellow as employed for the whole 
period of the advanced studies overseas while the national Government, thru the 
program, shall be responsible for items b, c, d, e, and f as enumerated in Section 10 
hereof. With the transfer of all pertinent foreign and local grants for coordination 
under the Program, the government, through the Program, may negotiate bilateral


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arrangements with hosts governments, host universities, host research institutions
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and host corporations to share at least 50% of the total cost of items b, c, d, e, and
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f under Section 10 hereof.
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The National Government may also negotiate bilateral agreements with host
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governments, host universities, research institutions and corporations to enable our
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scholars to stay abroad and continue their studies or training at a minimal cost to
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the National Government. A sharing program can be established where the host
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government, host-universities, research institutions and corporations can shoulder
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the expenses of the scholars while abroad.
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Sec. 12. Service Obligation. - Immediately upon completion of the studies or
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training, a fellow shall be required to return to their job or in another capacity
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approved by the Secretariat and serve on a full-time basis for a minimum period
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equivalent to twice the period covered by the fellowship grant. In addition, the
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scholar shall be required to hold seminars or training sessions for employees from
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the government and the private sectors on topics related to the course or training he
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has completed. Any recipient of the program who has not completed his course
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shall reimburse the Fellowship the grant received or render service to the sponsoring
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agency or company for a period equivalent to the period covered by the fellowship
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grant. Any Pensionado who violates the service obiigation imposed under this
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section shall reimburse the sponsoring agency or company and the national
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Government of the Fund assistance received under this act in full or in part as the
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case may be.
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Sec. 13. Mechanism for Utilization of Returned Fellows. - There shall be
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established and developed a National Network of Specialized Institutes for Advanced
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Studies in universities selected by CHED in consultation with the DOST and other
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appropriate agencies to be determined by the Secretariat to provide returned
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scholars an office, laboratory, library and conference facilities for their continuing
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activities. The Institute shall also serve as a place for an Exchange Program and
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Collaborative Research among local and international scientists and scholars in
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priority areas of research and development.
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Sec. 14. Appropriations. - The amount needed to initially implement the
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provisions of this Act shall be charged against the appropriations of the current year


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of the concerned departments and agencies. Thereafter, such sums, as may be
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necessary, for its continued implementation shall be included in the appropriation of
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the concerned departments and agencies in the annual General Appropriations Act
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(GAA).
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Sec. 15. Transfer of other fellowship, scholarship and training grants. - All
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foreign and locally sponsored fellowship, scholarship and training grants will be
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transferred to the program for coordination. With respect to government employees
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who may be affected by the transfer, the pertinent rules and regulations of the Civil
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Service Commission (CSC) shall apply.
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Sec. 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from
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the approval of this Act, CHED, in coordination with NEDA, DTI, DOST, and CSC, and
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upon consultation with private sector stakeholders, shall promulgate the necessary
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rules and regulations for the effective implementation of the provisions thereof.
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Sec. 17. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is
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subsequentiy declared invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are
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not affected thereby shall remain in fuil force and effect.
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Sec. 18. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, acts, presidential decrees,
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executive orders, presidential proclamations, issuances, rules and regulations, or
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parts thereof which are contrary to or inconsistent with any of the provisions of this
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Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 19. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,