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viOUSE NF REPRESENTATIVES

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

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TIME: ere
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS Tre |
First Regular Session BY! LEG |
House Bill No, L091 REGISTRATION UNIT

~ Introduced by HONORABLE SCOTT DAVIES S. LANETE, M.D.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article XII, Section 14 of the 1987 Constitution declares, “The sustained development
of a reservoir of national talents consisting of Filipino scientists, entrepreneurs, professionals,
managers, high-level technical manpower and skilled workers and crafismen in all fields shall
be promoted by the State.”

‘Throughout the past five years, the country has experienced exponential growth in the
Information Technology (“IT) and Business Process Management (“BPM”) industry, Reports
would reveal that in the past three years alone, an estimate of fifty billion dollars
(850,000,000,000,00) has been generated by the industry. This growth has been due to the
relatively low cost of business in the Philippines and the Filipinos linguistic skills,
particularly in English, Thus, more and more foreign investors are flocking the country
establishing IT and BPM centers which are more popularly known as “call centers”.

‘The IT and BPM industry has received a major boost as young Filipinos became
attracted (0 the relatively high salaries offered by call centers. This has had the effect of
lowering the country’s unemployment rate, Moreover, for a person belonging to a poor
family, employment in call centers have been seen as a way towards alleviation from poverty
as it offers highly competitive salaries compared to other available jobs. However, as the
proliferation of call centers continues, there is an accompanying need for sustainability as
neighboring countries are catching up making the competition tight

In order to sustain growth in the IT and BPM industry, there is a need to equip more
Filipinos with adequate skills geared towards employment in the indusiry. The State should
entice younger Filipinos, especially the underprivileged, in choosing IT and BPM as their
field of concentration. By prioritizing the marginalized, the State will not only sustain growth
in the industry but also lend a helping hand to the underprivileged citizens.

Hence, this Bill seeks to provide free tertiary education in information and
communication technology to all graduates of public schools. By doing so. the principles
enshrined in the Constitution will be upheld. Therefore, the immediate passage of this Bill is
sought for.

SCOTT DAVIES S. LANETE, MED.
fepresentative
Third District, Province of Masbate

BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._ 1091

Introduced by HONORABLE SCOTT DAVIES S. LAN

AN ACT PROVIDING FREE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION
TECHNOLOGY COURSES IN STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title, — This Act shall be known as the “/ree Information and
Communication Technology Courses Act of 2016”.

SECTION 2. Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote and sustain a
reservoir of national talents consisting of high-level manpower in the field of information

technology and business processing management.

SECTION 3. Definitions. ~ For purposes of this Act

(a) “Free information and communication technology courses” shall mean any college
degree course especially catered to information and business processing industry
offere in State colleges and universities

(b) “State Colleges and Universities” refers to institutions of higher learning, including
specialized schools, maintained and funded by the government

(c) “Qualified beneficiaries” shall mean all graduates of public high schools belongi
marginalized families;

(d) “Tuition fee: shall refer to the fee representing the direct costs of instruction and
training facilities,

(c) “Other School Fees” refers to fees covering other necessary costs supportive of
instruction, including, but not limited to medical and dental, athletic, brary and
laboratory fees,

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SECTION 4. Free information and communication technology courses — It is hereby
mandated the establishment of free information and communication technology courses in all
State colleges and universities. Qualified beneficiaries intending to enroll or already enrolled
in such courses shall be free from payment of tuition and other school related fees and shall
be entitled to other benefits as may be granted in accordance with such rules and regulations
to be promulgated hereinafter. Provided, that nothing in this Act shall cause or authorize the
diminution or removal of any benefit which the government presently grants to the
beneficiaries



SECTION S. Limitations — The right of any beneficiary to avail of the benefits granted in
this Act shall cease if he or she fails any three (3) subjects included in the course curriculum,

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, rules, regulations, orders, circulars, and
memoranda inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act be declared invalid ot
unconstitutional, no other provisions hereof shall be thereby affected.

SECTION 8. Appropriation. - The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act for
the first five (5) years shall be sourced out from the gross annual revenues of the Philippine
Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and thereafter in a special fund to be included in the
annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Commission on Higher
Education (CHED), shall, within six (6) months after its approval prepare and issue the
necessary guidelines to implement the same.

SECTION 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifien (15) days following its
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,