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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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4 18 i .i.J 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Quality education is expensive and not everybody can afford it. It is a sad reality 
that although education is accessible to most students since we are provided with state 
schools and universities, this cheap alternative comes with the cost of a poor education 
system. 
This bill seeks to establish a grant program for certain pat-time, independent 
students, and to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state agencies and institutions 
of higher education, in order for quality education to be affordable for everybody.' 
This bill was originally filed in the Thirteenth Congress, Third Regular Session. 
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i- I . ..- 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
First Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO PART-TIME AND INDEPENDENT STUDENTS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the ‘‘Past Time, 
Independent Students Grant Act of 2007.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the 
State to provide a quality education for all and establish a grant program to foster the 
pursuit of postsecondary education by part-time, independent students who have financial 
need. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms - As used in this section, the term - 
(1) “Commission” means the Commission of Higher Education (CHED) of the 
Philippines. 
(2) “Financial Need” means need as determined by the institution based upon a 
need analysis standard established by the commission. Such standard shall take into 
consideration the student’s current annual income and exclude his or her home equity. 
(3) “Independent student” refers to a student who finances hisher education 
expenses on hidher own, without any financial assistance from anybody, including 
family. 
(4) “Part-time” means not less than 3 semester hours and not more than 11 
semester hours per semester, or the equivalent for a quarter or term. 
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SECTION 4. Eligibility to Participate in a Grant Program. - A person is eligible 
to participate in the grant program if he or she meets all of the following: 
(a) Is a part-time student. 
(h) Is an independent student. 
(c) Has obtained a high school diploma for at least the 2 preceding years. 
(d) Is enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an undergraduate program of not less 
than 9 months duration leading to a college degree, in an educational institution that is 
approved and sanctioned by CHED. 
(e) Has resided continuously in the Philippines for the immediately preceding 12 
months and is not considered a resident of any other country. 
(f) Has good moral character and has not been convicted of any crime involving 
moral turpitude; 
(g) Has complied with this act and the rules promulgated under this act by the 
commission. 
(h) Is a Filipino citizen or permanent resident of the Philippines. 
(i) Is not enrolled in an institution whose primary purpose is to prepare students 
for ordination or appointment as a member of the clergy of a church, denomination, or 
religious association, order, or sect. 
(j) Is not in default on a loan guaranteed by the commission or any government 
entity or agency. 
(k) Is shown by the school to be making satisfactory academic progress. 
SECTION 5. Total Amount Granted to Educational Institutions; Use of Funds. - 
The total of the amount granted to an educational institution shall be proportionate to the 
number of needy independent students eligible for this program enrolled at the institution 
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for the most recent year for which statistics are available. Funds provided to eligible 
schools shall be used for awards to students, not for administration of the program. 
SECTION 6. Maximum Grant to Eligible Student; Priority; Effect of Other 
Scholarships or Grant Awards. - 
(1) Upon application of an eligible student, an educational institution shall grant 
to the student an amount of not more than PhP 30,000.00 per academic year for not more 
than a 12-month period at any given educational institution. 
(2) If the number of eligible applicants exceeds the money available, priority shall 
be given to persons with the greatest financial need as determined by each educational 
institution. 
(3) A student who receives a state university scholarship award or who receives 
other scholarships or grant awards, may be eligible for funds under this act if the total 
amount of the student's scholarships and grants is less than the student's financial need. A 
student's scholarship and grant awards may be increased with funds from the program 
under this act up to the level of the maximum grant as provided in subsection (1). 
SECTION 7. Gifts, Grants, Bequests, Donations, and Devises: Acceptance 
Authorized; Annual Report. - The commission may accept gifts, grants, bequests, 
donations, and devises, from whatever sources, of real, personal, or mixed property and 
money for the purposes described in this act. The commission shall prepare an annual 
report of all gifts, grants, bequests, donations, and devises for the governor and the 
legislature. 
SECTION 8. The commission shall promulgate rules to implement this Act. 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof, is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise 
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affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
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accordingly. 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, 
or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
SECTION 11. Efecectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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