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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
Senate Bill No. _...;3...;1=-8=-. 
Introduced by Senator Cynthia A. Villar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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'1] JUl -2 A 9 :59 
Education is considered an earnest wealth. The significance of education is thus 
reflected in the provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution: 
1. 
"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 a II." 
2. 
"The State shall 
(3) 
establish and maintain a system of scholarship grants, student loan 
programs, subsidies and other incentives which should be available to deserving 
stUdents in both public and private schools, especially the underprivileged." 
The empowerment of the people through education is therefore a mission and 
which is addressed by this bill through the institutionalization and the strengthening of 
an existing program for free education to deserving employees in the national and local 
government. This is consistent with the declared provision in the 1987 Philippine 
Constitution stating, "[tlhe Civil Service Commission, as the central personnel agency of 
the Government, shall establish a career service and adopt measures to promote 
morale, efficiency, integrity, responsiveness, progressiveness, and courtesy in the civil 
service. It shall strengthen the merit and rewards system, integrate all human resources 
development programs for all levels and ranks, and institutionalize a management 
climate conducive to public accountability x x x" (Art. E-8, Sec. 3). 
This legislation is submitted with the intention of professionalizing the public 
sector. Scholarship grants in the skill and training level, as well in course~ leading to 
baccalaureate degrees and graduate school programs are guaranteed to deserving 
government employees under this Act. To the government, an advantage is likewise 
noted: core areas of studies which may be the demand of the future are the premier 
concentration of this program. 
Premises 
considered, 
recommended. 
the 
immediate 
enactment of this 
legislation 
is 
~:1Ic~ 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
'13 JUl -2 A 9 :59 
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SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
31 a 
Introduced by Senator Cynthia A. Villar 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
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Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Tulong Aral sa Empleyado 
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ng Gobyerno Act". 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is declared a policy of the State to promote 
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morale, efficiency, integrity, responsiveness, progressiveness and courtesy in the civil 
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service: to institutionalize a merit and reward system in the form of free education or 
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scholarship grant to deserving civil servants; to integrate scholarship programs towards 
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human resources development in the government; and to establish a management 
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climate where potentials are tapped and utilized to the fullest and the best virtues 
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harnessed and instilled in the minds of every proud government personnel. 
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SEC. 3. Definition of Terms - As used. in this Act, the following words and 
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phrases shall have the following definitions: 
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a. 
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b. 
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C. 
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d. 
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"Tulong Aral sa Empleyado ng Gobyerno" shall refer to the comprehensive 
government sponsored program under this Act providing free education or 
scholarship grants to deserving employees of the national and local 
governments. 
"Short-term training grants" shall refer to the government assistance under this 
Act for scholarship or training programs of not more than six (6) month duration 
in upgrading of skills of government employees in clerical, trade, crafts, custodial, 
technical and related services. 
"Baccalaureate degree grants" shall refer to government assistance under this 
Act for scholarship programs consisting in four- or five-year continuous studies 
leading to an academic title or course diploma. 
"Graduate school grants" .shall refer to government assistance under this Act in a 
specialized field of study in post graduate level where a baccalaureate degree or 
training experience is a prerequisite. 


SEC. 4. The Scholarship Program - There is hereby adopted the "Tulong Aral 
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sa Empleyado ng Gobyerno" program, a nationwide scholarship program offering free 
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education or scholarship grant to all government employees in the national and local 
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government levels who want to pursue short-term trainings/courses, baccalaureate 
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degree courses, and/or graduate school education programs in accordance with the 
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reqUirements under this Act. 
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For this purpose, the existing Local Scholarship Program (LSP) and the Local 
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Scholarship Program for Skilled Workers in Government (LSPSWG) being undertaken 
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. and handled by the Civil Service Cornmission shall be incorporated into the "Tulong Aral 
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sa Empleyado ng Gobyerno" program under this Act. 
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SEC. 5. Scholarship Grant Thrusts - The Civil Service Commission (CSC), in 
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coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Technical 
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Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA), shall formulate the core areas of 
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studies for the training, education or scholarship grants covered under this Act, 
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including, but not limited to the sciences, fiscal management and public finance, 
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economics, the technical and technological, entrepreneurial fields and similar other 
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areas which are geared towards technology development and modern governance and 
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management approaches. 
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SEC. 6. Selection Procedure -
Employees in the national and local 
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governments who possess the following qualifications shall be eligible under the 
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scholarship program: 
A permanent or temporary appointment at the time of filing; 
An aggregate of at least two (2) years work experience in government; 
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a. 
b. 
c. 
A performance rating of at least 'Satisfactory' in the last two (2) 
performance appraisal periods; 
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d. 
e. 
f. 
Not more than forty-five (45) years old as of last birthday; 
Good health; and 
Absence of pending administrative case: 
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Provided, That in the case of the graduate school grants, the consecutive rating 
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periods; following additional requirements shall also be imposed: 
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a. 
b. 
c. 
A bachelor's degree from a college or university of good standing; 
Absence of a masteral degree; and 
Non-availment of any foreign/local scholarship grant from the government 
in the past two (2) years prior to the school year the employee will study: 
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Provided, further, That a written or oral examination may be administered by the 
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Civil Service Commission or through a Screening and Selection Committee to be 
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chaired by the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, with the Secretaries of the 
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Department of Education, Culture and Sports, the Department of Science and 
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Technology, the Department of Interior and local Government and the Chairman of the 
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Commission on Higher Education, or their representatives, with the rank of at least an 
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Assistant Secretary, as members. 
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SEC. 7. Private Sector Initiative - Private sectors are encouraged to align their 
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existing free education or scholarship programs with the program envisioned under this 
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Act. 
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Contributions to the fund supporting the scholarship program under this Act shall 
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be deductible from the annual taxable income to the extent of twenty percent (20%) 
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thereof in the case of individual taxpayers and one hundred twenty percent (120%) 
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thereof in the case of corporations, firms or entities, or such contributions may be 
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considered as an input value-added tax, at the election of the contributor. 
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SEC. 8. Rules and Regulations - The CSC, in coordination with the DECS and 
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CHED, shall formulate the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of 
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this Act and the determination of courses covered under the program, as well as the 
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application procedure, the nomination process, if any, responsibilities of the grantee; 
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additional benefits; and other matters. 
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SEC. 9. Funding Source - The sources of funds for the implementation of this 
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Act shall be, as follows: 
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a. 
b. 
For its first year of implementation, the appropriations set aside for the 
Local Scholarship Program and Local Scholarship Program for Skill 
Workers in all offices of the Government. 
For the succeeding years of implementation, such amounts as are needed 
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act and 
complemented by the savings generated from the different bureaus, 
offices and 
agencies and 
by contributions extended by private 
corporations, companies and entities. 
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SEC. 10. Separability Clause - If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is 
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declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof which are not 
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affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 11. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or 
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parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended 
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or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 12. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
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circulation, whichever comes earlier. 
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Approved, 
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