HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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RECEIVED

Republic of the Philippines DATE as i ong

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Te. "Oe he
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session REGISTRATION UNIT

BILLS AND INDEX SERVICE
House Bill No. 1067

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

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article XIV, Section 14 of the 1987 Constitution declares, “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”.

The State has offered various scholarship programs the scope of which covers
elementary and to some extent, tertiary education. Concededly, these efforts have contributed
to a decline in the illiteracy rate of the country. Moreover, these programs have successfully
contributed to the production of graduates adequately equipped with training in their chosen
fields of expertise.

However, it cannot be doubted also that not all students admitted into a college
scholarship grant finish their education smoothly. A significant number of scholars
experience hardships despite the free education. This is caused by the lack of supplemental
benefits such as books and reading materials. A student may freely attend classes due to
entitlement to a scholarship grant. However, he/she still needs to read and study reading
materials, the cost of which, not every scholar can afford. Thus, quality education remains a
goal given the lack of books readily available to scholars, Without books to read from, a
student is left with an incomplete and imperfect training,

In order to strengihen the provision of quality education among college students, there
is a need to provide supplemental benefits in the form of free books and reading materials
Hence, this Bill seeks to provide free books and reading materials to all qualified college
students enrolled in State colleges and universities. By doing so, the goal of quality education — >
for all will be achieved. Therefore, the immediate passage of this Bill 1s sought for

SCOTT DAVIES S. LANETE, MD.
spresentative
‘Third District, Province of Masbate


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.__ 1067

~Tntroduced by HONORABLE SCOTT DAVIES 8. LANET

AN ACT PROVIDING BOOK SUBSIDY TO QUALIFIED STUDENTS IN
‘THE TERTIARY EDUCATION AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

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 “Free Books in College Act of
2016".

SECTION 2. Policy. - Itis hereby declared the policy of the State to promote the right of all
citizens to quality education at the tertiary level.

SECTION 3. Definitions. ~ For purposes of this Act

(a) “Book subsidy” shall mean the amount necessary for the purchase of the required
reading materials in a given semester,

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

(c) “Qualified beneficiaries” shall mean all students in tertiary level enrolled in a State
college and university belonging to marginalized families

SECTION 4. Book subsidy — It is hereby mandated the provision of book subsidy to every
qualified beneficiary until he or she completes his/her chosen course subject to the rules and
limitations of his/her scholarship grant, 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 5. 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.

ON 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 or
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 fifteen (15) days following its
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,