Republic of the Philippines so
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES woe
Quezon City, Metro Manila No .7

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

36

HOUSE BILL

Introduced by Rep. Jaime R. Fresnedi

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This legislative measure aims to institutionalize government support for talented and
gifted learners in recognition of their potential to contribute to national development. This bill is
grounded on the noble principle of nurturing exceptional learners through its specialized
education programs, financial assistance and mentorship opportunities that shall enable these
gifted learners to maximize their abilities and serve the country in various and meaningful ways.

Gifted and talented leamers possess exceptional abilities in various intellectual, creative
and technical fields. If properly nurtured, their potential can contribute significantly to national
development. However, despite their exceptional capabilities, many of these gifted and talented
learners face challenges in the quality of their education due to financial constraints, lack of
available specialized programs catered to their abilities as well as mentorship opportunities,

With this proposed measure, government support for these exceptional students shall be
institutionalized by providing them with comprehensive assistance through specialized education
programs, financial aid, mentorship programs and access to advanced learning opportunities. The
bill shall then establish the Gifted and Talented Learners Development Program that shall cater
to their distinctive leaning needs. Some components of this program include the Acceleration
Component that shall cater to the advanced learning requirements of gifted or talented learners
such as entrance to school at a much younger age, grade-skipping or early entry to tertiary
education, the Mentorship Component which shall connect students with respective experts in
their fields and the Government Fellows Component which shall encourage scholars to
contribute their skills towards public service


Gifted and talented learners demonstrate outstanding aptitude in various fields, not just
academic and scholarly work, but also in artistic and technical fields. However, these learners,
despite their potential, lack access to appropriate educational opportunities. This legislative
measure ensures that these learners receive the support that they need and guarantees that
economic status shall not hinder such gifted learners with the potential to excel

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

JAIME ‘EDI
Representative
Lone District, Muntinlupa City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO.__36

Introduced by Rep.

ime R. Fresnedi

AN ACT.
INSTITUTIONALIZING GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR GIFTED AND TALENTED
STUDENTS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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 “Henyong Kabataang Pinoy Act”.

Sec. 2. State Policy. ~ It is hereby declared the policy of the State to establish and maintain a
system of scholarship grants, student loan program, subsidies and other incentives which shall be
available to deserving students in both public and private schools, especially to the underprivileged.

The State affirms the role of students who are gifted or talented in different intellectual, physical,
creative or social domains in nation building and recognizes their potential to significantly contribute
to national development through innovative strategies and creative solutions. The State endeavors to
increase the access of gifted or talented learners to rigorous, relevant and engaging leaming
opportunities aligned with their individual learning needs, strengths, interests and goals.

Sec. 3. Scope and Limitations. ~ This Act shall be limited in scope, applications and effectivity to
Filipino students in primary, secondary and tertiary educations.

Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. ~ For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean:

(a) Gifted Learner refers to those students whose potential is distinctly above average in one or
more areas of human cognition. Gifted students have exceptional abilities in one or more
academic subjects such as mathematics, science, history and geography;

(b) Government Fellows Component refers to the program that enables gift or talented leamers
who are beneficiaries of scholarships, grants and other such benefits to prescribed years to
work in the public sector to be able to bring back to the community;

(©) Mentorship Component refers to a system wherein a mentor or a partner with specific skills
and knowledge are connected with gifted or talented leamers who need or want the same
skills and advantages to move up in work, skill level or school performance;

(@) Service Obligation Contract refers to an undertaking by the gifted or talented leamers, who
enjoyed any of the benefits under this Act, to serve in the public sector for a specific number
of years after completion of tertiary education; and

1


(©) Talented Learner refers to those students whose skills are distinctly above average in or more
areas of human performance. Talented leamers have exceptions abilities in one or more
practical subjects such as dance, music, arts, sports, among others.

Sec. 5. Gifted and Talented Learners Development Program. - A “Gifted and Talented Leamers
Development Program”, hereinafter referred to as the Program, shall be created to address the special
needs of gifted or talented leamers. This shall include comprehensive and aligned scrvices that use
individualized, consultative and collaborative methods to enhance student performance in cognitive
and affective areas.

Gifted or talented leamers shall have access to learning resources such as technology infused
leaming, intemships, acceleration, enrichment programs, mentorships or individual projects based on
student interest and areas of giftedness or talent: Provided, That, to ensure the proper education
approach, the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and
all other concemed agencies shall formulate and adopt policies geared towards the full development
of gifted or talented leamers. The components of the program shall include, among others:

(a) Acceleration Component. ~ The DepEd, CHED and other concemed agencies shall devise an
“Acceleration Program” to address the advanced learning requirements of gifted or talented
Jeamers. Such as entrance to school at a younger age than their peers, grade-skipping or early
entry to tertiary education, regardless of their age.

(b) Mentorship Component. ~ A Mentorship Program shall be made available to gifted or talented
leamers. The Committee shall facilitate in the appropriate matching of an in-school and
extemal mentor, who may come from the private or public sector. The designated mentor
shall supervise the content enrichment, transfer of knowledge and specific gift-based or
talent-based skills development of the learner.

(c) Government Fellows Component. - To encourage pasticipation in policy development, all
gifted or talented leamers who enjoyed any of the scholarships, grants and other benefits
under this Act shall enter into a “Government Fellows Program” requiring public service for a
specific number of years after completing tertiary education. They shall be bound by a
Service Obligation Contract and the terms therein shall be equitably determined by the
Committee.

Sec. 6. Local and International Scholarships. - Gifted or Talented Leamers who meet the
requirements of the selection process shall enjoy any or all of the following scholarship grants:

(a) Primary and Secondary Education. ~ Gifted or talented leamers shall have immediate access
to specialized high schools such as the Philippine Science High School and the Philippine
High School for the Arts, among others.

In case the student chooses a private educational institution, scholarship grants including,
but not limited to, the cost of tuition and miscellaneous fees shall be subsidized.

(b) Tertiary Education and Vocational Education, - Tertiary and Vocational Education
scholarship grants, aids and other assistance shall be governed by Republic Act (R.A.) No.
10687, otherwise known as the “Unified Student Financial System for Tertiary Education
(UniFAST) Act of 2015”, and R.A. No. 10648, otherwise known as the “Iskolar ng Bayan


Act of 2014”: Provided, That, the high school graduation requirement for application shall be
waived for exceptionally gifted or talented students; Provided further, That enjoyment of
benefits under the aforementioned laws shall not prejudice the conferment of additional
benefits and incentives given to gifted or talented leamers under this Act: Provided finally,
That in the event that the UniFAST Program or the Iskolar ng Bayan Program shall not be
applicable to selected gifted or talented leamers, the Committee shall formulate the necessary
scholarship programs that would allow such learners access to quality education and training
relevant to their needs.

(©) International Education Programs. — \f intemational scholarships and programs are available
to qualified students, the Committee shall encourage and assist in the application process of
gifted or talented learners. Alll fees pertinent thereto, including the cost of the program, shall
be shouldered by the State.

(@) Gifted and Talented Education Committee. - To carry out the purposes of this Act, a Gifted
and Talented Education Committee, hereon shall be called the Committee, shall be created. It
shall be attached to the DepEd, composed of the Secretary of the DepEd as ex officio
Chairperson, the CHED Commissioner and other heads of concemed agencies as may be
determined by the Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Committee shall formulate and
approve policies and strategies for gifted or talented learners and review existing policies to
ensure consistency with policy framework under this Act. It shall promulgate the minimum.
guidelines and rules and regulations for determining qualified Beneficiaries for the Gifted
and Talented Leamers Education Program

Sec. 7, Additional Benefits. — In addition to scholarship grants, gifted or talented leamers shall be
entitled to the following monthly benefits:

(a) Educational Expenses Allowance in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (Php5,000);
(b) Medical Allowance in the amount of Two Thousand Pesos (Php2,000);
(©) Transportation Allowance in the amount of One Thousand Pesos (Php1,000);

(@) Board and Lodging Allowance in the amount of Ten Thousand Pesos (Php10,000) for
underprivileged or marginalized leamers from far-flung areas who will be dislocated from
their residences;

(e) Subsidies and Sponsorships for Local and International Competitions and Showcases shall
be available to leamers representing the Philippines. Application fees, transportation fees,
board and lodging for the leamer and one (1) parent or guardian shall be shouldered by the
State. Furthermore, Competition or Showcase Allowance for local and intemational events
shall be determined by the Committee

Sec. 8, Appropriations. - The amount of One Hundred Million (Php100,000,000) necessary to
cary out the provisions of this Act, specifically for the creation of the Committee and the initial
implementation of this Act, shall be charged against the current year's appropriation of the DepEd.
Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be
included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.


Sec. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - For the purpose of establishing an institutionalized
government support system for gifted or talented leamers, a committee composed of the DepEd,
CHED, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), National Center for Culture and the Arts
(NCCA), National Sports Commission (NSC) and other concemed govemment agencies shall
promulgate the Implementing Rules and Regulations in order to carry out the provisions of this Act
within ninety (90) days from its effectivity

Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules and
regulations and other issuances or part or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

See. 11. Separability Clause. ~ If for any reason, any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in force and effect.

Sec. 12, Effectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect fiftcen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,