TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No.
ir
of K)? ^ ' ■
25 AUG-5 P2:03
RECEIVcD 8V
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
PROVIDING A UNIFIED SYSTEM OF EXTENDING AND PROCESSING 
SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS, STUDENT LOAN PROGRAMS, SUBSIDIES, 
BURSARIES AND OTHER FINANCIAL SUPPORT WINDOWS FOR THE 
FILIPINO YOUTH, THEREBY ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP 
COMMISSION, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Access to quality education is one of the most powerful tools for uplifting 
families from poverty and fostering inclusive national development. Yet, despite 
existing government programs, many Filipino students still struggle with fragmented, 
inconsistent, and insufficient access to financial aid. Overlapping bureaucracies, 
uneven distribution of resources, and lack of transparency often deter the very youth 
such programs are meant to empower.
This measure seeks to address these issues by establishing a National 
Scholarship Commission, a centralized body tasked with harmonizing and overseeing 
all government scholarship grants, student loans, subsidies, bursaries, and other 
financial support mechanisms. This unified approach will streamline application 
processes, reduce redundancy, promote equitable distribution, and ensure that 
financial aid reaches deserving students more efficiently—especially those from 
underprivileged backgrounds.


Filed by Senator Grace Poe in the 19th Congress, this measure is a great 
equalizer. The proposal champions a future where no Filipino youth is denied 
opportunity due to economic hardship or bureaucratic barriers.
By creating a coordinated and accountable system of student support, this 
legislation ensures that government education resources are maximized, better 
targeted, and more transparently managed. It also represents a concrete step toward 
building a skilled and educated workforce prepared to meet the challenges of a rapidly 
evolving global economy.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
NGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE 
S. No. B93
25 RUG -5 P 2 *03
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
PROVIDING A UNIFIED SYSTEM OF EXTENDING AND PROCESSING 
SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS, STUDENT LOAN PROGRAMS, SUBSIDIES, 
BURSARIES AND OTHER FINANCIAL SUPPORT WINDOWS FOR THE 
FILIPINO YOUTH, THEREBY ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP 
COMMISSION, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "National Scholarship
2 
Commission Act'.
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall protect and promote the right of
4 
all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make
5 
such education accessible to all.
6 
The State shall also establish and maintain a system of scholarship grants,
7 
student loan programs, subsidies, bursaries, and other incentives which shall be
8 
available to deserving students and individuals in both public and private schools,
9 
especially to the underprivileged.
10 
It is the goal of the State to substantially bring down the number of out of
11 
school youth and encourage them to continue seeking formal education, with the goal
12 
of expanding their horizons with additional opportunities in the future, thereby fully
13 
maximizing their full potential.


1 
Sec. 3. Duties and Functions of the Nationai Scholarship Commission. - The
2 
following shall be the duties and functions of the National Scholarship Commission
3 
(the "Commission"):
4 
a) Generate, safe-keep and update a comprehensive database of out of school
5 
children and youth (OSCY) and other qualified individuals nationwide,
6 
including pertinent data and/or circumstances of said OSCY;
7 
b) Identify and pinpoint the reasons, issues and/or controversies that are
8 
keeping children and youth out of schools and formal education, as well as
9 
the needs of OSCY;
10 
c) Reach out to the OSCY and other qualified individuals and gather
11 
information and/or data that could help them get back to formal education;
12 
d) Proactively and effectively disseminate information regarding existing
13 
regular and/or special scholarships, educational grants and the like to OSCY
14 
and qualified individuals;
15 
e) Proactively and effectively generate and/or solicit scholarships, educational
16 
grants and the like for OSCY and qualified individuals; and,
17 
f) Assist OSCY and qualified individuals who opt to avail of scholarships,
18 
educational grants and the like and facilitate with the necessary procedures
19 
and/or processes.
20 
Sec. 4. Composition of the National Scholarship Commission. - The Commission
21 
shall be composed and governed by the following:
22 
a) The Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), or his/her duly
23 
authorized representative, as a co-chairperson of the Commission;
24 
b) The Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), or his/her
25 
duly authorized representative, as a co-chairperson of the Commission;
26 
c) The Secretary of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
27 
(TESDA), or his/her duly authorized representative, 
as a co-chairperson 
of
28 
the Commission;
29 
d) The Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development
30 
(DSWD), or his/her duly authorized representative, as member of the
31 
Commission;


1 
e) The Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government
2 
(DILG), or his/her duly authorized representative, as a member of the
3 
Commission;
4 
f) The Chairperson of the National Youth Commission (NYC) as a member of
5 
the Commission; and
6 
g) A representative from the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), who shall be elected
7 
by all SK Provincial Federation Presidents, as a member of the commission.
8 
Sec. 5. Staffing and the National Scholarship Commission's Secretariat - The
9 
Commission's staff, secretariat and personnel shall be appointed by the Commission.
10 
The Commission shall convene immediately upon the effectivity of this Act to organize
11 
and come up with internal rules and procedures necessary for its daily operations and
12 
the carrying out of its duties and functions as spelled out in this Act.
13 
Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Commission shall likewise
14 
promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act within ninety
15 
(90) days from the effectivity of this Act.
16 
Sec. 7. Appropriation. - The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this
17 
Act shall be included In the General Appropriations Act of the year following the
18 
enactment of this Act. In the meantime, the initial funding, prior to the inclusion in
19 
the regular budget, shall be provided from the existing budgets of the DepEd, CHED
20 
and TESDA.
21 
Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, issuances rules and regulations or
22 
parts thereof inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified
23 
or amended accordingly.
24 
Sec. 9. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
25 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall
26 
remain in force and effect.
27 
Sec. 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following
28 
the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of
29 
general circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,