Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No, 3227

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS TO
DESERVING NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES,
PROVIDING FUNDS FOR THIS PURPOSE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In Philippine society, we put a premium on education since it gives our
people, especially the youth, the opportunity to improve their lives. We consider
@ good education a passport to success in the future. And because we value
‘education so much, it has propelled the country to become Asia's most literate
nation.

‘Through education, we empower our people and this is exactly what this
bill proposes to do by institutionalizing and strengthening an existing program for
free education to deserving goverment employees both national and local. This
is also consistent with the provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution which
states that:

“The 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
ihe civil service. It shall strengthen the merit and rewards system, integrate al
human resources development programs for all levels and renks, and
institutionalize a management climate conducive to public accountability xxx."
(Art. E-B, Sec. 3).


Since the Government is the largest employer in this country, it is ‘only
proper that it is able to provide a mechanism of continuing education to
strengthen its workforce together with a competitive compensation package to be
able to be at par with their private sector counterparts. This is to prevent brilliant
human resources and talented fresh graduates from shying away from
goverment service.

This bill is being introduced as a humble attempt to professionalize the
goverment sector further. It provides the grant of scholarships in the skill and
training level, as well in courses leading to an academic title and graduate school
programs to deserving govemment employees. Likewise, it presents an
advantage for government as it concentrates on core areas of studies which may
be the demand of the future. Hence, we expect an outstanding government
bureaucracy in the years to come.

In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly requested.

DIOSDADO AGAL ARROYO GLORtA MAZAPAGAL ARROYO
Second District, Camarines Sur Second District, Pampanga


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

nom
House Bill No. oer

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS TO
DESERVING NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES,
PROVIDING FUNDS FOR THIS PURPOSE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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 “Tulong Aral sa
Kinabukasan Act of 2011."

SECTION 2. Dectaration of Policy. - It is declared a policy of the State to
promote morale, efficiency, integrity, responsiveness, progressiveness and
courtesy in the civil service; to institutionalize a merit and reward system in the
form of free education or scholarship grant to deserving civil servants, to
integrate scholarship programs towards human resources development in the
government; and to establish a management climate where potentials are tapped
and utilized to the fullest and the best virtues hamessed and instilled in the minds
of every proud government personnel.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following shall
mean:

a. “Tulong Aral sa Kinabukasan’ shall refer ta the government-sponsored
program under this Act providing free education or scholarship grants to
deserving employees of the national and local governments.


b. “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 and related services.

c. "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.

d. “Graduate school grants” shall refer to government assistance under
this Act for scholarship programs in specialized field of study in post
graduate level where a baccalaureate degree and training experience is 2
pre-requisite.

SECTION 4. The Scholarship Program. - There is hereby adopted the
“Tulong Aral sa Kinabukasan“ program, a nationwide scholarship program
offering free education or scholarship grant to all govemment employees in the
national and local government levels who want to pursue short-term training,
baccalaureate degree courses, and/or graduate school training and education
programs in accordance with the requirements under this Act.

For this purpose, the existing Local Scholarship Program (LSP) and the
Local Scholarship Program for Skilled Workers in Government (LSPSWG) being
undertaken and handled by the Civil Service Commission shall be incorporated
into the “Tulong Aral sa Kinabukasan" program under this Act.

SECTION §. Scholarship Grant Thrusts. — The Civil Service Commission
(CSC), in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the
Commission on Higher Education (GCHED), shalt formulate the core areas of
‘studies for the training, education or scholarship grants covered under this Act,
including, but not limited to the sciences, fiscal management and public finance,
economics, the technical, technological, entrepreneurial fields and other similar
areas which are geared towards technology development and modem
governance and management approaches.

SECTION 6. Selection Procedure. — Employees in the national and local
governments who possess the following qualifications shail be eligible under the
scholarship program:

a. A permanent or temporary appointment at the time of filing;

b. An aggregate of at two (2) years work experience in government;

c. A performance rating of at least ‘Satisfactory’ for the last two (2)


d. Not more than forty-five (45) years old as of last birthday;
e. Good health; and
{. Absence of pending administrative case

Provided, That in the case of the graduate school grants, following
additional requirements shall also be imposed:

a. Abachelor'’s degree from a college or university of good standing:

b. Absence of a masteral degree; and

c. Non-availment ot any foreigniiocal scnoiarsiwp gran wun wc
government in the past two (2) years prior to the school year the employee
will study:

Provided, further, That a written or oral examination may be administered
by the Civil Service Commission of through a Screening and Selection
Committee to be chaired by the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission, with
the Secretaries of the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of
Science and Technology, the Department of Interior and Local Government and
the Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education, or their representatives,
with the rank of at least an Assistant Secretary, as members.

SECTION 7. Private Sector Initiative. - The private sector is encouraged
to align their existing free education or scholarship programs with the program
envisioned under this Act.

Contributions to the fund supporting the scholarship program under this
Act shall be deductible from the annual taxable income to the extent of twenty
percent (20%) thereof in the case of individual taxpayers and one hundred twenty
percent (120%) thereof in the case of corporations, firms or entities, or such
contributions may be considered as an input value-added tax, at the election of
the contributor.

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). — The CSC, in
coordination with the DepEd and CHED, shall formulate the necessary mules and
regulations for the implementation of this Act and the determination of courses
covered under the program, as well as the application procedure, the nomination
process, if any, responsibilities of the grantee; addifional benefits; and other
matters.

SECTION 9. Funding Source. - The sources of funds for the
implementation of this Act shall be as follows:


a. For its first year of implementation, the appropriations ‘set aside for the
Local Schotarship Program and Local Scholarship Program for Skitl
Workers in all offices of the Government.

b. 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 corporation,
companies and entities.

SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any provision of
this Act is declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions hereof
which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 11. Repeating Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after

its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at feast two (2) newspapers:
‘of general circulation

Approved,