Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
Quezon City

FLFPEENTH (15™) CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO,_5136

Introduced by Hon. Ryan Luis V. Singson

EX#LANATORY NOTE,

This bill seeks to provide tuition fee discounts and scholarship grants (o desery
household helpers, appropriating funds therefore, and for other purposes.

This bill envisions giving more meaning, substance and impetus to government's
advocacy to make cducation accessible to all. Further, it emphasizes the state's
commitment to provide all sectors of society ample opportunity to develop their skills.
acquires productive employment later on, and contributes to the fullest of their
capabilities.

The houschold help industry is one of the most marginalized sectors of the
society. They arc not governed by any law that specifically ensures the protection of their
rights and welfare. Unlike private govermnent workers, houschold helpers do not have
medical, minimum wage, social security and leave benefits.

Considering the amount of work rendered by the houschold helpers in improving
the quality of life of their employers and the community as well, it is but just to ensure
that these helpers be fully integrated into the society by helping them pursue their
education at the lowest passible cost, i! none at all. Their literacy level must be raised to
make them more productive and become better members of the society.

This measure is designed to make quality cducation accessible to household
helpers. ft institutionatizes the grant of tuition fee discounts and scholarships, in favor of
qualified and deserving houschold helpers who cannot possibly afford quality education
with their meager and below minimum salaries.



The granting of tuition fee discounts and scholarships grants is the only way that
our “kasambahay” can experience and enjoy the benefits of cducation.

In view of the forgoing, approval of this bill is eamestly sought.

RYAl 18 (NGSON


FIFTEENTH (15'") CONGRESS

Second Regular Session

5136

HOUSE BILL Ni

Introduced by Hon. Ryan Luis V. Singson

AN ACT

GRANTING TUITION FEF DISCOUNTS AND SCHOLARSHIP GRANT
QUALIFIED HOUSEHOLD HELPERS NATIONWIDE, APPROPRIAT
FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress Assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Tide, This act shall be known as the “Ilousehold tlelp Scholarship
Act Grant of 2011".

SEC.2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the palicy of the state to give priority to education,
science, technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism,
accelerate social progress and promote total human liberation and development.
Likewise, the State recognizes and promotes the rights of houschold, helpers, including
and nobility and self-respect in the household helper industry.

To nurture and protect the interest of the household helpers, the State shall ensure
that they are provided with adequate assistance and access to education, und that elective
mechanisms are instituted to ensure that rights and benefits are adequately protected.

¥or this purpose, there is a need to establish and maintain a system of scholarship
grants, student loan programs, subsidies, and other incentives which shall be available to
deserving household helpers in both public, private and technical as well as vocational
schools.


SEC.3. OBJECTIVES. - The objectives of this Acts are as follows:

a) Provides more opportunities to deserving houschold helpers to further
their studies and seek quality education to enhance their development:

by Raise the level of liveracy in families whose members are mostly in the
household help industry;

©) Institutionalize the grant of tuition fee discount and scholarship grants to
deserving houschold helpers most of whom constilule the marginalized,
underprivileged and depressed sectors of society on account of lower
literacy rate in their areas; and

d) Give more meaning and substance to the government’s advocacy for the
recognition and promotion of the rights of the underprivileged;

SECA. Coverage. — This act shall cover all qualified houschold helpers eighteen years
(18) and above.

As used in this Act, the term “household helper” shall mean any person who
renders domestic or household services exclusively to a household employer such as, but
not limited to a driver, babysitter, gardener, cook, nursemaid or yaya, cleaning lady,
laundry woman, and the like.

SECS. Scholarship Grant. All state-owned educational institutions shall provide
scholarship grants to deserving household helpers which shall include free tuition fee,
subsidies and other incentives: Provided, that all household helpers who apply tor said
scholarship program should pass a screening process to be instituted by the Commission
on Higher Education (CHED), State Universities and the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA).

SEC.6. Tuition Fee Discount, - ‘The discount to be granted to qualified and deserving
household helpers under this Act who enroll in private educational institutions shall be
fifty percent (50%) of the prescribed tuition fee.

The term tuition fee shall refer to the charges for instruction and general services
of all siudents per unit of courses enrolled in, or as prescribed, regulated and approved by
the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Tectmical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA) and Deparment of Education (DepEd).

SEC.7. Availment, — The discount privilege under this Act shal] be claimed at the time
of enrollment by presenting an authentic certification that the enrollee is employed as a
household helper.


SEC.8. Complaints, Violation and Fines. — Qualificd students under this Act who are
refused or denied to avail of this discount privilege may file a complaint with the field or
regional office of the CHED or TESDA with jurisdiction over the concemed educational
institution, As part of due process, the parties shall be notified prior to the conduct of
investigation by CHIED or TESDA. ff the complaint is established or found to be true,
the CHED or TESDA shall direct the institution involved to grant the complaining
student the privilege under this Act. When in the findings of the CIIED or TESDA the
refusal to grant said privilege is deliberate or unreasonable, a fine of Five Thousand
Pesos (P5, 000.00) shall be imposed against the erring institution, ‘The amount shall be
collected by and placed under disposal of the CHED or TESDA in furtherance of its
mandate to enhance equality education:

SEC.9, Misrepresentation. - Any student who is found to have committed
misrepresentation to avail of the privilege shall be made to pay the total amount of tuition
fee, without prejudice to the imposition, at the instance of the school, of appropriate
disciplinary sanctions, including suspension or expulsion from said school, at the
discretion of the CHED or TRSDA.

SEC.10, Appropriations.- ‘The amount necessary for the effective implementation of
this Act in the case of state-owned educational institutions shall be charged to the
appropriations for the educational institution concemed. Thereafier, such sum as may be
nocessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the General
Appropriation act.

SEC.11. Repealing Clause. ~ Any provision of law, decree, order, rule or regulation in
conflict or inconsistent with provisions of this Act is hereby repeated, amended or
modified accordingly.

SEC.12. Effeetivity. ~ ‘This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publication in at
Jcast two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,