Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES _ E VED

3 pavewet*

Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1 703

Introduced by Representatives
HORACIO P. SUANSING, JR. and MIKAELA ANGELA B. SUANSING

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS TO PUBLIC SCHOOL
TEACHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN

EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article 2, Section 17 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states:

“The State shall give priority to education, science and
technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism,
accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and
development.”

Educators have profound influence in instilling fundamental moral and civic values and
in imbuing a sense of self and of country among our nation's youth. Truly, theirs is one of the
noblest professions, and this nation would cease to stand without their relentless commitment
and desire to shape our future leaders.

As a demonstration of this gratitude to our teachers, Republic Act No. 4670, otherwise
known as the “Magna Carta for Public School Teachers Act”, was passed into law. This law
endeavors to make the opportunities in the teaching profession favorably comparable to other
existing professions, and ultimately attract and retain more qualified teachers in the public
sector. To realize this, the Department of Education (DepEd) and other key agencies, have
already instituted several scholarship programs for public school teachers. These include,
among others, the DepEd Integrated Short-Term Scholarship Program (DISP)!, Part-Time
Scholarship for Science and Mathematics Teacher ? and the Graduate Degree

' DepEd Memorandum No. 195 s. 2008.
2DepEd Memorandum No. 15, s. 2021. This program is under the Department of Science and Technology —
Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI).

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Prograny/Specialization Training.’ These programs are designed to improve the capabilities
and competencies of the public school teachers through continuing professional education.

Notwithstanding the available opportunities, it should be underscored that these
programs are oftentimes irregular, as they are always subject to the available funds, and
qualifications set by the implementing agencies. Likewise, due its temporary nature and
limitations, not all teachers are given the opportunity to pursue continuing professional
education.

As a solution to these policy gaps, this bill hopes to advance the development of a
highly motivated pool of educators in public schools by offering institutionalized scholarship
grants for masters and other post-graduate education to public school teachers. In addition,
given the pressing economic considerations that place a significant burden on public school
teachers, particularly in providing quality education to their children, this bill also aims to
support them by offering scholarship grants covering pre-school, elementary, secondary, and
tertiary education for their children.

‘As public school teachers work selflessly and tirelessly to produce morally upright and
productive’ citizens, it is only fitting and proper to put premium on their professional
development as well as the upliftment of their socio-economic condition.

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

HORACIO PAUANSING, JR.
2% Distriet of Sultan Kudarat

3 DepEd Memorandum No. 313s. 2010.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1703

Introduced by Representatives

HORACIO P. SUANSING, JR. and MIKAELA ANGELA B, SUANSING

AN ACT

INSTITUTIONALIZING SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS TO PUBLIC SCHOOL

TEACHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN

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 “Scholarship Grants to Public
School Teachers and their Children Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. —t shall be the policy of the State to provide access to
free education to public school teachers and their children by providing for them
institutionalized scholarship grants. The scholarship grants to public school teachers will give
them high morale and self-esteem. Providing children of public school teachers access to free
education will also help them become responsible and productive members of society.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the term:

1. "Children of public-school teachers” shall refer to the biological children of public

&

school teachers regardless of legitimacy or illegitimacy. It shall also include
children who were adopted under the applicable adoption laws in the Philippines;

"Free educational scholarship grants" shall refer to scholarship grants covering all
educational expenses and other school fees in pre-school, elementary, secondary,
tertiary, masters and other post-graduate education; and

. "Public school teachers" shall refer to all persons engaged in classroom teaching,

in any level of instruction, on full-time basis or part-time basis, including guidance
counselors, school librarians, industrial arts or vocational instructors, and all other
persons performing supervisory and/or administrative functions in all schools,
colleges and universities operated by the Government or its political subdivisions;
but shall not include school nurses, school physicians, school dentists, and other
school employees.



SECTION 4. Scholarship grant. — The scholarship grants for public school teachers shall
cover masters or other post-graduate education, while scholarship grants for their children shall
cover pre-school, elementary, secondary and tertiary education.

SECTION 5. Eligibility of public school teachers to avail of grant. — Public school teachers
who are in active service shall be eligible to avail of the scholarship grants to enroll in any
masters ot post-graduate course, provided that the public school teacher shall have been in
active duty for at least two (2) consecutive years immediately prior to the date of application
for the grant.

SECTION 6. Eligibility of children of public school teachers to avail of grant. All children
as defined under Section 3 (a) herein, of public school teachers who are in active service shall
be eligible to avail of the scholarship grant.

SECTION 7. Eligibility of retired public school teachers to avail of grant. — Retired public
school teachers may avail of the scholarship grant for their children. Provided, That their
children shall be entitled only to a proportional amount of scholarship grant.

SECTION 8. Schools where scholarship grant is applicable. — The scholarship grant shall
be applicable in all public schools and state universities throughout the country. The children
of public school teachers shall be qualified to avail of the scholarship grant only upon
submission and fulfillment of all the requirements set by the respective schools.

SECTION 9. Forfeiture of Grant. — Public school teachers who have been charged and
proven to have committed acts of professional misconduct shall forfeit their eligibility to avail
of the grant. They shall also forfeit the eligibility to avail of the grant for their children.

SECTION 10. Implementing Agency. — The Department of Education (DepEd) and the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall be the implementing agencies for this Act.
The above agencies shall within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, formulate the
implementing rules and regulations necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 11. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions
hereof.

SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances or portions
thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended
or modified accordingly.

SECTION 13. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,