Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HoUsEBILLNo.8638
RECEIVED
DATE  3   1  Jul   2023
i"E    _ez.#ch    .*
BYL-I
Introduced by Rep. Jaime R. Fresnedi
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This proposed legislation seeks to provide reforms in legal education by establishing
the Legal Scholarship and Return Service Program.  This would enable deserving students who
wish to become lawyers to achieve their drearns and serve the people. Likewise, this Bill seeks
to address the lack of lawyers in the country by utilizing the beneficiaries of this Act througb
compulsory return service plan in order to provide legal services to all.
Law education in the Philippines is no easy task.  Aside from mental fortitude, financial
capacity  is  also  a major  factor.    Presently,  law  school  tuition  fees  vary  depending  on  the
institution.   These can range from Forty Thousand Pesos  (P40,000.00) to more than Eighty
Thousand   Pesos   (P80,000.00)   per   semester.      Books,   transportation   costs,   and   other
miscellaneous expenses would really put a dent on one's economic standing if he or she would
choose to enter into law school.   Graduating from law school and eventually passing the Bar
and becoming a lawyer is a very fulfilling task.  But what would make it more fulfilling is when
the graduate would be able to pursue his or her profession in the service of the Filipino people.
Lawyers are needed to enable society to adopt the appropriate legal frameworks, the
rules and the proper interpretation of the spirit of the laws so that the nation achieves forward
motion -progress, reform, and fulfillment of its citizens.I  In the Philippines, as of November,
2022, there are 84,236 in the Roll of Attorneys.   But the actual number of practicing lawyers
do not mirror the same number as not all are engaged in the active legal profession, other have
chosen a different career path, and some may have passed away.
According to data from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), there are currently
about 40,000 living attorneys who comprise the IBP.  However, it has to be noted that although
they are members of the IBP, not all of them are engaged in traditional law practice as some
may have chosen a different career.  The actual number of lawyers that people can choose from
to handle their legal requirements are far lesser than what most people think.
1 Lawyers and economic development, or why we stumble oftentimes, by Gerardo Sicat, published March 27,
20133  Available at https://econ.upd.edu:ph/perse/?p=2275  (Accessed July 17,  2023)


Assuming  a Filipino population of one hundred million, that would make  a lawyer
density of four (4) lawyers for every 1,000 Filipinos (or 1 lawyer serving 2,500 Filipinos.)  And
again, not all registered lawyers ae engaged in traditional law firm work,  so the proportion
would be far smaller in reality.2  We can see that the numbers substantiate the lack of lawyers
so much so that the nation "achieves forward motion - progress, reform, and fulfillment of its
citizens."
This bill takes its inspiration in Republic Act  11509, also known as "Doktor Para sa
Bayan Act" which established Medical Scholarship and Return Service Prograni for deserving
and qualified Filipino students in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Private Higher
Education Institutions (PHEls) in regions where no SUCs offer a medical course.   It likewise
takes its cue from the Doctor to the Barios Prograln (DTTB) of the Department of Health
which  was  created  in  1993,  which  addressed  the  need  for  doctors  in  rural  communities,
especially in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this Bill is earnestly sought.
Lone District, Muntinlupa City
2 Too Many Lawyers, Trade Tipper by Jemy Gatdula,  published on  Businessworld, Sept 16,  2016,
https://www.fef.org.ph/jemy-gatdula/too-many-lawyers/


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HoUsHBILLNo.8638
Introduced by Rep. Jaime R. Fresnedi
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A LEGAL SCHOLARSHIP AND RETURN SERVICE PROGRAM,
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 ONE.  Sfeo7~/ rzt/e.  - This Act shall be known as the "£egr/ Scfeo/czrsfozp cz#d
Return Service Program Act."
SEC. 2. Dec/crrcrfz.o72 a/Po/7.ey.  -It is hereby declared the policy of the State to provide
access to educational assistance for deserving students who choose to pursue a law degree to
enable them to achieve their goals and aspirations in life. It is also the policy of the State to
pursue the objective of providing for the needs for legal assistance of its citizens, especially the
undeaprivileged, through cost effective means.
The  government  shall  establish  and  maintain  mechanisms  to  achieve  the  goals  of
assisting deserving law students and addressing the responsibility of the State to provide legal
assistance to its undeaprivileged citizens.
SEC. 3 . Legal Scholarship and Return Service Program. -There ±s heresy estaljl±shad a.
Legal Scholarship and Return Service (LSRS) Program which shall offer financial assistance
to willing and deserving students eurolled in a Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor Program in a
school recognized and accredited by the Supreme Court. It shall also contain a Return Service
condition for those granted scholarships as provided in Section 5 hereof. The LSRS Program,
including  the  funding  thereof,  shall  be  administered  by  the  Legal  Education  Board,  in
coordination with the UniFAST Board created under Republic Act No.  10687 or the "Unified
Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Act."
SEC. 4. £egcr/ Scfeo/¢rsfoz.p. -The Legal Scholarship under the LSRS Program shall offer
financial assistance to Filipino students who want to pursue a Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor
degree. Said financial assistance shall include the following:
a.     Free tuition and other school fees;
b.    Allowance for prescribed books;
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c.     Clothing or uniform allowance;
d.    Dormitory or boarding house expenses;
e.     Transportation allowance;
f.     Bar review fees,  including Bar examination application fees: Provz.c7ec7,  That the
same shall only be available for the first two (2) bar examinations taken;
9.     Medical insurance; and
h.      Other education-related miscellaneous subsistence or living allowances.
SEC. 5.   Co#dztz.o#s/or /fee Grcz#/ o/Scfoo/¢rs¢zP. -Deserving students accepted to the
LSRS Program shall be subject to the following conditionalities:
a.    Must sign an agreement stating the terms and conditions of the scholarship on a form
prescribed by the LEB pursuant to the provisions of this Act;
b.   Must carry the full load of subjects prescribed per semester by the SUC or PHEI, and
shall not, under any circumstances9 drop a course which will result in underloading;
c.    Must meet all the academic requirements of the SUC or PHEI concerned;
d.   Must finish the entire Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor degree prograni within the
prescribed time frame of the SUC or PHEI where the scholar is eurolled in, subject to
the retention policies of the SUC or PHEI; Provided, That nothing herein shall prevent
the scholar from applying for a leave of absence for justifiable reason/s;
e.    Must  take  the  Bar  examination  within  a  maximum  period  of one  (1)  year  after
completion of the degree program; and
f.    Must render return service as provided under Section 5 of this Act.
Any violation of the foregoing conditions shall automatically result in the revocation of
the  scholarship  provided  under this  Act.  The  acceptance  of another  scholarship  while  the
scholar is a recipient of the benefits of the LSRS Program shall also result in the revocation of
the scholarship.
SEC.  6. Jte/zjr7c Serw.ce P/c7#.  -A beneficiary of the LSRS Program shall render two
(2) years of return service upon admission to the bar and shall have a period of three (3) years
from the time of signing the Roll of Attorneys to commence the return service.
The Legal Education Board (LEB) created under Republic Act 7662, otherwise known
as the "Legal Education Reform Act of 1993," shall, taking into consideration the need for
lawyers of the Public Attomey's Offlce, National Prosecution Service, local government units
(LGUs) and  other government agencies  and corporations,  formulate a Return Service Plan
(RSP)  for the beneficiaries of this  Act.  Each beneficiary  shall  receive the  appropriate  civil
service rank, salary and related benefits in the government offices where they shall be assigned:
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Provz.c7ec7, That the mandatory return service herein provided shall be distinct and separate from
the Clinical Legal Education Program as provided under Rule 138-A of the Rules of Court.
A  beneficiary  who  fails  or refuses  to  comply  with the  mandatory return  service  and
integration  provided  under  this  Act  shall  be  required  to  pay  two  times  the  full  cost  of
scholarship, including other benefits and expenses incurred by reason of participation in the
scholarship  program,  with  full  legal  interest  thereon;  Provz.c7ec7,   77!cz/  the  abovementioned
penalties shall not apply to lawyers by reason of severe or serious illness, or death.
SEC.   7.   4xprap7.J.c7/J.o73s.    -   An   initial   amount   of   One   Hundred   Million   Pesos
(Phpl00,000,000.00) shall be appropriated as seed money for the establishment of the Legal
Scholarship  and  Return  Service  Program provided  under this  Act.  Thereafter,  the  amount
necessary for its continuous implementation shall be included in the respective budgets of the
implementing agencies in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC.   8.  Jmp/eme#fz.7gg  Rc{/es  c77!d  Regc4/cz/z.o7cs.   -  Within  thirty  (30)  days  from  the
effectivity of this Act, the DOJ, in consultation with the Public Attomey's Office (PAO) and
other  relevant  government  agencies,  the  Integrated  Bar  of the  Philippines,  the  Philippine
Association of Law Schools and other stakeholders, shall promulgate the implementing rules
and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
SEC. 9. Repec}/z.72g C/cJ#se. -All laws, decrees, executive orders9 rules and regulations or
parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.
SEC.   10.    EJzj7rec/J.vJ.fy  C/a2#c.  -This  Act  shall  take  effect  fifteen  (15)  days  after  its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,
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