Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

DY
HOUSE BILL NO. 4341

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE NOEL L. VILLANUEVA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish a free college education program for one member of a
family, who graduated from public high schools, desiring to pursue tertiary education in
any state college and university,

The measure is in accord with the explicit Constitutional mandates that the State
shall not only make education accessible to all but also to uphold the right of citizens to
quality education,

It must be emphasized that in pursuance also with the aforementioned
Constitutional mandates, Congress passed Republic Act No. 6655 otherwise known as
the “Free Secondary Education Act of 1988.” Consequently, the number of enrollees in
public high schools has grown tremendously over the years.

However, pursuing college education for most of our countrymen has become
very difficult due to poverty, Most of these high school graduates ended up as out-of-
school youths or work as laborers or farm workers if not unemployed. Even when the
government extended assistance to students and teachers in private education through
Republic Act No. 6728 and its amendatory law, Republic Act No. 8545 otherwise known
as the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers Education, many of
our countrymen still do not have the means to avail of this privilege. What they really
need is a free college education.

It is a fact that there is no substitute for education as investment in knowledge
always pays the best interest and therefore, a ticket out of poverty and good station in
life.

The foregoing reasons warrant the approval of this bill.

NOEL L. VILLANUEVA.
Representative
Third District, Tarlac


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

nouse BittNo, 4341

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE NOEL L, VILLANUEVA

AN ACT
PROVIDING FREE COLLEGE EDUCATION IN STATE COLLEGES AND.
UNIVERSITIES FOR ONE MEMBER OF A FAMILY WHO GRADUATED
FROM OF A PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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 “Free College
Education Act.”

SEC. 2, Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared the policy of the
State to establish free college education to one member of a family who
gtaduated from public high school in order to afford them opportunity to be
productive members of society and contribute to nation-building.

SEC. 3. Definitions. - For purposes of this Act, the following, terms shall
mean:

a) Free College Education - means that the students enrolled in any
college degree course or program offered in any state colleges and
universities shall be free from payment of tuition and other school fees;
Tuition Fee ~ refers to the fee representing direct costs of instruction,
training and other related activities and for the students’ use of the
instruction and training facilities;

Other school fees - refers to the fees which cover other necessary costs
supportive of instruction, including but not limited to medical and
dental, athletic and laboratory fees;

b)

¢


) Qualified beneficiary - refers to only one member of a family who
graduated from a public high school may avail of the privilege granted
under this Act.

SEC. 4. Implementation of Free College Education. - The system of free
college education as provided under this Act shall commence in the next school
year following the approval of this Act. The qualified beneficiary enrolled in any
course offerings in state college and universities shall be free from payment of
tuition and other school fees: Provided, That nothing in this Act shall cause or
authorize the reduction or removal of any benefit which the national or local
government may have granted to the students prior to the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 5. Limitation. - The right of any qualified beneficiary to avail of free
college education shall terminate if he or she fails in the majority of the academic
subjects for the school year in which he or she is enrolled during the course of his
or her study.

SEC. 6. Place of Study. ~ The qualified beneficiary shall take his free
education in any state college and university of his or her choice in the city or
province or within the region where he or she resides.

SEC. 7. Mandatory Admission. - It shall be mandatory for the state
colleges and universities to admit a qualified beneficiary, who desire to avail of
free college education: Provided, however, That, he or she shall pass the college
admission test, if required as a matter of policy. Any rejection of qualified
beneficiary shall constitute a ground for dismissal of the school authorities
concerned.

SEC. 8. Inplementing Rules and Regulations. - The Commission on
Higher Education (CHED), in consultation with the association of state colleges
and universities, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations to implement
this Act

SEC. 9. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to implement this Act shall
be charged against the money in the National Treasury not otherwise
appropriated.

The President is hereby authorized to realign or transfer any item of
appropriation within the CHED and/or utilize any savings therein to carry out
the purposes of this Act. Such sums as maybe necessary for its continuous
implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.