Republic of the Philippines.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
17" CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 8959

Introduced by Representative Wes Gatchalian

EXPLANATORY NOTE

“Ang kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan.” are words uttered not only as a
statement of fact, but more so as an embodiment of an undying hope. A hope that a
day would come where a generation of Filipinos would stand with dignity, certain of
his place among his neighbors and the rest of the world. More than five score years
have gone by, and those words remain only but a whisper of a hope, with the
Filipino still playing catch up, left in the dust of its neighbors who has since sucked
the limitless marrow of progress. By enacting this bill, the hope is to reach every
Filipino with the best quality of education that he can get such that collectively the
generations to come would per capita, be armed with the competence required to
drive this country forward. It is therefore proposed that a scholarship program with
a direct hire clausg be established for all aspiring teachers in the country.

A UNESCO report recently showed that the Philippines, among other
countries, failed to reach its Year 2015 targets on the Millennium Development
Goals of Education for All, One of the goals set is for our country to Improve on the
Quality of our Education, To overcome the systematic inequalities in learning across
the country, one of the modes recognized is by allocating the best teachers to the
most challenging parts of our country, One of the hindrances to doing this is the
evident lack in manpower available to the Department of Education. In a recent
statement, the department has indicated that it lacks at least fifteen thousand (15
000) teachers to supply the needs of the country. This bill is drafted to respond to
the need to provide more teachers in the rural areas where there is seemingly a
dearth in good teachers that arises.

It is envisioned that by establishing a scholarship program for deserving,
students who wants to pursue a career in teaching, the government shall be
developing highly qualified educators to serve in the remote rural areas of our
country, The incentive is for the student to acquire a four-year full-timsescholarship
and the security ofan employment upon graduation

(ON WES GATCH,
Representative
18 district Valenfuela City

LIAN



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
17** CONGRESS
First Regular Session

8959
House Bill No, 3852

Introduced by Representative Wes Gatchalian

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS
ENROLLING IN TEACHER EDUCATION AND PROVIDING
INCENTIVES FOR TEACHING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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 "Teacher
Education Scholarship Program of 2016".

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to 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.
Towards this end, the State shall continue to develop programs that
will encourage the youth to pursue an education in teaching and
provide them with opportunities for employment by serving their
countrymen as rural teachers,

SEC, 3. General Objective The scholarship program shall be offered
to deserving students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of
Science in Education degree or training in teacher education, as well
as providing them with incentives to pursue a career in teaching in
their home regions or in other rural areas.

SEC. 4, Scholarship Program. - This Act envisions a four-year full-time
scholarship program to be offered to deserving students based on
meritocracy for those eligible who will take up teacher education or
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Education, or any other


teacher training program or course under Republic Act No. 7836,
otherwise known as the 'Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act
of 1994,"

The graduate of this program shall render services and be integrated
into any public school in their home region or other rural public
elementary or secondary school in the Philippines.,

SEC. 5. Eligibility and Qualifications, - There shall be an annual
selection through appropriate examinations and screening process of
those who shall be admitted to the Teacher Education Scholarship
Program, hereinafter referred to as the Program. The candidates
shall be chosen from among qualified secondary graduates whether
from the private or public high schools. The qualified and selected
scholars shall be granted scholarship to enroll in a teacher education
course and shall cover expenses for matriculation and other school
fees, prescribed textbooks, supplies and equipment, clothing and
uniform allowances, and other related miscellaneous expense.

At least ten (10) candidates per province shall be chosen to
participate in the Program every year.

An applicant whose family's combined gross income is not more than
Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) per month or One hundred fifty
thousand pesos (P150,000.00) per year or those whose parent is a
barangay worker, government employee or a member of an
indigenous cultural community shall be given priority in the
selection .

SEC. 6, General Conditions for Admission to the Scholarship. - A
teacher education scholar shall be accepted to the Program and shall
receive and continue to enjoy the benefits of the scholarship until the
completion of the course, subject to the following conditions:

a) The scholar shall pass the entrance or admission examinations
and related requirements of the school where the scholar intends to
enroll;

b) The scholar shall carry the full load of subjects prescribed per
semester and shall, under no circumstance, drop a course which will
result in underloading;

c) The scholar may be allowed, for valid reasons, to defer
enrollment and of availing of the scholarship for a period not
exceeding one school year;



d) Upon completion of the course and other relevant training, the
scholar shall agree to teach in any public elementary or secondary
school in the scholar's home region or in any rural public school for a
period of at least five (5) years;

e) — The scholar shall repay the full cost of the scholarship and
related be received in the event of the schol: ilure to complete
the teaching education course without valid cause; and

The scholar shall sign an agreement stating the terms and conditions
of the scholarship.

SEC. 6. Secretariat. - The Secretary of Education may create a
Secretariat to provide administrative and technical assistance to
effectively and efficiently implement the Program. It shall perform
the duties and responsibilities as may be determined and delegated
by the Secretary of Education. The support staff as may be created
shall be recruited preferably from any accredited teacher
organization or the academe.

SEC. 7. Donations, Grants and Other Contributions. - The DepEd may
accept any donation, contribution, bequest, grant, in cash or services,
whether local or foreign, which may be made by individuals and
organizations, to fund the Program. Such donation, contribution,
bequest, grant, in cash or services shall be exempt from the donor's
tax and the same shall be considered as an allowable deduction from
the gross income in the computation of the income tax of the donor in
accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue
Code of 1997, as amended

Proceeds from at least two (2) draws of the Philippine Charity
Sweepstakes every year shall also be allocated to finance the
Program. .

SEC. 8. Appropriations. - The sum of Fifty Million Pesos
(P50,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated for the initial
implementation of this Act. Thereafter, such funds necessary for its
continued implementation shall be included in the appropriations of
the Department of Education (DepEd) in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days
from the approval of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall, in


consultation with schools offering education for teachers and other
relevant stakeholders, issue such rules and regulations as may be
necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC, 10. Separability Clause. If any provision or part of this Act is
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or
provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

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

SEC. 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of

general circulation,

Approved,