Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Ve
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 5073

Introduced by Representative Salvador B. Belaro, Jr,

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The additional Eight Billion Pesos (P8B) earmarked for scholarships in
state universities in the 2017 national budget is a dream come true for advocates
of free higher education. The problem is that it may only last for one year and
thus, there is a need for a regular allocation in the yearly budget to sustain a free
college education system in state universities. That way, it will be ensured that
financially disadvantaged students will have access to college education

However, there is also a need to ensure that the courses offered in our
state universities are those that are responsive to the needs of the economy,
those that are needed by our industries, and those that are in accordance with
our development goals.

For instance, our country needs more courses relating to science and
technology to accelerate industrialization in the country. Our country also needs
courses, including vocational and short-courses relating to computer science,
information technology, tourism and a lot more courses needed by our various
industries with due regard to the varying requirements of the different regions in
our country. Then, let us not also forget the requirements of our agriculture,
fisheries, maritime and other industrial sectors.



In adopting a free college education system for our state universities, we
have no choice but to rationalize the course offerings in our state universities so
that they would prioritize courses relevant to the requirements of our economy
and are reflective of the country’s development goals lest we unwittingly
contribute to the widening of the “education gap”.

The education gap is the phenomenon whereby around 600,000 graduates
of our universities end up being unemployed because of, among others, the
mismatch of their courses to the requirements of our industries.

If we are to provide an indiscriminate system of free college education in
our state universities, our colleges and universities will be producing more of
the same graduates and will just exacerbate the education gap.

Thus, it is the objective of this act to propose a rationalized free college
education system which prioritizes courses required by the needs of our
economy and our industries, in accordance with our developmental goals.

et
SALVADOR B. BELARO, JR.
Representative
1-Ang Edukasyon Party List


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5073

Introduced by Representative Salvador B. Belaro, Jr.

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A FREE HIGHER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
IN STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES AND STATE-RUN
TECHNICAL-VOt ONAL INSTT} S BASED ON COURSE AND
PROGRAM OFFERINGS RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF OUR
ECONOMY AND OUR INDUSTRIES, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH
OUR DEVELOPMENTAL GOALS

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 “Rationalized Free
Higher and Technical Education Act of 2016”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policies. —
a) It is hereby declared that every citizen has a right to quality education at all
levels of education and that it is the duty of the State to protect and promote

such right and to take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all

b) In the development of educational policies and programs, the State shall take
into account regional and sectoral needs, among others.


c) Science and technology are essential for national development and progress.
The State shall give priority to research and development, invention, innovation,
and their utilization; and to science and technology education, training and
services.

d) The goals of the national economy are a more equitable distribution of
opportunities, income and wealth; a sustained increase in the amount of goods
and services produced by the nation for the benefit of the people; and an
expanding productivity as the key to raising the quality of life for all, especially
the underprivileged.

e) The State shall promote industrialization and full employment based on
sound agricultural development and agrarian reform, through industries that
make full and efficient use of human and natural resources, and which are
competitive in both domestic and foreign markets. In the pursuit of these goals,
all sectors of the economy and all the regions of the country shall be given
optimum opportunity to develop.

f) The sustained development of a reservoir of national talents consisting of
Filipino scientists, entrepreneurs, professionals, managers, high-level technical
manpower and skilled workers and crafismen in all fields shall be promoted by
the State.

SEC, 3. Free Higher Education in State Universities and Colleges and State-
Run Technical-Vocational Institutes. Every pino citizen shall be exempt
from paying tuition fees and all other miscellaneous fees in pursuing a
bachelor’s degree or any comparable undergraduate degree in any state
university or college provided that he passes all the admission requirements of
such state university and college and provided that his course is a priority
course as defined in Section 4 below.

Every Filipino citizen also has the right to enroll free of
post-secondary technical —vocational education and training (TVET) leading to
non-degree certificate and diploma programs offered by any state-run technical-
vocational institute (TVI) under the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA) provided that he passes the admission
requirements of such state-run TVIs and provided that his program is a priority
program as defined in Section 4 below.

SEC. 4. Priority Courses and Priority Programs. - The Commission on Higher
Education, in collaboration with the National Economic Development Authority
shall be tasked to come up with a list of priority courses with due regard to the


requirements of the national economy and our industries, and in accordance
with our country’s developmental goals.

Likewise, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA), in collaboration with the National Economic Development Authority
shall be tasked to come up with a list of priority programs with due regard to the
requirements of the national economy and our industries, and in accordance
with our country’s developmental goals.

SEC.5. Appropriations. - The initial amount of Thirty Billion Pesos
(P30,000,0000.00) for the initial year of implementation and thereafter, such
amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be included in the
annual General Appropriations Act

SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the
Technical Skills and Development Authority (TESDA), in collaboration with
the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture
(DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department
of Tourism, and other relevant stakeholders in higher and technical education ,
are herein mandated to formulate the rules and regulations necessary to ensure
the efficient ‘and effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or provision not otherwise affected
shall remain valid and subsisting.

SEC, 8. Repealing Clause. All laws, orders, issuances rules and regulations or
parts thereof inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
modified or amended accordingly.

SEC. 8. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.