/ RECEIVED
F pice O14 JUL 201

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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 448

Introduced by Representative Manuel Luis T. Lopez

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 2013 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey ("FLEMMS") covered
around 36 million population aged 6 to 24 years. According to the survey, one in every ten or
about 4 million Filipino children and youth was out-of-school in 2013. Out-of-school children is,
defined in the FLEMMS as persons aged 6 to 14 years who are not attending school while out-of-
school youth as persons aged 15 to 24 years who are not attending school, have not finished any
college or post-secondary course, and are not working.

‘The 2013 FLEMMS results also showed that of the nearly 4 million out-of-school children
and youth, 22.9 percent have entered into union or marriage. Another 19.2 percent cited
insufficient family income to send child to school as the reason for not attending school (this,
refers to all educational expenses other the tuition fee), while 19.1 percent lack he interest in
attending school.

Another problem that continues to plague our nation is the fact that after graduation of
our students, they often seek employment overseas instead of contributing to nation building.
The reason normally is that there is a lack of opportunity in the Philippines and that of the
promise of greener pastures in employment abroad.

This bill now seeks to address this problem by mandating all students who receive full
tuition grants and scholarships from the Government of the Philippines to render at least one (1)
year of service for every year of free scholarship. This would be beneficial for both the student
and the governments the grant would cover all expenses for the education of the student and in
return the government will be assured that the student would remain in the Philippines and help
in its development.

This measure was first filed in the 17% Congress and had been pending with the
Committee on Higher and Technical Education since August 15, 2017.

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

He,

HON. MANUP

|S T. LOPEZ


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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

448
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Manuel Luis T. Lopez

AN ACT
MANDATING ALL STUDENTS IN STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES (SUCS)
RECEIVING SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS, OR SUBSIDY FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO
RENDER AT LEAST ONE YEAR OF RETURN SERVICE IN THE PHILIPPINES FOR EVERY
YEAR OF FREE TUITION/SCHOLARSHIP GRANT AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Mandatory Return Service
Law of 2019.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The 1987 Constitution provides that “The State
recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect
their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. It shall inculcate in the
youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their involvement in public and civic
affairs.”

Consistent with this Constitutional Principle, it is the declared policy of the State,
to ensure that its citizens whom it has provided free college and/or post-graduate
education, be required to render return service in the Philippines and contribute to the
development of the country.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. ~ As used in this Act, the following terms are defined
as follows:

a. Government - pertains to the Commission on Higher Education (“CHED")
or any other instrumentality of the Philippine government authorized by
law to grant scholarships, grants, or subsidy for tertiary or professional
courses/ degrees.

b. Return Service- refers to the rendering of one year of service for every

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school year wherein the student/ beneficiary has received a full
scholarship, grant, or subsidy.

c. Scholar- includes all students enrolled in a State University or College
("SUC") who are granted full scholarship, grant, or subsidy for a particular
school year.

SEC. 4. Coverage. - All students receiving full scholarship grant, subsidy, or any
other benefit whether directly or indirectly from the government of the Philippines
wherein the full tuition fee for the school year is completely paid shall be required to
render return service.

SEC. 5. Scholarship. - There shall be established a scholarship program for
qualified students seeking to obtain a college and/or post-graduate degree, which shall
be implemented by CHED with the concurrence of the various SUC’s.

SEC. 6. Qualifications of Student Beneficiaries. - To qualify for the scholarship
grant, the beneficiaries must meet the following requirements, to wit:

He/she must be a Filipino Citizen.

He/she must have completed his/her secondary education in a duly

accredited public school/institution in the Philippines.

iii, He/she must have maintained an exemplary academic and deportment
mark during his/her secondary education.

iv. He/she must be a resident of the Philippines.

v. He/she must maintain an above average grade to be determined by the
suc.

vi, He/she must not commit any gross violation of rules and regulations

prescribed by the government and the SUC.

SEC. 7. Requirements. - The following conditions shall be imposed on the scholar,
to wit:

Upon completion of the college or post graduate course, the scholar must
render one year of service in a private institution or government agency
for every year of free tuition.

ii, The scholarship grant shall include free tuition and other school fees,
allowance for prescribed text books, supplies, and equipment, uniform,
housing and transportation accommodation, and other related
miscellaneous living allowances.

iii, If the scholar fails to finish the course, is kicked out, or drops out from the
program, he/she shall be liable to pay for the amount already granted.

iv. There shall be at least 5 students in every city and at least 10 students for

every province and highly urbanized city who shall be entitled to the

scholarship grant.

SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations and Standard Forms. - Within

sixty (60) days from the promulgation of this Act, the necessary rules and regulations for
the proper implementation of its provisions shall be formulated by the CHED in

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collaboration with the Department of Education and all the SUCs.

SEC. 10. Appropriations. - SUCs, CHED, and the Department of Education shall
include in their annual budgets the necessary funds needed to implement the provisions
of this act.

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

SEC. 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held unconstitutional
or invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall continue in operation and
remain in full force and effect.

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

Approved,

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