SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILlPF'INES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. No.1 :3 
St!'l:l!!lh, 
, Hl}ffl:r .. \ H1t:: >1'(1'ubr1 
'13 JUL-l 
A8:57 
"'I' 
" 
,"" ~ 
n 
'>1 "," ", ' ,.'" U'-
j 
Introduced by SENATOR fERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1987 Constitution, under Article XIV, Section 1 thereof provides: "The 
State shall protect the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and 
shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all." 
Pursuant to this mandate, the State's primordial concern is to provide 
every citizen high quality standard of education. 
state Universities and Colleges (SUCs) are great help in our country as they 
educate those who are willing to study but could not afford the tuition fees in 
private colleges and universities. 
Through the years, a great number of SUCs have proliferated, especially in 
the countryside. To dote, there are already 111 existing State Universities and 
Colleges in the country. And it is expected thot that there will still be 0 great 
number of proposals creating SUCs that would await the approvol of Congress, 
It is an unfortunate reality, however, that the quantity of SUCs does not 
guarantee quality education. 
The unreguloted propagation of SUCs 
is 
not matched with the 
corresponding increase in the budget for these institutions, thereby diminishing 
the quality of service that these academic institutions should be known for. 
In fact, there are SUCs that are not functional or those that are "just 
created for the vonity of politicians". The existing budget for these SUCs should 
be directed to 0 select number of SUCs thot are proven to produce exceptional 
graduates and to conduct innovative researches. 
The whole process of creation and/or conversion of SUCs has become so 
politicized, that in the end, lawmakers have sometimes completely disregarded 
the CHED guidelines for high standards of educational system, just to provide 
SUCs in their respective congressional district. 
It is imperative, therefore, to assess the situation. 
On October 7, 
1999, former President Joseph E. Estrada issued a 
Memorandum addressed to the CHED reiterating its administration policy "not in 
any way support the creation of new state universities and colleges and the 
conversion/upgrading of existing state colleges into universities". 


Unfortunately, despite this policy recommendation for the moratorium, the 
creation and/or conversion of SUCs persisted. 
The basic questions that should be resolved now are: Are the SUCs really 
providing quality education for our students? 
Is the Philippine educational 
system, through the SUCs, competitive enough to meet the challenges of the 
global educational environment? 
Is the National Government allocating 
enough money to fund the budgetary needs of all the SUCs in the country? Until 
we provide the answers to these queries, there must be a suspension or 
moratorium in the creation and/or conversion of SUCs. 
This bill proposes a three (3) year moratorium on the creation of new State 
Universities and Colleges, and conversion or upgrading of existing state Colleges 
into Universities, within three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act. This will 
provide Congress and the CHED reasonable time to assess, monitor and 
upgrade the educational system of higher education that would truly meet the 
challenges of the changing times, 
In view of thereot the passage of this bill is earne tly requested. 
FERDINA D R. ""'ARCOS, JR 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
SENATEBILLNO.1J 
'13 
JUl -1 
A8 '57 
Introduced by Senator FERDINAND R. MARCOS. JR. 
AN ACT IMPOSING A THREE·YEAR MORATORIUM ON THE CREATION OF NEW STATE 
UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES AND CONVERSION OR UPGRADING OF EXISTING 
STATE COLLEGES INTO STATE UNIVERSITIES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress Assembled: 
I 
SECTION 1. Title - This Act shall be known as "Moratorium on the Creation 
or Conversion of State Universities and Colleges Act of 2013". 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Basic Policy- It is the policy of the State to give 
utmost importance to quality education that is accessible to all Filipinos. The 
State shall likewise provide an integrated system of education that is relevant to 
the needs of the people. and the changing times. 
SECTION 3. Coverage - The moratorium mandated by this Act shall cover 
all existing public higher education Institutions and State Colleges all over the 
country. 
SECTION 4. Moratorium on the Creation of State Universities. 
There shall 
be a moratorium or suspension on the creation of new State Universities and 
Colleges, and conversion or upgrading of existing State Colleges into 
Universities. for a period of three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act. 
SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. 
The Commission on 
Higher Education (CHED) is hereby tasked to draft the implementing rules and 
regulations of this Act within sixty (60) days following its complete publication. 
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause - All laws. presidential decrees, executive 
orders. rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act shall 
be held unconstitutional or invalid. other provisions hereof which are not 
affected shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SECTION 8. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication to two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved.