NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 2101
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RlXEIVrlDSV
Introduced by: Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A MORATORIUM ON STUDENT LOAN PAYMENT DURING 
DISASTERS AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In 2022, The United Nations for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported 
that eighteen Tropical Cyclones entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility. The 
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology noted that at least 14,300 
earthquake events were recorded. In Mindanao, almost 400,000 were displaced 
because of the conflicts and natural hazards.
The purpose of this bill is to temporarily remove the burden of students who were 
affected by disasters or calamities. This is in line with the Republic Act 10931 or the 
Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act which provides free education In 
Higher Education in SUCs and CHED-recognized Local Colleges, Free Technical and 
Vocational Training, subsidy and private institutions and Student Loans Program for 
College Students.


The passage of this measure is thus earnestly sought.
RAF^ T. TULFO


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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
23 RPR 26 P12 35
SENATE
Senate Bill No._2JjQ-l
Introduced by: Senator Raffy T. Tulfo
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AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A MORATORIUM ON STUDENT LOAN PAYMENT DURING 
DISASTERS AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Student Loan Payment 
Moratorium During Disasters and Emergencies Act."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect 
and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and to ensure that 
such education is accessible to all. In line with this declared policy, and in cognizance of 
the need to provide adequate relief and protection to Filipinos in crisis situations, the 
State shall authorize the deferral of student loan collection for a reasonable period during 
and after the onset of disasters and other emergencies.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For the purposes of this Act:


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a. Disaster shall refer to the following: (i) a serious disruption of the functioning of a 
community or a society involving widespread human, material, economic or 
environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community 
or society to cope using its own resources; (i) the result of the combination of: the 
exposure to a hazard, the conditions of vulnerability that are present, and insufficient 
capacity or measures to reduce or cope with the potential negative consequences; and 
(Hi an event that causes loss of life, injury, disease and other negative effects on human, 
physical, mental and social well-being, together with damage to property, destruction of 
assets, loss of services, social and economic disruption and environmental degradation;
b. Emergency shall refer to an unforeseen or sudden occurrence, especially danger, 
demanding immediate action;
c. Higher Education shall refer to the stage of formal education, or Its equivalent, requiring 
completion of secondary education and covering programs of study leading to bachelor 
and advanced degrees, including associate degrees;
d. Higher Education Institution (HI) shall refer to an education institution authorized and 
recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to offer bachelor's degrees 
or graduate courses;
e. Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) shall refer to duly accredited public HEIs 
established by local government units (LGUs) through an enabling ordinance, financially 
supported by the GU concerned, and compliant with the policies, standards and guidelines 
of CHED;
f. Private Higher Education Institutions shall refer to HEIs duly recognized by CHED which 
are owned or operated by private individuals and entities;
g. State of Calamity shall refer to a condition involving mass casualty and/or major 
damages to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way of life of


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people in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or human-induced 
hazards;
h. State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) shall refer to public HEIs established by law and 
are managed by their respective independent and separate governing boards;
i. Student Loan shall refer to a sum of money or other forms of accommodation exclusively 
intended for the payment of all fees, charges, and costs to SUCs, LUCs, private HEIs, and 
public and private TVIs extended to students In exchange for repayment in the future as 
evidenced by a loan agreement in writing and duly executed for the purpose;
j. Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) shall refer to postsecondary 
education or training process involving general education, the study of technologies and 
related sciences, acquisition of practical skills relating to occupations in various sectors of 
economic and social life, and comprising formal (organized programs as part of the school 
system) and nonformal (organized classes outside the school system approaches; and
k. Technical-Vocational Institutions (TVIs) shall refer to learning institutions offering 
TVET programs.
SEC. 4. Coverage. - This Act shall cover students enrolled in SUCs, LUCs, private HEIs, 
and public and private TVIs whose residence is located in barangays, municipalities, cities, 
provinces, or regions under a State of Calamity or State of Emergency as may be declared 
by the President of the Philippines or the local sanggunian concerned. In accordance with 
Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise known as the "Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and 
Management Act of 2010", Republic Act No. 11332, otherwise known as the "Mandatory 
Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act"; and 
other relevant laws, rules and regulations.


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SEC. 5. Moratorium on Payment of Student Loans. - There shall be a moratorium on the 
enforcement of payment of all fees, charges, and costs relating to the student loans 
Incurred for Higher Education and TVET programs, whether administered by the HEIs or 
TVIs themselves or by the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary 
Education (UniFAST) Board, the CHED or any other government agency or 
instrumentality, for the duration of the State of Calamity or Emergency as provided in 
Section 4 of this Act and for thirty (30) days after the lifting of such State of Calamity or 
Emergency: Provided, That the availment of the moratorium shall not adversely affect 
the status of the students concerned with regard to their eligibility for re-enrollment on 
the succeeding semesters or terms, or their eligibility for graduation: Provided, further. 
That no penalties or Interests shall be collected on the deferred payments made pursuant 
to this Act: Provided, finally. That nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent public 
or private HEIs or TVIs from implementing more favorable forms of pavment relief or 
assistance to their students, prohibiting students from voluntarily waiving the benefit of 
the moratorium on student loan payments, or availing assistance or subsidies from the 
government as provided by law, rules and regulations.
SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity 
of this Act, CHED and the Technical Education And Skills Development Authority shall, in 
consultation with the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges, the 
Association of Local Colleges and Universities, and the Coordinating Council of Private 
Educational Associations of the Philippines, or their equivalent institutions, and other non­
government stakeholders, promulgate the rules and regulations to effectively implement 
the provision of this Act.
SEC. 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise affected 
shall remain valid and subsisting.


SEC. 8. 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, amended, or modified accordingly.
SEC. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,