REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1158

AN ACT STRENGTHENING AND EXPANDING FREE PUBLIC TERTIARY EDUCATION
AND ESTABLISHING SOURCE OF FUNDS FOR AND UPHOLDING FISCAL AUTONOMY
OF STUDENT COUNCILS/GOVERNMENT AND STUDENT PUBLICATIONS, AMENDING

FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10931, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
“UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY TERTIARY EDUCATION ACT”

Explanatory Note

Article II Section 17 of the 1987 Constitution mandates the State to “give priority to education,
science and technology, art, culture. and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate
social progress, and promote total human liberation and development.”

This is the guiding principle behind the Comprehensive Free Public Education Bill originally
filed by Kabataan Party-list, collectively championed by the youth and students themselves
and supported by legislators, Various efforts led to Republic Act (RA) 10931 or the Universal
Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (UAQTEA) which became law in August 2017

After several academic years of implementing RA 10931, this representation believes that it is
time to introduce much-needed amendments for the benefit of Filipino students and youth,

One of the proposed amendments seeks to uphold the public character of our state-run higher
education institutions and gradually address the structural ills of the Philippine education
system. It shall establish a new higher education curriculum responsive to the needs and the
goals of the nation. As fundamental changes in education should address the basic ills that
hound the system, we need to collectively strive for a type of education that is not only free, but
also empowering and liberating

Another amendment shall include all local universities and colleges and the branches of state
universities and colleges in the free tertiary education program

Finally. we forward an amendment that aims to establish, clarify, and institutionalize the source
of funds for campus publications and student councils/governments. This is in response to
funding and budget issues experienced by the aforementioned student institutions since the
implementation of RA 10931

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

REP. RAOUL DANNIEL A. MANUEL

Kabataan Party-list



SoariHM47s0N—

"
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
2
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 1158

Introduced by KABATAAN PARTY-LIST Rep. Raoul Danniel A. Manuel

AN ACT STRENGTHENING AND EXPANDING FREE PUBLIC TERTIARY EDUCATION
AND ESTABLISHING SOURCE OF FUNDS FOR AND UPHOLDING FISCAL AUTONOMY,
OF STUDENT COUNCILS/GOVERNMENT AND STUDENT PUBLICATIONS, AMENDING

FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10931, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
“UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY TERTIARY EDUCATION ACT”

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

SECTION 1. Free public tertiary education shall be strengthened and expanded through the
formulation of nationalist, scientific and mass-oriented curriculum. Republic Act No. 10931
otherwise known as the "Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education”, is amended to read
as follows:

“Section 8. Student Loan Program for Tertiary Education. - To support further the cost of
tertiary education or any part or portion thereof, a student loan program for tertiary
education is hereby likewise established for all Filipino students who shall enroll in SUC,
LUC, private HEI and TVET program in all TVis registered under the TESDA. The Loan
program shall be administered by the UniFAST Board and the amount necessary to
fund the program shall be included in the budgets of the CHED and the TESDA’
Provided, That the UniF AST may offer short-term or long-term loans: Provided, further.
That those who availed of the loan during their undergraduate degree may still avail of
another cycle of student loan for their pursuit of graduate studies, including medicine
and law after they have fully paid the previously availed loan: Provided, furthermore
That those who did not avail of the loan program during their undergraduate studies may
avail of it to pursue graduate studies including medicine and law: Provided, finally, That
those who did not avail of the loan program during their undergraduate studies may
avail of the loan program for their review expenses for licensure examinations
administered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

Repayment shall be effected by the incorporating a portion of the loan amount or a
percentage thereof in the employee's monthly Social Security System (SSS) or
Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) contribution, as the case may be based
on a reasonable schedule of repayment and interest rates. As may be formulated by the
UniFAST Board

Payment of the loan amount will commence once the beneficiary secures any gainful
employment with compensation, remuneration or earnings that reaches the Compulsory
Repayment Threshold (CRT). For purposes of this Act, the CRT shall be set and
reviewed by the UniF AST Board, and adjusted when necessary.


Somrv oman

"
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
2
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
36
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53

The UniFAST Board, in consultation with relevant agencies, shall formulate loan
payment guidelines for loan beneficiaries whose earnings are not covered by the GSIS
‘or the SSS programs, including those of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), emigrants.
and self-employed persons and professionals (SEPs)

SECTION 9. FORMULATION OF A NATIONALIST, SCIENTIFIC, AND MASS-
ORIENTED HIGHER EDUCATION CURRICULUM. — ALONG WITH THE
INTRODUCTION OF THE SYSTEM OF FREE PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION, THE
CHED SHALL FORMULATE A NEW HIGHER EDUCATION CURRICULUM THAT IS:

(1) NATIONALIST — THE NEW HIGHER EDUCATION CURRICULUM SHALL BE
CRAFTED BASED ON THE NEEDS AND THE GOALS OF THE NATION. THE
CURRICULUM SHALL FOSTER PATRIOTISM AND NATIONALISM, AND SHALL
INSTILL IN EVERY STUDENT THE FIRM RESOLVE NEVER TO ALLOW OUR
PEOPLE TO BE DOMINATED AND CONTROLLED BY FOREIGN POWERS OR
DOMESTIC TYRANTS. TERTIARY-LEVEL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
SHALL ALSO FOCUS ON DEVELOPING A SELF-RELIANT AND INDEPENDENT
NATIONAL ECONOMY, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON AGRARIAN REFORM,
AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATION'S AGRICULTURE AND NATIONAL.
INDUSTRIES;

(2) SCIENTIFIC - THE NEW HIGHER EDUCATION CURRICULUM SHALL
INCULCATE A SCIENTIFIC WORLDVIEW THAT HEIGHTENS THE SOCIAL
CONSCIOUSNESS OF ALL FILIPINO STUDENTS TOWARDS TOTAL HUMAN
LIBERATION. PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION SHALL SERVE TO FOSTER A
CULTURE OF LEARNING DIRECTED TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING AND SOLVING
THE BASIC PROBLEMS OF PHILIPPINE SOCIETY;

(3) MASS-ORIENTED — THE NEW HIGHER EDUCATION CURRICULUM SHALL
INCULCATE THE VALUE OF FREE EDUCATION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF
PROVIDING ACCESS TO EDUCATION AT ALL LEVELS. IT SHALL SERVE TO
EQUIP STUDENTS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS NEEDED TO SERVE
THE FILIPINO NATION. THE NEW CURRICULUM SHALL ALSO ENCOURAGE
STUDY PROGRAMS THAT RESPOND TO COMMUNITY NEEDS. STUDENTS
SHOULD NOT ONLY LEARN THROUGH FORMAL LEARNING INSTRUCTION AND
TEXTBOOKS, BUT ALSO THROUGH IMMERSION INTO THE LARGER SOCIETY
THAT EXISTS BEYOND THEIR CLASSROOMS.

Section [9] 10. Requirements for SUCs and LUCs. - SUCs and LUCs are hereby
mandated to

{a) Establish a learner information system in accordance with the guidelines to be
developed by the CHED in order to facilitate the tracking of students and their
performance

(b) Submit relevant information as determined by the CHED on school quality and
performance; and

(c) Formulate and submit to the CHED and to the Joint Congressional Oversight
Committee on Universal Access to Tertiary Education created under Section 17 of this
Act, a detailed SUC development plan updated every ten (10) years which shall
included plans for facilities and infrastructure development and expansion.


eVoaaena

9
10
"
12
13
14
15
16
7
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
26
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
a
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52

Section [10] 11. Quality Standard for SUC and LUC Budgets, TES and Student Loan
Programs. - The CHED and the TESDA shall ensure quality standards in the review and
consequent endorsement of the budget of the SUCs, LUCs and state-run TVIs,
respectively. The detailed design of the TES and student loan programs shall also be
subject to similar quality indicators defined by the UniFAST Board

Section [11] 12...”

SECTION 2. The scope of the free public tertiary education shall be strengthened and
expanded by including all local universities and colleges (LUCs) and branches of state
universities and colleges

Section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 10931, otherwise known as the “Universal Access to Quality
Tertiary Education’, is amended to read as follows

“Section 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act
Xxx. XXX, Xxx.

(e) Local universities and colleges (LUCs) refers to [CHED-accredited] public HEIs

established by local government units (LGUs) through an enabling ordinance, financially

supported by the LGU concerned, and compliant with the policies, standards and

guidelines of the CHED.

XXX XXX Xxx

SECTION 3. To establish the source of funds for and uphold the fiscal autonomy of student
councils/governments and student publications, Republic Act No. 10931, otherwise known as
the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act’ is amended to read as follows:

“Section [10] 11. Quality Standard for SUC and LUC Budgets, TES and Student Loan
Programs. - The CHED and the TESDA shall ensure quality standards in the review and
consequent endorsement of the budget of the SUCs, LUCs and state-run TVIs,
respectively. The detailed design of the TES and student loan programs shall also be
subject to similar quality indicators defined by the UniF AST Board.

SECTION 12. STUDENT COUNCILS/GOVERNMENTS AND STUDENT
PUBLICATIONS - A STUDENT PUBLICATION IS PUBLISHED BY THE STUDENT
BODY THROUGH AN EDITORIAL BOARD AND PUBLICATION STAFF COMPOSED
OF STUDENTS SELECTED THROUGH FAIR AND COMPETITIVE EXAMINATIONS,
AND STUDENT COUNCIL/GOVERNMENT OFFICERS ARE ELECTED BY THE
STUDENT BODY EVERY ACADEMIC YEAR.

ONCE THE PUBLICATION IS ESTABLISHED AND THE STUDENT
COUNCIL/GOVERNMENT OFFICERS ARE ELECTED, THE EDITORIAL BOARD
AND SET OF COUNCIL/GOVERNMENT OFFICERS SHALL FREELY DETERMINE
ITS EDITORIAL POLICIES AND/ OR CONSTITUTION AND MANAGE THEIR
RESPECTIVE FUNDS.

SECTION 13. FUNDING OF STUDENT COUNCILS/GOVERNMENTS AND STUDENT

PUBLICATIONS — FUNDING FOR THE STUDENT PUBLICATION AND STUDENT
3


COUNCIL/GOVERNMENT FOR STUDENT-RELATED ACTIVITIES MAY INCLUDE
THE SAVINGS OF THE RESPECTIVE SCHOOL’S APPROPRIATIONS,
COLLECTION FROM STUDENTS, STUDENT SUBSCRIPTIONS, DONATIONS, AND
OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDS.

IN NO INSTANCE SHALL THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION OR THE
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION CONCERNED WITHHOLD THE RELEASE OF FUNDS
SOURCED FROM THE SAVINGS OF THE APPROPRIATIONS OF THE RESPECTIVE
SCHOOLS AND OTHER SOURCES INTENDED FOR THE STUDENT PUBLICATION
AND STUDENT COUNCIL/GOVERNMENT. FEES COLLECTED BY THE SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATION FOR STUDENT-RELATED ACTIVITIES - STUDENT
PUBLICATION AND STUDENT COUNCIL/GOVERNMENT - SHALL BE RELEASED
AUTOMATICALLY TO THE STUDENT PUBLICATION AND
COUNCIL/GOVERNMENT CONCERNED.

Section [11] 14. Prohibited Act. - Upon effectivity of this Act, it shall be unlawful for any
person, SUC and state-run TVI to collect tuition and other school fees from qualified
students: Provided, That this section shail not apply to collections from students who
voluntarily opt out of the tuition and other school fees subsidy or make a contribution to
the school

Section [12] 15
SECTION 4. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional. the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain
valid or subsisting
SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. — Republic Act No. 10931 is hereby amended accordingly. All
laws, decrees, executive orders and rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly

SECTION 6. Effoctivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
Publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,