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

Nineteenth Congress —
Third Regular Session

House Bill No.11422

Introduced by Akbayan Representative Percival Cendafia

Prefatory Statement

In the study “Surviving and Quitting: The Case of 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program)
Student Dropouts,” a problem was highlighted with regard the incapacity of the 4Ps program
to sustain enrollment of students from 4Ps families in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).
Children of 4Ps beneficiaries are referred to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED),
the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE), and the implementing SUCs to ensure enrollment in priority courses,
and guarantee graduation through financial assistance in order to make them qualify for high-
value added jobs in the future.

Despite Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES), increased number of drop-outs have been observed.
While 4Ps helped students with their daily needs, pay their school contributions, daily fare and
school projects, students need more to sustain interest in attending school. Quitting college is
affected by related factors. Considering that most student beneficiaries of the 4Ps are from
indigent families, their family living conditions and their desire to help their parents and sibling
have been cited as their top priority. Despite financial assistance, joining the labor force to help
their parents outweighs staying in school.

To address this problem, this proposed legislation aims to help students from 4Ps families
attending SUCs through a monthly stipend that will augment TES and make them stay in school
until graduation. This social protection measure is designed to complement all available social
welfare and education programs so these students can finish their studies, optimize their
potential, and break the cycle of poverty. This policy will not only benefit their families but
will create a new generation of highly skilled workforce that will contribute to our national
development.

The passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

. PERCIVAL
‘KBAYAN PARTYLIST



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

Nineteenth Congress
Third Regular Session

House Bill No. 11422

Introduced by Akbayan Representative Percival Cendafia

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR MONTHLY STIPEND FOR STUDENTS IN STATE
UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES WHOSE PARENTS ARE ENROLLED IN THE
PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM (4Ps), AND PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREOF

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Monthly Stipend for Students
from 4Ps families attending State Universities and Colleges (SUCs)”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is the policy of the State to promote a just and dynamic
social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people
from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment,
a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all

The State also recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and
protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. The State further
gives premium to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster
patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and
development.

Pursuant to these Constitutional provisions, students from 4Ps families attending SUCs must
be further supported through additional social protection measures so they can finish their
studies, optimize their potential, and break the cycle of poverty.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, these terms are defined as follows:

(a) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program- is the national poverty reduction strategy and
human capital investment program that provides conditional cash transfer to poor
households to improve health, nutrition, and education pursuant to Republic Act
No.11310 or the “4Ps Act.”


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(b) State universities and colleges (SUCS) refers to any public institution of higher learning
that was created by an Act passed by the Congress of the Philippines. These institutions
are fully subsidized by the national government,and may be considered as a corporate
body.

SEC. 4. Coverage. — All students whose parent/parents is/are enrolled or had been enrolled in
4Ps and are attending a State University and Colleges (SUCs), as verified and certified by the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Commission on Higher
Education (CHED) or the SUC where the student is enrolled, shall be covered by the provisions
of this Act.

SEC. 5. Stipend for 4Ps Students. The eligible students shall be entitled to a monthly stipend
from the CHED amounting to Five Thousand Pesos (PhPS,000.00) to augment his or her
monthly allowance including transportation costs, food, books and school supplies, and other
related expenses, subject to existing government auditing rules and regulations: Provided, that
the amount of the monthly stipend shall be increased henceforth in accordance with the
inflation rate as determined by the appropriate government agency. Provided further, that the
monthly stipend may be waived if the student is capable of supporting his or her monthly
allowance through other means.

SEC. 6. Appropriations, — The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations of the year following its enactment into law and
thereafter. An initial amount of PhP 2,500,000,000 (2.5 Billion Pesos) shall be allotted for the
first year of its implementation.

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty days (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the CHED, in consultation with SUCs, DSWD, and other relevant
government agencies and non-government organizations, shall issue the necessary rules and
regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 8. Report of Congress. ~The CHED, SUCs, and the DSWD shall annually submit a
report to Congress about the status of the implementation of this Act for the purpose of review
and recommendation of additional measures necessary for the attainment of the objectives
thereof.

SEC. 9. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional or
otherwise invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall not be affected thereby.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. — All other laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, other
issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SEC. 11. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,