SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'14 
OEC 15 PZ :42 
SENATa 
S. No. 
2510 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO PART-TIME AND INDEPENDENT STUDENTS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Quality education is expensive and not everybody can afford it. It is a sad 
reality that although education is accessible to most students since we are provided 
with state schools and universities, this cheap alternative comes with the cost of a 
poor education system. 
This bill seeks to establish a grant program for part-time, independent 
students, and to prescribe the powers and duties of certain state agencies and 
institutions of higher education, in order for quality education to be affordable for 
everybody.! 
~~ j,~ 
MIRIAM DEF~WR sANTIAGO 
i/1' 
1 This bill was originally filed on the 13 th Congress, Third Regular Session. 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
'14 
DEC 15 P 2 :42 
SENATE 
S. No. 
2510 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
1 
AN ACT 
2 
TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO PART-TIME AND INDEPENDENT STUDENTS 
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SECTION l. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Part-Time 
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Independent Students Grant Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the 
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State to provide a quality education for all and establish a grant program to foster 
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the pursuit of postsecondary education by pmi-time, independent students who 
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have financial need. 
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SECTION 3 .. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
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A. "Financial Need" means need as determined by the institution based upon 
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a need analysis standard established by the Commission on Higher 
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Education (CHED). Such standard shall take into consideration the 
13 
student's CUlTent annual income and exclude his or her home equity; 
1 


1 . 
B. "Independent student" refers to a student who finances higher education 
2 
expenses on his/her own, without any financial assistance from anybody, 
3 
including family; 
4 
C. Part-time" means not less than 3 semester hours and not more than 11 
5 
semester hours per semester, or the equivalent for a quarter or term. 
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SECTION 4. Eligibility to Participate in a Grant Program. - A person is 
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eligible to participate in the grant program ifhe or she meets all of the following:: 
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A. Is a part-time student; 
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B. Is an independent student; 
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C. Has obtained a high school diploma for at least the two preceding years; 
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D. Has good moral character and has not been convicted of any cnme 
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involving moral turpitude; 
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E. Has complied with this act and the rules promulgated under this act by 
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CHED; 
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F. Is a Filipino citizen; 
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G. Is not enrolled in an institution whose primary purpose is to prepare 
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students for ordination or appointment as a member of the clergy of a 
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church, denomination, or religious association, order, or sect; 
19 
H. Is not in default on a loan guaranteed by the commiSSIOn or any 
20 
government entity or agency; and 
2 


1 
1. Is shown by the school to be making satisfactory academic progress. 
2 
SECTION 5. Total Amount Granted to Educational Institutions; Use of 
3 
Funds. - The total of the amount granted to an educational institution shall be 
4 
proportionate to the number of needy independent students eligible for this 
5 
program enrolled at the institution for the most recent year for which statistics are 
6 
available. Funds provided to eligible schools shall be used for awards to students, 
7 
not for administration of the program. 
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SECTION 6. Maximum Grant to Eligible Student; Priority; Effect of Other 
9 
Scholarships or Grant Awards. - Upon application of an eligible student, an 
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educational institution shall grant to the student an amount of not more than PhP 
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30,000.00 per academic year for not more than a 12-month period at any given 
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educational institution. 
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If the number of eligible applicants exceeds the money available, priority 
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shall be given to persons with the greatest financial need as determined by each 
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educational institution. 
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A student who receives a state university scholarship award or who receives 
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other scholarships or grant awards, may be eligible for funds under this act if the 
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total amount of the student's scholarships and grants is less than the student's 
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financial need. A student's scholarship and grant awards may be increased with 
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funds from the program under this act up to the level of the maximum grant as 
21 
provided in this section. 
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SECTION 7. Gifts, Grants, Bequests, Donations, and Devises: Acceptance 
23 
Authorized; Annual Report. - The commission may accept gifts, grants, bequests, 
3 


donations, and devises, tt'om whatever sources, of real, personal, or mixed property 
2 
and money for the purposes described in this act. The commission shall prepare an 
3 
annual report of all gifts, grants, bequests, donations, and devises for the governor 
4 
and 
5 
SECTION 8. Appropriations. - Such sums as may be necessary for the 
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initial implementation of this Act shall be taken from the current appropriations of 
7 
the CHED. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for its full implementation 
8 
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act as a distinct and 
9 
·separate item. 
10 
SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
11 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation 
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contrary to or is inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, 
13 
modified, or amended accordingly. 
14 
SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act 
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shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof which are not 
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affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
17 
SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
18 
days after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
19 
Approved, 
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