.. . 
, . ,. 
.
,
 
F ~ . ~  . 
9 ' k 
1 , 1 ,  
:,.'~j 
, 
, 
13TH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
Firsf Regular Session 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
_ -  
L. 
S E N A T E  
S.B. NO. 
1 
Introduced by Senator Edgardo 1. Angara 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to amend certain provisions of Republic Act No. 7323, 
otherwise known as the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES). 
RA 7323, which was passed in 1992, is an earn-and-learn program to 
develop productive work ethics in the youth. 
This proposal endeavors to strengthen the program by broadening its 
application: First, by allowing students enrolled in the tertiary, vocational or 
technological education to work not only during summer and / or Christmas break, 
but at any time of the year; Second, by allowing small and medium scale enterprises 
or entities with more than ten (IO) employees to adopt the program; and Third, by 
penalizing persons or entities who make fraudulent claims, as well as persons or 
entities who refuse to honor an education voucher under this Act. 
It is hoped that in introducing these innovations, the State shall continue to 
inculcate in the youth discipline and forbearance. 
Towards this end, approval of the bill is earnestly sought. 
EDCARD 
Lw dP- 
J ANGARA 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
13TH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Firsf Regular Session 
) 
, 
. ,  
1 
. . ,  
, 
8 ;  
~ 
/ t i  
,: 
*. - 
,.,. 
~- 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator Edgardo J. Angara 
AN ACT EXPANDING AND STRENGHTENING 
THE COVERAGE OF RA 7323, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
THE SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR EMPLOYMENT OF STUDENTS. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act Nr. 7323, otherwise known as the 
Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) is hereby amended to read as 
follows: 
"SEC. 1. Any provision of the law to the contrary notwithstanding, any 
person or entity employing [at least 501 MORE THAN TEN (IO) 
persons may [during the summer and / or Christmas vacations] 
employ poor but deserving siudents, fifteen (15) years of age but not 
more than twenty-five (25) years old, paying them a salary or wage 
not lower than the minimum wage FOR PRIVATE EMPLOYERS AND 
THE APPLICABLE HIRING RATE FOR THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT 
AGENCIES: 
PROVIDED, 
THAT 
STUDENTS 
ENROLLED IN THE SECONDARY 
LEVEL SHALL ONLY 
BE 
EMPLOYED DURING THE SUMMER AND / OR CHRISTMAS 
VACATIONS; PROVlDED FURTHER, THAT STUDENTS ENROLLED 
IN 
THE 
TERTIARY, 
VOCATIONAL 
OR 
TECHNOLOGICAL 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
EDUCATION MAY BE EMPLOYED AT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR; 
PROVIDED FINALLY, THAT STUDENTS EMPLOYED IN ACTIVITIES 
RELATED TO THEIR 
COURSE SHALL 
EARN 
EQUIVALENT 
ACADEMIC CREDITS AS MAY BE DETERMINED BY APPROPRIATE 
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES [provided by law and other applicable 
labor rules and regulations]. 
For purposes of this Act, poor but deserving students refer to 
those whose parent‘s combined income[s], together with their 
[income] OWN, if any, do not exceed [Thirty-six thousand pesos 
(P36,OOO.OO) 
per annum] THE ANNUAL NATIONAL POVERTY 
THRESHOLD LEVEL FOR A FAMILY OF SIX (6) FOR THE 
PRECEDING YEAR AS MAY BE DETERMINED BY THE NATIONAL 
STATISTICS COORDINATION BOARD (NSCB). Employment [should 
be at the Labor Exchange Center of the Department of Labor and 
Employment (DOLE)] FACILITATION SERVICES FOR APPLICANTS 
TO THE 
PROGRAM SHALL 
BE 
DONE 
BY THE 
PUBLIC 
EMPLOYMENT SERVICE 
OFFICE 
(PESO).” 
SECTION 2. Section 3 of the same law is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“SEC. 3. The Secretary of Labor and Employment, the Secretary of 
Education, 
Culture 
and 
Sports, 
THE 
CHAIRMAN OF 
THE 
COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION and the Secretary of 
Finance shall issue the corresponding rules and regulations to carry 
out the purposes of this Act.” 


1 
SECTION 3. Section 4 of the same law is herebv amended to read as follows: 
2 
3 
4 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act or an 
14 
the other 
15 
provisions of this Act, and the application of 
such 
provision to other persons or 
16 
17 
application thereof to any person or circumstance is held to be invalid, 
circumstances, shall not be affected thereby. 
"SEC. 4. Any person or entity who shall make any fraudulent or 
fictitious claim under this Act, regardless of whether payment has 
been made, AND ANY PERSON OR ENTITY WHO REFUSES TO 
HONOR AN EDUCATION VOUCHER, shall upon conviction be 
punished with imprisonment of not less than six (6) months and not 
more than one (1) year and a fine of not less than Ten thousand pesos 
(PlO,OOO), without prejudice to their prosecution and punishment for 
any other offenses punishable under the Revised Penal Code or any 
other penal statute. 
18 
SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. All existing laws, orders, rules and 
19 
regulations or parts thereof deemed inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
20 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
21 
22 
23 
24 
general circulation. 
25 
26 
Approved, 
27 
28 
SECTION 6. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following 
the date of its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of