FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
First Regular Session 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SENATE 
S.B.No. 917 
Introduced by SENATOR EDGARDO J. 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 (10) 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. 
2 4  /A 
EDGARDO J. ANGARA 
Senator 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
First Regular Session 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SENATE 
S.B.No. 917 
Introduced by SENATOR EDGARDO J. ANGARA 
AN ACT EXPANDING AND STRENGTHENING 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 (10) persons may [during the summer and / 
or Christmas vacations] employ poor but deserving students, 
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 t 
OR 
CHRISTMAS VACATIONS; PROVIDED 
FURTHER, THAT STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE 
TERTIARY, 
VOCATIONAL 
OR 
TECHNOLOGICAL . 
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 
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GOVERNMENT AGENCIES [provided by law and other 
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For purposes of this Act, poor but deserving students refer 
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to those whose parent’s combined income[s], together with their 
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[income] OWN, if any, do not exceed [Thirty-six thousand pesos 
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(P36,OOO.OO) 
per 
annum] THE ANNUAL 
NATIONAL 
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POVERTY THRESHOLD LEVEL FOR A FAMILY OF SIX 
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(6) 
FOR 
THE 
PRECEDING 
YEAR 
AS 
MAY 
BE 
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DETERMINED 
BY 
THE 
NATIONAL 
STATISTICS 
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COORDINATION BOARD (NSCB). Employment [should be 
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at the Labor Exchange Center of the Department of Labor and 
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Employment (DOLE)] FACILITATION SERVICES FOR 
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APPLICANTS TO THE PROGRAM SHALL BE DONE BY 
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THE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OFFICE (PESO).” 
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follows: 
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“SEC. 3. The Secretary of Labor and Employment, the 
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Secretary of 
Education, THE 
CHAIRMAN 
OF THE 
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COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION and the Secretary 
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of Finance shall issue the corresponding rules and regulations to 
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carry out the purposes of this Act.” 
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SECTION 3. Section 4 of the same law is hereby amended to read as 
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follows: 
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“SEC. 4. Any person or entity who shall make any 
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fraudulent or fictitious claim under this Act, regardless of 
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whether payment has been made, AND ANY PERSON OR 
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ENTITY WHO REFUSES TO HONOR AN EDUCATION 
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VOUCHER, 
shall upon 
conviction be 
punished 
with 
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imprisonment of not less than six (6) months and not more than 
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one (1) year and a fine of not less than Ten thousand pesos 
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(PlO,OOO), 
without prejudice 
to their prosecution 
and 
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punishment for any other offenses punishable under the Revised 
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Penal Code or any other penal statute. 
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applicable labor rules and regulations]. 
SECTION 2. Section 3 of the same law is hereby amended to read as 
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SECTION 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act or an 
application thereof to any person or circumstance is held to be invalid, the 
other provisions of this Act, and the application of such provision to other 
persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby. 
SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. All existing laws, orders, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof deemed inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 6. Effectiuity. 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 general circulation. 
Approved, 
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