SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
'13 
JUl -1 
A8 :37 
SENATE 
S.B.No.JL 
Introduced by Senator LOREN LEGARDA 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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As of 2012, there are now an estimated 2.3 million households which currently benefit from 
the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) first introduced in 2007 by former 
President Gloria M. Arroyo and later on expanded by President Benigno S. Aquino III. By 
allocating huge amounts of money for the program, this is seen as the biggest and most 
comprehensive poverty reduction tool by the government as it seeks to improve human 
capital investments by linking up the receipt of cash grant on the basis of meeting certain 
conditionalities set by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Based on a 2012 
paper published by Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), it is estimated that 
the first batch of recipients of the 4Ps will reach its fifth year by 2012. 
Considering that this has targeted the chronic poor, it is also important that the early gains 
of the program will be preserved and complemented thru the provision of a college 
scholarship program which targets high school graduates coming from the same household 
beneficiaries. This will enable families to have a better chance of improving their financial 
standing by ensuring that at least one family member graduate from college or from a 
technical-vocational institution to improve his or her job prospects upon entering the labor 
market. 
This bill seeks to establish a college scholarship program for high school graduates from 
households who have satisfactorily completed the requirements and conditions set by the 
IlJepartment of Social Welfare and Development following their selection as household-
beneficiaries of the 4Ps thru the provision of a stipend to be released every start of the 
semester. 
In view thereof, approval of the said measure is earnestly requested. 
__ ~ 
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Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
'13 
JUL -1 
A 8 :37 
SENATE 
S.B. No.JL 
'-'\ -
Introduced by Senator LOREN LEGARDA 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A GOVERNMENT SCHOlARSHIP 
PROGRAM FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL GRADUATES WHO COME FROM 
HOUSEHOLD BENEFICIARIES OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT'S 
PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
CHAPTERl 
TITLE AND DECLARATION OF POLICY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Government Scholarship to 
2 
Students for Un,iversity and Technical Vocational Education Act of 2013." 
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State in conformity 
4 
with the mandate of the Constitution, to promote and make quality education accessible 
5 
to all Filipino citizens. The State also hereby recognizes the complementary roles of 
6 
public and private educational institutions, including technical-vocational education in 
7 
the educational system For these purposes, the State shall provide the mechanisms to 
8 
improve access to qualified high school graduates coming from households who 
9 
successfully completed the requirements set by the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino 
10 
Program (4Ps) or any other conditional cash transfer program set by the national 
II 
government thru the Department of Social Welfare and Development. 
12 
Sec. 3. Criteria for Assistance. -
For purposes of this Act, programs of assistance to 
13 
students of private post-secondary education shall likewise be extended to students of 
14 
community colleges and students in non-degree programs including vocational and 
15 
technical courses. Implementation of the program shall encourage students to undergo 
16 
tertiary education in the same region where their families reside. 
17 
The programs of assistance under this Act shall be extended only to students who--as 
18 
certified by the DSWD, are members of households which have satisfactorily completed 
19 
the requirements set by the DSWD following their earlier selection as household-
20 
beneficiaries of the 4Ps. 
1 


• 
Sec. 4. Forms of Assistance. - Whether private or public, assistance to college or technical-
2 
vocational education shall be a tuition fee supplement worth at least PhP5,000 per 
3 
semester, including summer programs if there are any, for the duration of the study. 
4 \ Said amount may be increased upon approval by the CHED and in consultation with 
5 
other relevant government agencies. 
6 
Sec. 5. Limitation. - The right of any student to avail himself of the benefits under this Act 
7 
shall not apply: 
8 
(a) If he fails for one (1) school year in the majority of the academic subjects in which he 
9 
has enrolled during the course of his study unless such failure is due to some valid 
10 
cause beyond his control; and 
11 
(b) If he enrolls for the first time, or transfers, outside of the region where he is 
12 
domiciled unless the course he wants to pursue is a priority course as determined by the 
13 
Department of Education, Culture and Sports and is not offered in any private school in 
14 
his region. 
15 
Sec. 6. Program Administration/Rules and Regulations. - This scholarship program 
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shall be part of the student assistance schemes currently being managed by the Study 
17 
Grant Division of the CHED. 
18 
To assess the effectivity of the programs and to ensure that schools, colleges and 
19 
universities where student recipients are enrolled continue to provide quality education, 
20 
the CHED shall meet from time to time with representatives from the Technical 
21 
Education and Skills Development Authority. For this purpose, the Council shall 
22 
establish criteria, including accreditation status, to determine which schools, colleges 
23 
and universities may continue to enroll students who are recipients of government 
24 
assistance under this Act. 
25 
Sec. 7. Appropriations. -
Funding for the said program shall come from the 
26 
appropriations of the CHED provided that in its first five years of the law's 
27 
implementation, the amount of two hundred million pesos (PhP 200,000,000.00) is set to 
28 
be managed by the CHED. 
29 
Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws and decrees particularly Presidential Decree Nos. 932 
30 
and 1371 and such letters of instruction, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are 
31 
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
32 
Sec. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the 
33 
same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions not affected 
34 
thereby. 
35 \ Sec. 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect immediately upon its publication in 
36 
two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
37 
Approved, 
2