I 
THIRTEENTHCONGRESS OF THEREPUBLIC ) 
’84. JuFd 30 
100 
OF THEPHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
,
I
 
Introduced by Senator LUISA “LOP’ I?. EERCITQ ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 14 provides: 
“Section 1. The State shall protect and promote the right of all 
citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to 
make such education accessible to all. 
Sec. 2. The State shall: 
(2) 
Establish and maintain a system of free public education in 
the elementary and high school levels. 
Without limiting 
the natural right of parents to rear their children, elementary 
education is compulsory for all children of school age. 
(3) 
Establish and maintain a system of scholarship grants, 
student loan programs, subsidies, and other incentives 
which shall be available to deserving students in both 
public 
and 
private 
schools, 
especially 
to 
the 
underprivileged .’, 
However, despite the mechanisms already implemented by the government like 
the assistance given to students in private education provided in R.A. No. 6728, many 
Filipinos still cannot afford the rising cost of education. 
As a result, a substantial 
number of students take part time jobs to cover the expenses. Others cut their expenses 
on basic needs such as food, medicine, clothing and housing. 
This bill aims to alleviate the burden of shouldering educational expenses placed 
on the students. It gives discounts for college students, particularly those who belong to 
the underprivileged class forced to take part time jobs. 
The government instituted a 
similar discount mechanism for assisting senior citizens in R.A. No. 7432. 
LUISA “LOI” P.\JEJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


, 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF TEE IEPUBLIC 
"04 JUNl 30 P 1 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
~~ 
~~ 
Introduced by Senator LUISA "LOI" P. EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
GRANTING DISCOUNTS TO UNDERPRIVILEGED COLLEGE STUDENTS ON 
BASIC AND EDUCATION SERVICES. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House OfRepresentatives ofthe Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Underprivileged 
College Students Discount Act." 
SEC. 2. Declaration of PoZicy. - It is the policy of the State to prioritize quality 
education and take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. 
SEC. 3. De$nition of Terns. - As used in this Act: 
(a) "Underprivileged College Students" refer to persons enrolled in the tertiary 
level who are forced to take part time jobs to subsidize their education. It 
shall refer to a student, whose annual gross income combined with the gross 
annual income of his parents, do not exceed One Hundred Thousand Pesos 
(P100,OOO.OO) subject to review by the National Economic and Development 
Authority (NEDA) every three years; 
(b) "Secretary" refers to the Secretary of Education; and 
(c) "Chairman" refers to the Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education. 


SEC. 4. Discounts for the Underprivileged College Students. - 
(a) On food establishments - a five percent (5%) discount shall be granted to the 
underprivileged college students by food establishments such as food 
chains, canteens and restaurants anywhere in the country: Provided, That 
private food establishments may claim the cost as tax credit; 
On transportation - a five percent (5%) discount shall be granted to the 
underprivileged college students by any public vehicle operator anywhere in 
the country; 
On medicines - a five percent (5%) discount shall be granted to the 
underprivileged college students by pharmacies or drug stores anywhere in 
the country: Provided, That these pharmacies or drug stores may claim the 
cost as tax credit; 
On textbooks and school supplies - a five percent (5%) discount shall be 
granted to the underprivileged college students by establishments anywhere 
in the country, who sell reference books for college and School supplies; 
Provided, that these establishments may claim the cost as tax credit; and 
On tuition Fees, Miscellaneous and Other School Fees. - A five percent 
(b) 
(c) 
(d) 
(e) 
(5%) discount on these fees shall be granted to the underprivileged college 
students by schools where they are enrolled anywhere in the country, 
without prejudice to their right in availing of the other educational assistance 
given by the government such as the “Study Now, Pay Later Plan under 
Republic Act No. 6728; Provided, that the school may claim the cost as tax 
credit L 
SEC. 5. Limitation. - The right of any underprivileged college student to avail 
himself of the discounts under this Act shall not apply: 
(a) 
if he fails for one (1) school year in the majority of the academic subjects 
in which he has enrolled during the course of his study unless such failure 
is due to some valid cause beyond his control; 


(b) 
if he fails to finish his course within two (2) years after the year within 
which he should have graduated; 
if he stops schooling for one (1) school year unless such is due to some 
valid cause beyond his control; and 
if he is convicted of any crime. 
(c) 
(d) 
SEC. 6. Oflce for Underprivileged College Students. - The Secretary and the 
Chairman shall establish an Office for the Underprivileged College Students in the 
Commission on Higher Education. The hnctions of this office are: 
to plan, implement, monitor yearly programs, evaluate and submit annual 
reports in pursuance of the objectives of this Act; 
to conduct investigation, receive documentary proof and identi@ who are 
the eligible underprivileged college students based on the provisions in 
this Act; 
to maintain and regularly update on a quarterly basis, the list of 
underprivileged college students who are eligible to avail of the discounts; 
to issue certificates which shall be valid anywhere in the country as proof 
of the eligibility of the underprivileged college student to avail of the 
discounts; 
to cancel the certificates issued for those covered under Section 5; 
to provide information with the affected establishments under Section 4 
for any questions regarding the eligibility of any underprivileged college 
students claiming the discounts; and 
to perform such other fbnctions as may be determined by the Chairman 
and the Secretary in the implementation of this Act. 
(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
(d) 
(e) 
(0 
(g) 
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary and the Chairman, 
in coordination with the National Economic Development Authority, the Department of 
Health, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, the Department of Trade 


and Industry, Department of Budget and Management, and such other agencies 
concerned with the establishments which may be affected by this Act, shall issue the 
necessary rules and regulations to carry out the objectives of this Act. 
SEC. 8. Penalties. - The first violation of any provision of this Act shall cause 
the suspension of the license to operate or the business permit of the establishment or 
person concerned for not less than one (1) week nor more than four (4) weeks. 
Subsequent violations of any provision of this Act for which no penalty is 
specifically provided under any other law, shall be punished by imprisonment not 
exceeding one (1) month or a fine not exceeding Two Thousand Pesos (P2,OOO.OO) or 
both, at the discretion of the court. 
SEC. 9. 
Appropriation. - The national government shall appropriate such 
amounts as may be necessary to carry out the provisions and objectives of this Act. 
SEC. 10. Separability CZause. - If any provision, or part thereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
SEC. 11. Repealing CZause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instiuction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or 
inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
SEC. 12. Eflectivify Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen fays after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
GE/YELLO Wdisk2/sttuden~s.D