Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1380

Introduced by Rep. Eulogio “Amang” R. Magsaysay

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Unquestionably, public schoo! educators are indispensable instruments of
the country’s public education system as it caters to the bulk of Filipino students
whose aspiration of getting at least a basic education has been clinging on the
government's support for its realization.

Section 5 (5), Article XIV the 1987 Constitution provides that: “The State
shall assign the highest budgetary priority to education and ensure that teaching
will attract and retain its rightful share of the best available talents through
adequate remuneration and other means of job satisfaction and fulfillment’.

Section 1 of Republic Act No. 4670, otherwise known as the “Magna Carta
for Public School Teachers Act” declares as a policy, “to promote and improve
the social and economic status of public school teachers, their living and working
conditions, their terms of employment and career prospects in order that they
may compare favorably with existing opportunities in other walks of life, attract
and retain in the teaching profession more people with the proper qualifications, it
being recognized that advance in education depends on the qualifications and
ability of the teaching staff and that education is an essential factor in the
economic growth of the nation as a productive investment of vital importance”.
Pursuant to such policy, the Magna Carta provides the public school teachers
with the benefits and privileges concerning recruitment and career; hours of work
and remuneration; health measures and injury benefits; leave and retirement
benefits; and teacher's organization. Ironically, the Magna Carta does not include
certain privileges that the public school educators must rightfully enjoy --- the
educational benefits.

Providing our public school educators with such educational benefits has
long been overdue, on the light of the aforementioned constitutional and statutory
provisions, and given the overwhelming importance of the role of public school
educators in educating our youth.

Hence, this bill seeks to grant them additional benefits through the
institutionalization of scholarship grants for public school educators, extending
the same to their children. This, indeed, is a genuine measure of improving the
social and economic well-being of public school educators, as they are practically
burdened not only by their personal needs, but also by the needs of their family
members. More than its economic considerations, the enjoyment of these
educational benefits by our public educators can significantly influence the
making of high-esteemed and highly motivated teaching force in government
schools.

In view thereof, early approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

On, /
Etw/
EULOGIO “AMANG” R. MAGSAYSAY


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE).
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —_)
First Regular Session )

House of Representatives

13890
House Bill No.__+°

Introduced by Rep. Eulogio “Amang” R. Magsaysay

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS TO PUBLIC
SCHOOL EDUCATORS AND THEIR CHILDREN AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Scholarship
Grants to Public School Educators and Their Children Act of 2010"

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It shall be the policy of the State to
give highest budgetary priority to education and ensure that the teaching
profession will attract and retain its rightful share of the best available talents
through the adequate remuneration and other means of job satisfaction and
fulfillment. Pursuant to this policy, educational benefits in form of institutionalized
scholarship grants are herein provided to public school educators, extending the
same benefits to their children.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - The following terms shall mean:

1. “Public School Educators” - refers to all persons engaged in classroom
teaching, in any level of instruction, on full-time basis, including
guidance counselors, school librarians, industrial arts or vocational
instructors, school heads, supervisors and all other persons performing
supervisory and/or administrative functions in all schools, colleges and
universities operated by the Government or its political subdivisions:
but shall not include school nurses, school physicians, school dentists,

and other school employees.


2. “Children of Public School Educators” — refers to one or more
legitimate children of a public school educator, natural or adopted,
living with or dependent upon the educators for chief support where
such children are, unmarried and not gainfully employed, or where
such children, or children with special needs regardless of age are
incapable of self-support because of physical defect and other
analogous circumstances.

SECTION 4. Educational Benefits. - In addition to all other benefits to
which they are entitled under existing laws, rules and regulations, eligible public
school educators, including their eligible children, are herein provided with
educational privileges in form of scholarship grants. The scholarship grants shall
be institutionalized in the tertiary level of education, covering both the collegiate
or undergraduate courses, and the post-graduate programs, free of any charge

including but not limited to tuition and matriculation fees.

SECTION 5. Eligil

lity of public school educators to avail of grant. —
Public school educators who are in active service shall be eligible to avail of the
scholarship grants to enroll in any masteral or post graduate course. Provided,
that the public school educator shall have been in active duty for at least two (3)
consecutive years immediately prior to the date of application for the grant.

SECTION 5. Eligi

ity of children of public school educators to avail
of grant. — Only legitimate children of eligible public school educators, not
exceeding three (3), shall be eligible to avail of the scholarship grant.

Retired public school educators may avail of the scholarship grant for their
children. However, their children shall be entitled only to a proportional amount of
scholarship grant.

SECTION 6. Schools where scholarship grant applicable. - The
scholarship grant shall be applicable in all state colleges and universities or state
vocational or technical schools throughout the country.

The eligible public school educators, and their eligible children shall be
qualified to avail of the scholarship grant only upon meeting and passing the

requirements set by the respective schools.


Scholarship grants for the eligible children shall entitle them to pursue any
collegiate course, bachelor's degree preferably in the field of education, science
and technology courses, vocational, or technical course, in schools where they
qualify for admission. Provided, that their continuous enjoyment of the
educational benefits herein provided is subject to the condition that they meet the
standards of academic proficiency to be set by the Department of Education
(DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

SECTION 7. Forfeiture of Grant. - Public school educators who have
been charged and proven to have committed acts of professional misconduct
shall forfeit their eligibility to avail of the grant. They shall also forfeit the-eligibility
to avail of the grant for their children.

SECTION 8. Implementation. - The Department of Education (DepEd),
the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education’and
Skills Development Authority (TESDA) shall be the implementing agencies for
this Act. The above agencies shall formulate the necessary guidelines to carry
out the provisions of this Act

SECTION 9. Separability Clause — If any provision in this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other
provisions hereof.

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause — All laws, rules and regulations or part
or parts thereof inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby repealed,
modified, superseded or amended accordingly.

SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national

newspapers of general circulation, whichever comes earlier.

Approved,