FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
S E N A T E  
S. B. No. 59 
Introduced by Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The accessibility of quality education to all citizens is the main purpose of 
this proposed measure. To concretize this vision, this measure seeks to require 
all colleges and universities to provide scholarship grants to poor but deserving 
students. 
Article XIV, Section 1 of the Constitution provides that “xxx The State shall 
protect and promote that right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and 
shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all”. 
In order to enforce this clear mandate of the Constitution, all colleges and 
universities shall be required under this measure to give their full support in the 
implementation of an effective scholarship program geared towards the holistic 
education and training of poor but deserving students and to provide them the 
necessary support mechanism to finish their education. 
This measure ajms to empower and educate the poor Filipino students by 
giving them the avenue to finish their college education and thereafter pursue 
productive careers. When we educate the poor and provide them with the 
educational support mechanisms to finish their studies, we proactively contribute 
to the welfare and well-being of this nation. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnest1 sought. 
A 
/fd 
MANUEL “LITO” M. LAPID 
Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
First Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
S E N A T E  
S.B.No. 59 
Introduced by Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING 
ALL 
COLLEGES 
AND 
UNIVERSITIES 
TO 
PROVIDE 
SCHOLARSHIP 
GRANTS TO 
POOR 
BUT 
DESERVING STUDENTS 
REPRESENTING AT LEAST FIVE PERCENT (5%) OF THE TOTAL STUDENT 
POPULATION, 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 for 
the Poor Act of 2007” 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy.-It 
is the policy of the State to give priority to 
education, protect and promote the rights of all citizens to quality education at all 
levels and it shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to 
all. Towards. this end, there shall be provided scholarship grants to poor but 
deserving Filipino students in all colleges and universities. 
Sec. 3. Nature and Extent of Scholarship Grants.-Scholarship grants are 
hereby granted in the form of free tuition fee to at least five percent (5%) of the 
student population in all colleges and universities which grants shall be available 
to poor but deserving students. 
Sec. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).-The Secretary of the 
Department of Education shall issue the necessary implementing rules and 
regulations for the speedy and effective implementation of this scholarship 
program. 
Sec. 5. Repealing Clause.-All 
laws, presidential decrees, executive 
orders, proclamations, rules and regulations, or parts thereof which are 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
Sec. 6, Separability Clause.-If 
any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid. 
Sec. 7. Effectivity Clause.-This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
Approved,