THIRTEENTII CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
’04 
AUG 10 P 4  :38 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 11, Section 13, provides: 
Section 13. The State recognizes the role of the youthinnation-building and 
shall promote and prolect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well- 
being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their 
involvement in public and civil affairs. 
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Service to the community is a responsibility of all Filipinos, regardless of their e 
or age. 
solving. 
Serving other builds self-esteem and teaches teamwork, decision-making, 
Students, from kindergarten to college, offer a powerful and largely untapped resource for 
community service. T he government, therefore, should encourage students to engage in productive 
work with visible community benefits in a natural resource or human service setting, in order to give 
them a mix of work experience, basic and life skills education, training, and support services. 
Children who become engaged in community service early will understand better the 
responsibilities of citizenship and often continue to serve the community into adulthood. To this end, 
this bill seeks to establish a program that will expand opportunities for students to serve their 
communities. 


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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
Lritroduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL PROGRAM TO EXPAND OPPORTLJMTIES FOR FILIPINO 
STUDENTS TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES 
Be it enacted by the-Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congvess 
assern bled 
SECTION 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the “Service to the Philippines Act.” 
SECTION 2. Purpose. - The purposes of this Act are - 
(1) to enable the call to service to begin in the earliest grades, to grow i to sustained 
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community action in secondary schools and colleges, and to become a lifelong habit; 
(2) to provide students with sckice opportunities; 
(3) to build on the existing organizational framework provided by educational agencies, 
schools, institutions of higher education, and community agencies; 
(4) to promote the expansion of summer of this title - 
SECTION 3. DeJinition. -For purposes of this Title - 
(1) The term “community-based agency” means a private nonprofit organization that is 
representative of a community or a significant segment of a community and that is engaged in meeting 
human, social, educational ,or environmental community needs. 
(2) The term “education institution” means elementary or secondary school, institution of 
higher education, or a community-based agency that provides educational services. 
(3) The term “appropriate government agency” means a public agency that is engaged in 
meeting human, social, educational, or environmental needs. 
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(4) The term “participant” means a student or out-of-school youth who provides services 
pursuant to a program provided in this Act. 


(5) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Education. 
(6) The term “service opportunity” means a program or project enabling students to perform 
meaningful and constructive service in agencies, institutions, and situations where the application of 
human talent and dedication may help to meet, human, social, educational, ’ and enviroimental 
community needs, especially those relating to poverty. 
(7) The term “student” means an individual who is enrolled full-time or part-time in an 
elementary or secondary school or institution of higher education. 
SECTION 4. 
School and Campus Based Community Service. - The Secretary shall, in 
coordination with the Commission on Higher Education, National Youth Commission, Department of 
Social Welfare and Development and other appropriate government agencies and c ommunity-based 
agencies, establish a national program that will provide opportunities for students work with visible 
community. Such comprehensive program shall provide productive work with visible community 
benefits in a natural resource or human service setting and give participants a mix of work experience 
basic and life skills education, training and support services. 
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SECTION 5. Incorporation in the Curriculum. - Such program shall be incorpo ated into the 
curriculum as a separate subject and shall require students, before they are allowed to 
aduate from 
elementary, high school or college, as the case may be, to render community service by participating in 
the program. 
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SECTION 6. Program Components. -The Secretary, in carrying out the program, shall: 
(1) encourage cooperative efCorts among education institutions, local government agencies, 
community-based agencies, business to provide service opportunities, including those that involve the 
participation of urban, suburban, and rural youth working together. 
(2) ensure that economically and educationally disadvantaged students are offered service 
opportunities; 
(3) describe the goals of the program, including goals that are quantifiable, measurable, and 
show benefits to the participants and the community; 
(4) formulate programs that - 
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(a) provide an age-appropriate learning component for participants to refl ct on service 
experiences; 
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(b) give pre-service and in-service training for both supervisors and Participants 
involving representatives of the community where service-opportunities will be provided; and 
(c) provide evidence that participants will make a sustained commitment to the service 
project. 
(5) involve individuals of different ages, sexes, ethnic groups, and economic backgrounds 
serving together. 
SECTION 7. Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary shall formulate the necessary rules and 
regulations in carrying out the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 8. Appropriation. - The national government shall appropriate such amounts as 
may be necessaty to carry out the provisions and objectives of this Act. 
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SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid 
and subsisting. 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, ex cutive order, 
letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsis ent,'with the 
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
FN: 1422 Ifd