FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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First Regular Session 
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-3 P 6 2 2  
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Introduced bv SENATOR EDGARDO J. ANGARA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Thousands of Filipino students have acquired advanced degrees and 
specialized trainings in foreign countries through various scholarships grants 
either of local or foreign funding. While these local and overseas scholarship 
programs have produced a sizeable number of high-level professionals for the 
country, these programs have also resulted in a significant brain drain for 
our country. Moreover, some of the returning scholars have not found the 
opportunity for the maximum utilization of newly acquired knowledge and 
training. As a result, many of them leave the country in search of greener 
pastures abroad. 
It is imperative that the Philippines should devise a program for 
overseas education and training for the brightest and most promising 
Filipinos who are already employed (or self-employed) in a branch of science 
or technology along identified priority areas. Such a program shall affect the 
pooling together of all foreign and local (public or private) sponsorship 
intended for further education, enrichment and training of exceptionally able 
and highly motivated and employed Filipinos. 
The proposed legislation endeavors to provide the Philippines a 
continuing supply of highly trained leaders for industry, research and 
academe. Under the bill, the maximum utilization of returning talents will be 
coordinated under a single governing body where all scholarships under 
foreign and local sponsorship are pooled together. 
Approval of the bill is, thus earnestly requested. 
EDGARDO J. ANGARA 
Senator 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 1 7 
j l j ~  -3 P6:22 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
SENATE 
S. B. No. 907 
Iiitroduccd by SENATOR EDGARDO J. ANGARA 
AN ACT CREATING AN ADVANCED STUDIES DEVELOPMENT 
PROGRAM FOR EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYEES FROM THE 
GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This bill shall be known as “The 
Pensionado Act of 2007.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of 
Policies. - Human resources 
development is essential for economic development and progress. In the 
pursuit of economic development and progress, the state shall give priority to 
the creation of a critical mass of elite professionals who shall take the lead in 
harnessing science, technology and related disciplines towards accelerating 
the productivity of the country’s human resources. 
Consonant with this trust, it is hereby declared a policy of the state to 
devise a program for exceptionally able and highly motivated employees, 
preferably age 30-40, from the government, the private sector andlor the self- 
employed to undertake advanced studies in a branch of science, technology or 
related fields of learning on which depends the development and progress of 
the country. As such, it shall provide for fellowships to enable them to pursue 
advanced studies or research in their field of expertise. 
The state shall develop a critical mass of first-rate specialist in various 
disciplines and areas of specializations vital to national development to form 
a collective national “think t a n k  who shall place continuously their 
knowledge and skills at the service of the nation, be it in industry, the 
academe or the highest policy-makibg levels of government, with the 
government taking the lead in harnessing their knowledge and skills for the 
greatest good of the country. 
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SEC 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following 
terms are hereunder define accordingly: 
(a) “Post-graduate’’ - a formal degree course program of training 
/research requiring at least a Master’s Degree for entry; a student 
pursuing such program; 
(b) “Advanced studies” - a post-graduate problem-oriented program 
of studies and/or research, not necessariry leading to a degree, 
undertaken for further specialization or advanced knowledge in a 
specific field of a study, or to acquire specialized knowledge and/or 
skills in a particular area of science or technology; 
(c) “Pensionado” - a Filipino citizen selected and supported by the 
Philippines government under this program to undertake 
advanced studies in selected institutions of higher learning or 
recognized research centers, in fields relevant to the officially- 
declared priority areas for development. 
SECTION 4. Establishment of a Program. - There shall be 
established under the Commission on Higher Education, hereafter referred to 
as CHED, in coordination with the non-government organizations (NGOs), 
the private sector and other government agencies, namely, the National 
Economic and Development authority (NEDA), the Department of Trade and 
Industry (DTI), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the 
Department of Education (DepED), fellowship program to be called as the 
“Pensionado Program” for Filipinos employed in the government and the 
private sectors and those who are self-employed. 
The Program shall pool together all fellowships, scholarships, training 
grants sponsored or extended by foreign government, agencies and other 
bodies, as well as by local agencies and organizations, whether public or 
private, intended for advanced studies in international centers of advanced 
learning, scholarship and research. 
SECTION 5. Establishment of a National Secretariat; Functions 
and Composition - .There shall be established a National Secretariat, 
hereafter referred to as the Secretariat, with the following functions: 
(1) To identify, and assists in negotiations with, sponsors (foreign and 
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local, public and private) of fellowships, scholarships and grants; 
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(2) To provide assistance to the selection Panel in accomplishing its 
work; 
(3) To provide the Pensionados continuing assistance from the time of 
selection thru the time of their return to the country, including 
assistance for the productive utilization of their newly-gained 
expertise; 
(4)To serve as the administrative arm of the government for the 
program; 
(5) In general, to promulgate and implement the policies and 
guidelines governing the Program. 
The National Secretariat shall be headed by an Executive Officer, with 
the rank of Assistant secretary, to be appointed by the President of the 
Republic of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the CHED. Members 
of the Secretariat shall consist of representatives from the National Economic 
and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Trade and Industry 
(DTI), Department of Science and technology (DOST) and the Commission on 
Higher Education (CHED). These representatives shall be seconded to the 
Secretariat for a period o f  one year, subject to renewal every year. Service 
rendered thereafter shall be considered as service in their prospective 
agencies and shall be considered as part of their performance for promotions 
purposes. 
SECTION 6. Number of Pensionados and Length of Grant. - 
There shall be selected twenty-four (24) fellows annually - three (3) fellows 
for each priority disciplinehndustry field of the eight (8) vital disciplines or 
areas of specializations identified by the CHED in consultation with the 
NEDA as frontiers or new areas essential for pushing the economic and social 
development thrusts of the country. The scholarship shall be for one year 
only. 
SECTION 7. Selection Process. - There shall be a Selection Panel 
under the Secretariat consisting of three (3) university presidents and two (2) 
eminent members from the academe to be appointed by the CHED. They 
shall serve on a staggered basis for the purposes of continuity and 
consistency, each for a term of three (3) years. The Selection Panel shall 
make the final selection of the Pensionados from among the nominees from 
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the academe, industry and research centers. The integrity and objectives of 
the program are paramount considerations for the panel in making the 
selection. 
SECTION 8. Qualifications. __ In order to qualify for the Fellowship 
Program, the applicant must be: 
(a) A Filipino citizen; 
(b) Gainfully employed; 
(c) A college degree graduate, with honors; 
(d) With demonstrated leadership and proven exceptional performance 
in hidher present work; 
(e) Enthusiastic in undergoing further training; 
(0 Willing to sign a contract requiring himlher to return to hidher job 
or in another capacity after one year of training. 
SECTION 9. Place of Study - The Pensionados shall be sent to a 
foreign country well-known for its advanced stage in particular discipline or 
area of specialization. Training and education may be an academic 
institution, research and development center (R&D) or a major industrial 
establishment with an R&D program. It may or may not lead to an advanced 
academic degree. 
SECTION 10. Assistance to Grantees - The Pensionado is entitled to 
the following benefits: 
(a) One year leave with pay, including allowances and other benefits; 
(b) One economy round -trip air fare to and from the host country plus 
other travel expenses required for foreign travel; 
(c) Clothing allowance to be determined by the Secretariat; 
(d) Monthly stipend while on study abroad, of such amount to be 
determined by the Secretariat; 
(e) Books/instructional MateriaMResearch allowance of such amount 
to be determined by the Secretariat; 
(f) Health, Travel and Insurance fees of such amount to be determined 
by the Secretariat. 
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SEC 11. Program Funding. - The cost of each fellowship grant shall 
be shared by the Pensionado’s employer and the National Government. The 
employer pays the salary, allowances and other benefits due the Fellow as 
employed during one year period of advanced studies overseas while the 
National Government, thru the program, shall be responsible for items No. b, 
c, d, e, and f as enumerated in Section 10 
The National Government may also negotiate bilateral arrangements 
with hosts governments, host universities, research institutions and 
corporations to enable our scholars to stay abroad and continue their studies 
or training at a minimal cost to the National Government. A sharing program 
can be established where the host government, host-universities, research 
institutions and corporations can pick up part of the expenses o f  the scholars 
while he is abroad. 
SECTION 12. Service Obligation - Immediately upon completion of 
the studies or training, a fellow shall be required to return to his job or in 
another capacity approved by the Secretariat and serve on a full-time basis 
for a minimum period equivalent to twice the period covered by the 
fellowship grant. In addition, the scholar shall be required to hold seminars 
or training sessions for employees from the government and the private 
sectors on topics related to the course or training he has completed. Any 
recipient of the program who has not completed his course shall reimburse 
the Fellowship the grant received or render service to the sponsoring agency 
or company for a period equivalent to the period covered by the fellowship 
grant. Any Pensionado who violates the service obligation imposed under this 
section shall reimburse the sponsoring agency or company and the National 
Government of the Fund assistance received under this act in full or in part 
as the case may be. 
SECTION 13. Mechanism for Utilization of Returned Fellows - 
There shall be established and developed a National Network of Specialized 
Institutes for Advanced studies in universities selected by CHED in 
consultation with the DOST and other appropriate agencies to be determined 
by the Secretariat to provide returned scholars an office, laboratory, library 
and conference facilities for their continuing activities. The Institute shall 
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also serve as a place for an Exchange Program and Collaborative research 
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among local and international scientist and scholars in priority areas of 
research and development. 
The National Government may, thru CHED and/or the National 
Secretariat, negotiate bilateral agreements with foreign government, 
universities, research institutions and corporations, public and private, to 
effect exchange of scholars and scientists for collaborative advanced studies, 
as well as to equip the Institute for purposes of benefit to the cause of 
scholarly or scientific advancement and national development. 
A sharing program may be established whereby the host government I 
university I institution I corporation can pick up part of the expenses of the 
Fellow in pursuit of hidher Fellowship. 
SECTION 14. Appropriations - The amount necessary to carry out 
the initial implementation of this Act shall be drawn from the savings of the 
National Government. Thereafter, the funds necessary for the continuous 
implementation of the program shall be included in the General 
Appropriations Act. The Program shall receive 2% from the share of the 
DOST and 1% from the share of the Philippine Youth Commission in the 
Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) proceeds. 
SECTION 15. Transfer of other fellowship, scholarship and 
training grants - All foreign and 1oca.lly sponsored fellowship, scholarship 
and training grants will be transferred to the program for coordination. With 
respect to government employees who may be affected by the transfer, the 
pertinent rules and regulations of the Civil Service commission (CSC) shall 
apply. 
SECTION 16. Rules and Regulations - Within ninety (90) days from 
the approval of this Act, the Secretariat shall promulgate the necessary rules 
and regulations for the effective implementation of the provisions thereof. 
SECTION 17. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, orders, rules 
and regulations, or portions thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 18. Separability Clause - In the event any of the 
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provisions of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the validity of the other 
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provisions shall not be affected by such declaration. 
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newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approued, 
SECTION 19. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two(2) national 
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