RECEIVED &
Republic of the Philippines 07 GUL 2013

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

iE

Quezon City
ry
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS oY
First Regular Session ‘

House Bill No. 291

Introduced by Rep. Eulogio “Amang” R. Magsaysay

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Unquestionably, public school 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.

EULOGIO “AMANG” R. MAGSAYSAY


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

House of Representatives

House Bill No. 291

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 2013”.

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,

al subdivisions; but

colleges and universities operated by the Government or its poli
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 65. Eligi
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. Eligibility 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

ity of public school educators to avail of grant. — Public school

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 shalll 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 — Alll 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,