Republic of the Philippines 5
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 0.5-AUG 2014

Quezon City \ ! RPK
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS X& i

Second Regular Session

4816

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Education constitutes an extremely significant factor in a country’s development. It
serves as the backbone of all industrialized and industrializing economies in the world
today.

‘The 1987 Constitution made sure that education would be given the foremost priority of
the government by providing under Article XIV, Section 1 that "The State shall protect
and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take
appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.”

Moreover, it stipulates that the State should establish and maintain a system of
scholarship grants, student loan programs, subsidies, and other incentives, which shall
be available to deserving students in both public and private schools, especially to the
underprivileged.

Considering the high cost of education in the private educational institutions and the
decreasing subsidies in the State Universities and Colleges, large number of Filipino
youth suffers the anxiety and uncertainty of not finishing their education. Should the
State continue to neglect its duty to provide adequate support to poor but deserving
students, the country may face not only an intellectual but moral hemorrhage in the
future.

‘Thus, this measure seeks to require private academic institutions, schools, colleges and
universities to allot free scholarships to poor but deserving students as a condition for
any grant of increase in tuition or other school fees. This proposal sets a mechanism and
support system for the poor but deserving students so that they would be able to finish
their education and provide the country the needed intellectuals for national
development, growth and prosperity.

‘The bill was patterned after Presidential Decree 451 and which scholarship program
was repealed in the late 80s.

Early cognizance of this bill is earnestly sought.

Rikon
ANGELINA “HELEN” D.L. TAN, M.D.
4! District, Quezon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

4816

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: Hon. Angelina “Helen” D.L. Tan, M.D.

AN ACT
REQUIRING THE EXPANSION OF SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM BY PRIVATE
ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES AND SCHOOLS AS A
CONDITION FOR THE INCREASE IN TUITION FEE AND OTHER SCHOOL FEES
APPLICATION,

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

SECTION 1. It is hereby made a condition for any grant of increase in tuition or other
school fees applied for by private academic institutions, schools, colleges and
universities with a total enrolment of at least two hundred (200) students or pupils to
allot free scholarships to poor but deserving students at the ratio of one (1) free
scholarship for every one hundred (100) students or pupils: Provided, That this
requirement shall be exclusive of the present practice of private schools offering
scholarship privileges to valedictorians, salutatorians and other students or pupils who
have achieved scholastic distinctions. Neither shall other forms of scholarships such as
those offered to athletes and working students be included in arriving at the proper
number of poor but deserving students or pupils to be given free scholarships.

SEC. 2. The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher
Education (CHED) shall jointly prepare, formulate and issue the necessary
implementing rules and regulations that would define the program, the students
or pupils who will qualify for free scholarships, the process and similar other
provisions. In the formulation of the rules and regulations, private sector
representatives, owners of schools, colleges, universities and private institutions and
concerned sectors shall be consulted by the DepEd and CHED.

SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in two
(2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette.

Approved,