NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
On average, the Philippines is usually hit by 15 typhoons per year. Aside from 
typhoons, we also experience earthquakes and other disasters. These usually results in 
displacement of Filipinos and a disruption of their lives. 
Further, many families are left without stable sources of income and livelihood during 
major disaster and calamities. And many are forced to prioritize certain expenses for basic 
goods and commodities. Expenses for education usually take a back seat to the detriment of 
children who are forced to stop attending classes. 
This bill seeks to provide some relief to this problem and ease the burden of families 
who have student loans and debts. This bill seeks to impose a moratorium on the payment of 
student loans incurred by qualified students enrolled in higher or technical-vocational 
education programs subject to certain conditions. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested. 
RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
March 20, 2023
6:44 pm
7710


NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A MORATORIUM ON THE PAYMENT OF STUDENT LOANS DURING 
DISASTERS AND OTHER EMERGENCIES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Student Loan Payment Moratorium 
During Disasters and Emergencies Act”. 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect and 
promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and to ensure that such 
education is accessible to all. In line with this declared policy, and in cognizance of the need 
to provide adequate relief and protection to Filipinos in crisis situations, the State shall 
authorize the deferral of student loan collection for a reasonable period during and after the 
onset of disasters and other emergencies. 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. – For the purposes of this Act: 
(a)
Disaster shall refer to the following: (1) a serious disruption of the functioning of a
community or a society involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental 
losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope 
using its own resources; (2) the result of the combination of: (i) the exposure to a hazard, (ii) 
the conditions of vulnerability that are present, and (iii) insufficient capacity or measures to 
reduce or cope with the potential negative consequences; and (3) an event that causes loss 
of life, injury, disease and other negative effects on human, physical, mental and social well-
being, together with damage to property, destruction of assets, loss of services, social and 
economic disruption and environmental degradation; 
(b)
Emergency shall refer to an unforeseen or sudden occurrence, especially danger,
demanding immediate action; 
(c)
Higher Education shall refer to the stage of formal education, or its equivalent,
requiring completion of secondary education and covering programs of study leading to 
bachelor and advanced degrees, including associate degrees; 
(d)
Higher Education Institution (HEI) shall refer to an education institution authorized
and recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to offer bachelor's degrees 
or graduate courses; 
(e)
Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) shall refer to duly accredited public HEIs
established by local government units (LGUs) through an enabling ordinance, financially 
supported by the LGU concerned, and compliant with the policies, standards and guidelines 
of CHED; 
7710


(f) 
Private Higher Education Institutions shall refer to HEIs duly recognized by CHED 
which are owned or operated by private individuals and entities; 
 
(g) State of Calamity shall refer to a condition involving mass casualty and/or major 
damages to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way of life of people 
in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or human-induced hazards; 
 
(h) State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) shall refer to public HEIs established by 
law and are managed by their respective independent and separate governing boards; 
 
(i) 
Student Loan shall refer to a sum of money or other forms of accommodation 
exclusively intended for the payment of all fees, charges, and costs to SUCs, LUCs, private 
HEIs, and public and private technical-vocational institutions (TVIs) extended to students in 
exchange for repayment in the future as evidenced by a loan agreement in writing and duly 
executed for the purpose; 
 
(j) 
Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) shall refer to postsecondary 
education or training process involving general education, the study of technologies and 
related sciences, acquisition of practical skills relating to occupations in various sectors of 
economic and social life, and comprising formal (organized programs as part of the school 
system) and nonformal (organized classes outside the school system) approaches; and 
 
(k) Technical-Vocational Institutions (TVIs) shall refer to learning institutions offering 
TVET programs. 
 
Sec. 4. Coverage. – This Act shall cover students enrolled in SUCs, LUCs, private HEIs, and 
public and private TVIs whose residence is located in barangays, municipalities, cities, 
provinces, or regions under a State of Calamity or State of Emergency as may be declared by 
the President of the Philippines or the local sanggunian concerned, in accordance with 
Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise known as the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and 
Management Act of 2010”; Republic Act No. 11332, otherwise known as the “Mandatory 
Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act”; and other 
relevant laws, rules and regulations. 
 
Sec. 5. Moratorium on Payment of Student Loans. – There shall be a moratorium on the 
payment of all fees, charges, and costs relating to the student loans incurred for Higher 
Education and TVET programs, whetheradministered by the HEIs or TVIs themselves or by 
the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Board, the 
CHED or any other government agency or instrumentality, for the duration of the State of 
Calamity or Emergency as provided in Section 4 of this Act and for thirty (30) days after the 
lifting of such State of Calamity or Emergency: Provided, That the availment of the moratorium 
shall not adversely affect the status of the students concerned with regard to their eligibility for 
re-enrollment on the succeeding semesters or terms, or their eligibility for graduation: 
Provided, further, That no penalties or interests shall be collected on the deferred payments 
made pursuant to this Act: Provided, furthermore, That nothing in this Act shall be construed 
to prevent public or private HEIs or TVIs from implementing more favorable forms of payment 
relief or assistance to their students: Provided, finally, That students shall not be allowed to 
waive the benefit of the moratorium on student loan payments, or to avail of assistance or 
subsidies from the government as provided by law, rules and regulations. 
 
Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations.  – Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of 
this Act, CHED and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority shall, in 
consultation with the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges, the Association 
of Local Colleges and Universities, and the Coordinating Council of Private Educational 
Associations of the Philippines, or their equivalent institutions, and other nongovernment 


stakeholders, promulgate the rules and regulations to effectively implement the provision of 
this Act. 
 
Sec. 7. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or unconstitutional, 
the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise affected shall remain valid and 
subsisting. 
 
Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. – laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
 
Sec. 9. Effectivity. –This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official 
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,