THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
5 
NOV 16 p:"2 
SECOND REGULAR SESSION 
) 
" I  
SENATE 
S.B. No. 
2lC9 - 
Introduced by SENATOR ALFRED0 S. LIM 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Every year, highschool graduates join the mass of the ever 
growing out-of-school youth who find themselves unable to 
pursue higher studies. 
Unable not because they have no 
aspiration for a brighter tomorrow but because, hardship in life, 
penury and abject poverty had been driving them away Prom 
setting foot in institutions of higher learning. 
Rizal's vision that youth is the hope of the fatherland 
continues to be an empty saying unless the States starts to 
seriously adopt a viable program on free college education that 
can assure our deserving and qualified youth to pursue college 
education. 
Hence, the bill seeks to address the perennial problem of 
high school graduates who find themselves deprived of that 
opportunity to get a college education. 
Free college education on courses leading to degrees in 
engineering, 
agriculture, 
veterinary 
medicine, 
education, 
computer, nursing or mass communication must be made 
available to all the deserving students in the fourteen (14) 
regions of the country. 


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To carry out the program, the Office of the Regional Subsidized 
College Education Program (ORSCEP) under the Department of 
Education Culture and Sports headed by the Undersecretary is 
created. 
Although the program involves providing higher education, 
however, itiis made an adjunct of the DECS rather than of the CHED 
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because, tGe former has complete facilities, resources and manpower 
in all the) fourteen (14) regions to assist in the successful 
implementation of the program, unlike the latter whose primary 
objective is to acciedit and exercise continuing supervision on 
institutions 'engaged in collegiate education and does not have offices 
in all the 14 regions. 
The drogram is envisioned to answer for the tuition, books and 
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other expenses covering the cost of education of deserving students. 
Students will be assured of constant financial assistance in 
form of sudsistence, transportation and clothing allowances, because 
it is not edough that they are provided with financial help for their 
studies but they likewise need assistance for their sustenance and 
other basic jneeds including the medical assistance. 
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Upon( graduation, the fortunate recipients must remain in the 
country a n i  work here for even half a decade before venturing for 
better wori opportunities in other lands. Undeniably, there is an 
increasing  brain drain today because of growing discontent ' and 
dissatisfaction for many reasons. With an assured crop of college 
graduates $rider the program, we can provide suitable -replacements 
to fill in the void. 
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5 
I~UV '1 6 
1' 3 :: 2 
THIRTEI~NTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBL~C OF THE PHILIPPINES) 
SECON~ REGULAR SESSION) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 
2161 
! 
Introduced by SENATOR ALFRED0 S. LIN 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR FREE COLLEGE EDUCATION 
O~HERWISE KNOWN AS THE "REGIONAL SUBSIDIZED 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
COLL E GE EDUCATION PROGRAM OF 2005 AND PROVIDING 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representative 
of the PLilippines in Congress assembled: 
SkCTION I. 
Declaration of Policies. - (a) It is the policy of the 
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State td promote a just and dynamic social order that will free the 
people kern poverty through policies that provide adequate social 
services, a rising standard of living and an improved quality life for all 
(Sec. .lo, Art. 11, Constitution) 
IS the policy of the State io give priority to education, 
science and technology, arts, culture and sports to foster patriotism, 
nationa ism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human 
liberation and development. (Sec. 17, Art. II) 
(c} It is the policy of the State to provide subsidized education 
to the poor and financially handicapped high school graduates or 
those dho had finished their secondary courses but are unable to 
studie5had to stop for the same reason. 
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education or those who had commenced college 


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SkCTION 2. Regional Subsidized College Education Pmgmm. 
- Therd is hereby established a Regional Subsidized College 
Education Program (RSCEP) in each of the fourteen (14) regions in 
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try which shall comprise the following: 
Free tuition and all school expenses in any four (4) year 
course leading to degrees in engineering, agriculture, 
medicine, education, computer, nursing or mass 
provision for books, subsistence, clothing and 
for medical or hospitalization 
expenses. 
SkCTION 3. Ofice of fhe Regional Subsidized College 
Educafi n Program. - There is hereby created the Office of the 
Region ," I Subsidized College Education Program (ORSCEP) under 
the De artment of Education Culture and Sports which shall be 
headed by the Undersecretary for Regional Subsidized College 
Education with the same qualification, rang and emolument of an 
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undersdcretary of education who shall be appointed by the President 
to serd for a term not exceeding six (6) years who shall have the 
following powers and duties: 
(ai To formulate, administer, manage and implement the 
subsidided college program envisioned in this Act with the end in view 
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free college education to poor students; 
determine and designate private colleges or universities 
region which may qualify to participate in the program as well 
umber of student beneficiaries who may be enrolled in such 


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(c) To prepare and submit the budgetary requirements under 
the prdgram based on the preceding fiscal year with upward 
upon the initial implementation of the program, the budget shall be 
based dn the amount allocated herein; 
(d\ To tap, deputize and enlist the services of the regular 
personde1 of the DECS in every region as may be necessary to 
implem Q nt the program and enforce such rules and regulations as the 
head of he ORSCEP may dptermine; 
(d I To submit monthly operational reports to the Secretary of 
Educatih and the Oversight Committee of Congress on the 
perform LI nce of the beneficiaries, their expenses and matters as may 
aid in adcertaining the effectivity and viability of the program; 
(e To appoint additional personnel as shall be necessary to 
effectiv d ly carry out the objectives of the program in all the regions; 
provided, however, that they are civil service eligibles and with 
adjustm 13 nt not exceeding ten (10%) percent; provided, however, 
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educational background or training in accounting. 
promulgate such rules and regulations to implement the 
SECTION 4. Program Management and Sectors Involved. 
The plogram shall be managed and administered by the 
Undersecretary for Regional Subsidized College Education and shall 
involve b rivate colleges and universities in every region as are duly 
accreditLd under the program: 
(ai Any private college and university submitting the lowest bid 
on the cost to be incurred for a four (4) year course covered by the 
prograd shall be accredited; 
(b 1 Upon accreditation, the school shall allocate 20% of its total 
enrollment for each year for admission of qualified student 
benefic/? r ies; 
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(c) Students may be qualified as beneficiaries provided they 
have passed the admission test; they or their parents do not own any 
real property; they and their parents do not have a combined total 
gross inhome of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,OOO.OO) per 
annum; and, they shall undertake not to leave the country within five 
(5) years after graduation or passing the government examination, 
whichever is later. 
(d) The regional office shall, upon admission of the beneficiary 
students, compute and determine the school fees, costs of textbooks, 
allowances, transportation and other expenses which must be 
submitted to the central office and upon approval distribute or 
disburse them when due; provided that allowances and transportation 
shall be disbursed at monthly intervals. 
SECTION 5. Funding and Appropriation- The amount of Three 
Billion Pesos (P 3,000,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated to carry 
out the purposes of this act to be taken from funds not otherwise 
appropriated but included in the proposed 2005 annual appropriation 
Act. 


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SECTION 6. Effectivity- This Act shall take effect upon its 
approval. 
Approved