SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
637 
S.No. __ _ 
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Introduced by Sen. Antonio "Sonny" F. Tdllanes IV 
Explanatory Note 
Quality education is a fundamental right to which the nation's citizenry is entitled to, as provided 
in the fundamental law, thus: 
"EDUCATION" 
"Section 1. 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 a1L,,1 
It is also a fundamental requirement to develop productive and functional members of society. 
The ideals of social justice, economic prosperity and sustain peace, order, freedom and equality 
in our country could never be attained so long as majority of the popUlation, the poor in 
particular, remain benighted under the darkness of ignorance. 
To level the playing field between the haves and the have-nots, democratizing access to quality 
education to all Filipinos must be made a national policy. Opportunities to pursue higher 
education and relevant training in fields of study vital to the national economy, including the 
nation's collective national psyche, must be provided to every citizen who wish to avail thereof. 
It is a known fact thllt countless capable and deserviug students are prevented from pursuing 
higher studies due to their dire financial conditions. The government is trying tp address this 
problem. But with the limited scope and coverage of existing state scholarship programs 
available to students, the results are far from encouraging. Strengthening the Commission on 
Higher Education'S educational assistance program, better known as the Comprehensive Student 
Loan Program", with substantial funding is perceived to.be the key solution that would provide 
headway and revitalize the program. An enhanced assistance program that shall increase the 
prospects of poor but deserving students of acquiring quality education and training needed to 
uplift not only their own lot but that of their family and communities as well. 
This bill is intended to fulfill the commitment and resolve of the State, as enshrined in the 
Constitution, to pursue the democratization of educational opportunities for every deserving 
citizen and promote social and economic development for every Filipino family. 
In view of the foregoing considerations, passage ofthis bill is e 
estlyencou aged. 
Senator 
1 I Article XIV, Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
t$41l-:r t)f Ut* ,j!fW'r~llr,~ 
0' 
'13 JUL -8 P5 :09 
SENATE 
S. No. 
637 
IW:-f-
Introduced by Sen. Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE STUDENT LOAN PROGRAM AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Comprehensive Student Loan 
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Program of2013 ". 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to promote and ensure quality 
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education for all Filipino citizens. Towards this end, the State shall provide mechanisms to 
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facilitate access to higher education to all deserving Filipinos, recognizing on the process the 
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government's responsibility to put education as a priority over among its many programs. 
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SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
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1) "Scholar" refers to a qualified beneficiary who draws from the Student Loan Fund to support 
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his tertiary education; 
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2) "Fund" refers to the special fund which shall be used to finance the Comprehensive Student 
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Loan Pro gram; 
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3) "Authority" refers to the Educational Loan Fund Authority which is authorized by this Act to 
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develop and implement the Comprehensive Student Loan Program; 
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4) "Board" refers to the Educational Loan Fund Board which is the governing body through 
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which the Authority exercises its powers and functions, to implement the provisions of this Act; 
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SEC. 4. Student Loan Fund.- There is hereby created a special fund to be 
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administered by the Educational Loan Fund Authority created under this Act. Said funds shall be 
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sed to finance educational loans to cover matriculation, school fees and other expenses needed 
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for quality education. 
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SEC. 5. Educational Loan Fund Authority.- To carry out the aforementioned policy, 
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there is hereby created an Educational Loan Fund Authority under the Commission On Higher 
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Education (CHED) which shall be organized within sixty (60) days after the approval of this Act. 
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SEC. 6. Powers and Functlons.- The Authority shall have the following powers and 
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functions: 
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a) Establish, develop and implement a comprehensive program for the effective disposition of 
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the Student Loan funds for loans to qualified loan applicants; 
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b) Develop a system of collecting payments of loans granted under this Act; 
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c) Issue rules and regulations necessary for the proper implementation of this Act; ard 
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d) Exercise such other functions and duties as will promote and expand educational opportunities 
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for needy and deserving Filipinos to carry into effect the provision of this Act. 
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SEC. 7. Educational Loan Fund Board.- The powers of the Authority shall be exercised 
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and its functions and duties performed by the Educational Loan Fund Board which shall be 
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composed of the Secretary of Education as ex-officio Chairman, the Chairman of the Commission 
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on Higher Education (CHED) as ex-officio Vice Chairman and the heads of the following 
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govermnent agencies or their representatives as ex-officio members: 
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(a) Government Service Insurance System (GSIS); 
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(b) Social Security System (SSS); 
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(c) National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPe). 
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The President of the Philippines shall appoint six (6) other members of the Board, chosen 
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from nominees ofnon-govermnental organizations involved in education. 
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SEC. 8. Term of Office.- The members of the Board shall hold office until their 
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successors shall have been appointed or qualified. 
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SEC. 9. Meetings.- The Board shall hold regular meetings to be held every first Monday 
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of the month. The Chairman of the Board shall be the presiding officer. In the absence of the 
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Chairman, the vice Chairman of the Board shall automatically take over. Minutes of all meetings 
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shall be recorded and attested to by a simple majority of all regular Board members. 
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At least one meeting per year shall be devoted to a review of the Comprehensive Student 
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Loan Fund's perfonnance in terms of the following: 
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i) 
Total number of current beneficiaries; 
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ii) 
Number of dropouts, voluntary or revoked; 
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iii) 
Average academic performance by year of study; 
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iv) 
Breakdown of scholars by field of study; 
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v) 
Breakdown of scholars by region of origin; 
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vi) 
Breakdown of scholars by place of study; and 
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vii) Breakdown of scholars by size of armual family income and family livelihood. 
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SEC. 10. Quorum.- All meetings shall only be convened with a quorum of simple 
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majority of the regular Board members. All meetings convened without the said quorum shall be 
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deemed null and void. 
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SEC. 11. Executive Director.- There shall be an Executive Director who shall be 
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appointed by the Board and shall have the rank of a bureau director and shall hold office until 
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replaced by the Board. 
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The Executive Director shall have at least seven (7) years experience in school or 
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educational administration and a holder of at least a Master's degree conferred by a reputable 
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educational institution. 
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SEC. 12. Secretariat.- The Board shall create a Secretariat which shall be headed by the 
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Executive Director to carry out the functions of the Board. The Board shall likewise provide for 
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the qualifications and compensation of employees in the Secretariat in accordance with the 
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existing Civil Service rules and regulations. 
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The Secretariat shall exercise the following functions: 
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a) Recommend the approval of educational loan applications by the Board; 
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b) Review, evaluate and assess programs, plans of action and agenda of the Board; 
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c) Review, evaluate and assess the academic standing loan borrowers; 
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d) Recommend the cancellation or revocation of loans; and 
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e) Perform such other powers and functions as may be determined by the Board. 
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SEC. 13. Qualifications of Applicants.- Any Filipino citizen who graduates from a duly 
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recognized high school, and passes the college university entrance examination where he or she 
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intends to enroll on is qualified to avail of the benefits of the Educational Loan Fund. The 
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applicant must not presently be enjoying any scholarship or study grant. 
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SEC. 14. Terms of Loan.- The loan available to a beneficiary of the Student Loan Fund 
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shall be subject to the following terms and conditions: 
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a. Coverage - Loans shall be available only for undergraduate degree courses. This program shall 
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not cover post graduate courses. 
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b. Loan Amount - The maximum annual loan amount shall be equivalent to the prevailing cost 
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per academic unit at the University of the Philippines multiplied by fifty (50) academic units. 
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Said loan shall be payable directly to the concerned school. 
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c. Interest - All loans granted shall have an interest rate of not more than 10 percent but not less 
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than 5 percent as determined by the Board. 
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SEC. 15. Repayments.- The payment for loans shall start five (5)- years after the loan 
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grantee graduates from the course he or she took: Provided, That, payments for educational loans 
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must be paid in five (5) equal annual amortizations from the date the first loan payment becomes 
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due. The heads of the GSIS, the SSS and the POEA are hereby directed to closely coordinate 
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with the Board to detennine the occupational status of borrowers for purposes of loan 
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repayments to the fund. 
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SEC. 16. Implementing Rules and Regulations.- The Department of Education and the 
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Commission on Higher Education shall, within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, 
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issue the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the objectives of this Act. 
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SEC. 17. Appropriation.- There is hereby appropriated the sum of Five Billion Pesos 
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(P5,000,000,000.00) out funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated to be used to 
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finance the Comprehensive Student Loan Program. Ten Million Pesos (PIO,OOO, 000.00) of said 
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appropriation shall be used initially for the operating expenses of the program, the rest shall form 
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part of the Student Loan Funds. 
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Thereafter, the amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be included 
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in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 18. Separability Clause.- If for any reason any provision of this Act is declared 
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unconstitutional or invalid, parts or provisions ofthis Act which are not affected shall continue to 
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be in full force and effyct. 
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SEC. 19. Repealing Clause.-
All laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, 
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implementing rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
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accordingly. 
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SEC. 20. Effectivity Clause.- This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulations. 
Approved, 
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