Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILLNo.__643

Introduced by:

Hon. Christopher S. Co and Hon. Rodel M, Batocabe

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to institute a Public Administration and Governance Scholarship Program
for the promotion of the development of the country’s future public servants and
government leaders, in order to create a transparent and accountable brand of
leadership in government.

Throughout the political history of the Philippines, there is a continuing public outcry
for good and honest public servants in government, and not only in the elective
positions, but also in appointive and career positions. However, our country’s
educational system and the public perception that government service is for inept,
corrupt and indolent people who could not be gainfully employed in high-paying jobs in
the private sector, discourages young, idealistic students from pursuing the field of
public administration and governance.

‘Through this bill, the State will be able to create an elite pool of young leaders who will
turn around the image and impression on government service as a place where one can
have a viable, successful and fulfilling career. It shall establish a network of young,
dynamic individuals capable of and educated in excellent public administration and
governance, who shall make their mark in civil service as soon as they are qualified to do
so, The scholarship program shall encourage more students into pursuing fields of the
study in the hopes of applying it to a career in public service.

More importantly, we have already established a scholarship program for scientists,
teachers and the like, but we should all the more create such a program for aspiring
public leaders if we want to determine the path towards a transparent and accountable
government trusted and depended on by the Filipino people. If we truly want to make a
Matuwid na Daan, we should make sure that our future leaders, those who will pave the
way, are highly trained, honest, and full of integrity.

‘The bill was filed in the 15" Congress but for lack of time, its progress was halted at the
committeefevel. In light of all these circumstances, the swifapassage of this bill is

CHRISTOPHER S. CO C BATOCABE


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO._G43

Introduced by: Hon. Christopher S. Co and Rodel M. Batocabe

AN ACT
INSTITUTING A PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND GOVERNANCE SCHOLARSHIP
PROGRAM AND OTHER PURPOSES

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

assembled:

Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Public Administration and Governance
Scholarship Act of 2013”.

Section 2, Statement of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote
the development of the country’s future public servants and government leaders, in
order to create a transparent and accountable brand of leadership in government. As
such, it shall provide for scholarships, grants-in-aid, or other forms of incentives to
deserving students and other citizens to enable them to pursue higher education or
training in areas of public administration and governance.

Section 3. General Objectives. - To carry out the foregoing policy, this Act strengthens the
country's public administration and governance manpower by creating a pool of trained
leaders, managers, and technical experts who shall fill the needs of public
administration. Towards this end, scholarships shall be provided to finance the
education of poor, talented and deserving students desiring to pursue a degree or
training in areas of public administration and governance as are recognized or

permitted by law.

Section 4. Public Administration and Governance Scholarship Fund.- ‘There is hereby
created Public Administration and Governance Scholarship Fund, hereinafter known as
the Fund, to be administered by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Section 5.Appropriations.- The amount necessary to carry out the initial
implementation of this Act, shall be charged against the current Fiscal Year
Appropriations of the CHED. In order to provide funds necessary for the continuous
implementation of the program for every year following its initial implementation, the
budget of the CHED shall be increased in the amount of Eighty million pesos (P80M) per
year until it eventually reaches the amount of Five hundred million pesos (P500M) to
sustain the recipients of the scholarship during the duration of their study.


Section 6. Coverage. ~ The grant of any scholarship award from the Fund shall be applied
in any field of study in the undergraduate or postgraduate courses as may be provided
for in the rules and regulations to be promulgated by the CHED: provided, however, that
the scholarship grant for the postgraduate level shall not be limited to those scholars or
recipients who are graduates of the undergraduate scholarship program.

Section 7. Assistance to Grantees. - The grantee of the scholarship program under this
Act is entitled to financial assistance which may include tuition and other school fees,
outright grant for prescribed textbooks and essential school supplies, outright grant for
prescribed military science and physical education uniform, transportation expenses
and monthly living allowance: provided, however, that in the granting of financial
assistance, the availability of funds, purchasing power of the peso and rate of financial
assistance given under other government scholarship programs must be considered.

Section 8. Qualifications. - In order to qualify for the scholarship program, the applicant
must be:

a) a member of the top ten percent (10%) of the high school graduating class, regardless of
gender, religion, and cultural affiliation;

b) a resident of the municipality for the last four (4) years prior to availing of the
scholarship, as attested by the school records; and

¢) of good moral character and in good health.

Section 9. Value Formation Program. - The scholarship program under this Act shall be
supported by appropriate courses for value formation of scholars that will inculcate in
them the virtues of patriotism, probity, integrity, industry, and commitment to national
development and an effective work ethic.

Section 10. Distribution of Scholarship Slots.- ‘The CHED in line with this Act shall
provide for a proportional and equitable allotment of slots for identified fields of study
to attain a balanced distribution of manpower in terms of number and expertise. The
CHED shall organize a program geared towards enlisting at least two (2) scholars in
each municipality of the Philippines and at least ten (10) scholars for those
congressional districts without municipality. Qualified members of the cultural minority
in appropriate cases shall be given due preference.

Section 11. Place of Study in the Country. - The recipient of the scholarship privileges
under this Act shall be required to pursue their degree program and/or the vocational,
technical, or other courses specified under this Act at any academic or training
institutions duly accredited by the CHED and in private schools accredited by Federation
of Accrediting Agencies in the Philippines (FAAP). Refusal or failure to comply with this
provision shall be ground for disqualification from the Program.

Section 12, Place of Study Outside the Home Country. - The scholarship grant provided
herein shall not be limited to studying only in any school in this country but would
include scholars who can be granted the opportunity to study abroad: provided, however,
that a grantee who has qualified for study abroad must execute an undertaking binding
himself to return to the country to fulfill his service obligation on the basis of the length


of his scholarship. The Department of Foreign Affairs is hereby directed to give full
assistance in enforcing such undertaking.

Section 13. Service Obligation. ~ Immediately upon completion of his/her undergraduate
course, a scholar shall serve the country on full-time basis along his field of training for a
minimum period equivalent to the length of time a scholar enjoyed the scholarship by
rendering service to his province or municipality and, for this purpose, requiring the
execution of a contract between the Government and the scholar incorporating the
details of the said service obligation.

Any recipient of the program who has not completed his course shall render service to
the country equivalent to the number of years he enjoyed the scholarship.

For the purpose stated in paragraph 1 of this Section, government banks, financial
institutions, and appropriate agencies shall provide priority access to credit, research
and development facilities, support programs and other assistance to graduate scholars
under this Act where the same may be sound and viable.

Any scholar who violates the service obligation imposed under this section shall be
liable to reimburse the Government of the fund assistance received under this Act in full
or pro tanto as the case may be.

Section 14. Post Scholarship Incentives.- In order to encourage graduates of the
scholarship program under this Act to serve in fulfillment of their service obligation and
entice them to continue to stay and serve in the country even beyond their service
obligation, they shall be entitled to the following incentives:

4) priority for job placement in the Government or in the private sector in positions
appropriate to their area of education or training;

b) grants-in-aid and access to government research facilities in the conduct of
research and development projects and other service and technology activities;

©) access to credit with liberal terms from government banks and financial
institutions;

) payment of hardship and/or hazard allowance to those who are engaged in
research and other science and technology activities that posed danger and caused
hardship to their well-being; and

€) travel and accident insurance coverage.

Section 15. Advisory Committee. - There is hereby created a committee composed of the
Secretary of Education as Chairperson, and the Secretaries or Heads of the following
departments or agencies or their chosen representatives as members: Budget and
Management; Science and Technology; Agriculture; Trade and Industry; Interior and
Local Government; Finance and the National Economic and Development Authority; and
two (2) representatives from the private sector one (1) of whom shall come from the
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and one (1) from other sectors.



To ensure the effective coordination of the program, said body shall act in an advisory
capacity in its implementation.

Section 16. Implementing Body. - The scholarship program herein provided shall be
directly implemented by the Department of Education through the National College of
Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) of the University of the Philippines.

Section 17. Rules and Regulations. ~ Within thirty (30) days from the approval of this Act,
the Department of Education in joint collaboration with the University of the
Philippines, through the NCPAG shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for
the effective implementation of the provisions thereof.

Section 18. Repealing Clause.~ All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, or
portions thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 19, Separability Clause. ~ In the event any of the provisions of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the validity of the other provisions shall not be affected by such

declaration.

Section 20. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect upon its approval.