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VS opyesMAR 15 2017

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

530
HOUSE BILL No.:____

Introduced by Representative HARLIN NEIL J. ABAYON III
AANGAT TAYO Party-list

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to provide free tuition fee for students in State
Universities and Colleges. It has been a reality that many college students
were unable to pursue their higher education due to financial constraints
or the need to work and earn for the family. The financial difficulties of
many Filipino families that simply cannot afford to send their children to
college deprives them of a powerful tool, a college degree, to lift themselves
out of poverty.

Given the glaring individual and social advantages of higher
education, it would be greatly beneficial to disadvantaged and poor Filipino
families if higher education would be reformed by institutionalizing a
tuition-free tertiary education. This revolutionary reform in our
educational system will ensure poor but deserving young Filipinos a
rightful opportunity to pursue and finish a college degree.

Thus, immediate approval of this landmark legislation is earnestly

sought.
HARLIN Ff J. ABAYON II]


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

A
HOUSE BILL No.: 5304

Introduced by Representative HARLIN NEIL J. ABAYON III
AANGAT TAYO Party-list

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR FREE TUITION FEE FOR STUDENTS IN STATE
UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES (SUCs)

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 “Free Higher
Education Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It shall be the policy of the State to make higher
education accessible to financially disadvantaged but deserving students. Toward
this end, the State shall renew its constitutionally mandated duty to make education
its top budgetary priority by providing free higher education for students in State
Universities and Colleges (SUCs)..

SEC. 3. Free Tuition Fee. All Filipino citizens who are either enrolled at the
time of effectivity of this Act, or shall enroll at any time thereafter, in courses in
pursuance of a bachelor’s degree, certificate degree, or any comparable
undergraduate degree in any SUC shall be exempt from paying tuition fees for any
units enrolled thereof, unless they are disqualified by any provisions of law.

SEC. 4. Exceptions. The following shall be ineligible to avail the program:

a. Persons who fail to regain good academic standing in their respective
State universities and colleges after one (1) year upon being, placed on
academic probation or delinquent status;

b. Persons who have been convicted of any crime involving moral
turpitude.

SEC. 5. Fund. The Special Tuition Fee Fund is hereby established and shall be
used solely for the purpose of implementing the free tuition fee program under the
provisions of this Act.


SEC. 6, Administration of the Fund. The Fund shall be administered by the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

SEC. 7. Strengthening the Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs). The
CHED, through the UniFAST shall strengthen all scholarships, grants-in-aid,
student loans, subsidies and other incentives to other educational expenses and cost
of living, allowance that will be incurred by students in pursuing higher education in
SUCs.

SEC. 8. Appropriations. The amount of Ten Billion Pesos (P 10,000,000,000.00)
is hereby initially appropriated from the Presidential Social Fund to implement the
provisions of this Act. Thereafter, such amount necessary to effectively carry out the
provisions of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within 60 days from the effectivity
of this Act, the CHED shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations
necessary for the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 10. Separability clause. Should any provision herein be declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this
Act.

SEC. 11. Repeating clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provision of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 12. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspaper of general circulation in

the Philippines.

Approved,