FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
Senate Bill No. 
5 3 5 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 1 of Article XIV of the Constitution mandates that “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 all.” 
Studies show that the intellectual capacity of women has a direct 
correlation to societal development. This is being manifested in part by the fact 
that educated mothers can ensure that her children would learn the basic literacy 
skills needed for a productive life. Thus, lack of opportunity not only stunts the 
educational and social growth of women but inevitably contributes to a country’s 
slow development. 
Despite earnest efforts in the past to provide better opportunities for 
women in education, women in both rural and urban areas have remained largely 
marginalized and bereft opportunities to improve and educate themselves, 
This bill therefore seeks to create scholarship grant for women. Hence, its 
immediate passage into law is earnestly sought. e-L
GGO 
JERCITO ESTRA 


Senate Bill No. 535 
\ 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING HIGHER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN, 
ESTABLISHING A WOMEN'S HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP FUND 
AND FOR 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 "Women's Higher 
Education Act of 2007." 
SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. The State recognizes the special role of 
women in societal development. Hence, there is a compelling need for the State 
to provide better higher education opportunities for women not only as a matter 
of right but because of their peculiar role as potential teachers of their children. 
SEC 3. Scholarship Fund. A special scholarship fund to be known as the 
"Women's Higher Education Scholarship Fund is hereby created to be 
administered by the Commission on Higher Education. 
SEC 4. Application. The scholarship fund shall be made available to all 
qualified graduating Filipino female high school students through a competitive 
process whose rules and regulations shall be formulated by a selection 
committee within the Commission on Higher Education. Criteria for the selection 
process shall include intellectual aptitude as well as financial need. 
SEC 5. Tuition and Allowances. The amount of tuition fees and 
allowances per student shall be determined by the State institution where the 
student shall be enrolled. 
SEC 
6. 
Appropriations. 
The 
amount 
of Ten 
Million Pesos 
(PlO,OOO,OOO.OO) is hereby appropriated for the Women's Higher Education 
Scholarship Fund to be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SEC 7. Repealing Clause. All acts, rules and regulations contrary or 
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 


SEC 8. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,