Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives

Quezon City, Metra Maile pifn
NINETEENTH CONGRESS je

First Regular Session

4523

House Bill No.

INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A MECHANISM TO ENABLE POOR FILIPINO FAMILIES
TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE COLLEGE GRADUATE BY
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE EXPANDED STUDENT GRANTS-IN-AID
PROGRAM FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION (ESGP-PA) AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Filipino family is the basic unit of our society. When we empower
families, we empower the nation. By ensuring that each family has at least
one college graduate, we capacitate them to have the means to face life's
challenges and be free from poverty.

However, according to the data provided by the United Nations’
Sustainable Development Goals, some 750 million adults remained illiterate
in 2016. The baseline projections suggest that six percent of the world
population will still be living in extreme poverty in 2030, missing the target of
ending poverty. UN further notes that in 2018, one fifth of the world’s youth
were not in education, employment, or training, meaning that they were
neither gaining professional experience nor acquiring or developing skills
through educational or vocational programs in their prime years.

It is stated in the 1987 Constitution 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.” Indeed,
education will be our reliable solution to breaking the cycle of poverty
especially among poor Filipino families.



Thus, the government must exert more efforts necessary to invest in its
people, enabling them to fulfill their aspirations through a support system
that aims to provide at least one college graduate per family.

Under this proposed policy, a student-grantee from among the
household beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program shall
receive a maximum of P60,000.00 per academic year to cover the cost of
tuition and other expenses to empower the student to complete his or her
college degree.

This bill seeks to empower Filipino families, especially those who are
living below the poverty line, to the goal of achieving a better quality of life. It
is the hope of this measure to combat poverty and capacitate every Filipino
family to be able to live with better opportunities

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly
sought.

REP. PM VARGAS
Fifth District, Quezon City


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Reguiar Session

4523

House Bill No.

INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A MECHANISM TO ENABLE POOR FILIPINO FAMILIES
TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE COLLEGE GRADUATE BY
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE EXPANDED STUDENT GRANTS-IN-AID
PROGRAM FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION (ESGP-PA) AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “One Family, One
Graduate Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - \t is the policy of the State to protect
and promote the right of all Filipino citizens to quality education at all levels
and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all
Further, it is the policy of the State to establish and maintain system of
grants, scholarships and subsidies, to help poor families rise above and |
contribute to national development.

SECTION 3. Objective. — This Act aims to contribute to the National
Government's thrust to effectively address poverty by increasing the number
of graduates in higher education among poor household and by ensuring that
these graduates are employed in high- value occupations. This ensures that
qualified household beneficiaries of the government's Pantawid Pamilyang
Pilipino Program (4Ps) shall have at least one family member who graduated
from college.

SECTION 4. Establishment of an Expanded Student Grants-in-Aid |
Program for Poverty Alleviation. ~ An expanded Student Grants-in- !
Program for Poverty (ESGP-PA) shall be established, which shall be exclusively
granted and used for the tertiary education of poor but deserving students
belonging to indigent households under the National Household Targeting
System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR), identified by the Department of



Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), or information sector families.
Potential student-grantees shall be enrolled in State Universities and College
(SUCS) in course offerings aligned with the priorities of the government.

SECTION 5. Coverage. ~ Grantces of ESGP-PA shall be limited to poor but
deserving students, giving to 4Ps beneficiaries who are qualified to enroll in
selected SUCs to take up priority programs of the Commission on Higher
Education (CHED).

SECTION 6. Entitlement. — A student-grantee shall be entitled to a
maximum of Sixty Thousand Pesos (P60,000,00) per academic year or Thirty
Thousand (P30,000,00) per semester. The amount shall cover the cost of
tuition and other school fees, academic and extra-curricular expenses,
purchase of textbook, board and loading, transportation, clothing, medical
needs and other valid related education expenses and support services to
complete the student-grantee’s degree program.

SECTION 7. Selection of Student-Grantees and Role of the DSWD. - The
DSWD shall identify and validate potential student-grantees from among
household beneficiaries of the 4Ps Program, which shall be submitted to
participating SUCs for admission process. It shall likewise coordinate
necessary intervention for the student-grantee and family at the local level
and co-monitor with CHED the implementation of the program.

SECTION 8. Creation of the National ESGP-PA Committee. - A National
ESGP-PA Committee shall be created, which shall be composed of the
following:
1. CHED Chairperson, as Chairperson of the Committee
2. Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM),
member
3. Secretary of the Department of Welfare and Development (DSWD),
member
4. Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). member
5. President of the Philippines Associations of States Universities and
Colleges (PASUC), member

SECTION 9. Functions of the National ESGP-PA Committee. — The
Committe shall have the following functions:
1. Oversee the operation and implementation of the program;
2. Enhance the policies that will ensure that the service provided by the
program shall serve the target student-grantees;
3. Orient SUCs on the implementation of the program;
4, Re-allocate unfilled slots to other equally deserving students-grantees;
5. Decide on appeals, grievances, complaints, request for additional slots;
and
6. Monitor and evaluable the administration and implementation of the
program.


SECTION 10. Qualifications of the Students-Grantees. - Student-
Grantees must have the following qualifications for the program

identified “4Ps” beneficiary;

Physically and mentally fit;

High school graduate or equivalent;

No other higher education scholarship/ grant from public institutions;
Pass the entrance exam and academic requirements set by the SU!
Pass the requirements set by the National ESGP-PA Committee; and
Must enroll in CHED priority Programs.

NOUS

SECTION 11. Responsibilities of Students-Grantees.
1. Carry a full load per semester as prescribed in the curriculum and
finish within the required period of the program.
2. Maintain a satisfactory academic performance in accordance with
policies and standards of the SUCs.
3. Enter into a return service agreement of 2 years after graduation.
4. Adhere to the term and conditions stipulated in the contact.

SECTION 12. Responsibilities of Parents/ Guardian of the
Student/Grantees.
1. Sign the contract with the SUCs as the executor of the program.
2. Ensure that related expenses and other incidental expenses for health
and clothing shall be paid on time.
3. Ensure that recipient will religiously attend his/her classes, minimize
absences, and complete school requirements.
4. Ensure that all financial benefits directly received by the grantee shall
only be spent on legitimate purposes and on time
5. If the beneficiary is the head of the family, he shall assume the fore
going responsibilities to complete his studies.

SECTION 13. Monitoring and Reporting by State Universities and
Colleges. ~ State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) where grantees of the
ESGP-PA are enrolled shall monitor and report to the ESGP-PA Committee
the academic performance of the grantees at the end of each academic year
until the grantees have graduated.

SECTION 14. Appropriations. — The DBM shall release directly to the
respective SUCs the amount of Two Billion Five Hundred Million Pesos
(P2,500,000,000.00) for the student grantees and the activities of the program
for each academic year, which shall be included in the Annual General
Appropriations Act.

SECTION 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The CHED, in
consultation with the DSWD, DOLE, DBM, and PASUC shall promulgate the
necessary rules and regulations to carry out the provision of this Act, within
six (6) months from its effectivity.


SECTION 16. Non-Impairment Clause. - Nothing in this Act shall be
construed as to diminish, impair, or repeal rights recognized, granted, or
made available to disadvantaged, marginalized, or specific sectors under
existing laws

SECTION 17. Separability Clause. - if any part of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall
continue to be in full force and effect

SECTION 18. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive
orders, administrative orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with or
contrary to the provisions of this Act are deemed amended, modified or
repealed accordingly

SECTION 19. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2)
newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,