FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
i 0 ,IUl 21 
All: 119 . 
SENATE 
S.No. 1732 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
/"'""\ 
i // 
The Constitution mandates not only that quality education must be provided by the State 
to all qualified citizens - the poor and the underprivileged in particular - at all levels of education, 
but that it must likewise put in place a system of education geared towards establishing and 
making available a continuing pool oftrained manpower for the country's development efforts. 
Within the context of this constitutional policy, the Bill seeks to provide free college 
education in Information and Communications Technology (leT), a two-year college degree 
course, to all high school graduates of public schools. These beneficiaries would have the right to 
• 
choose the public or state college or university of his choice within the city, province or region, 
as the case may be, for purposes enjoying the free college education benefit. In the same vein, 
the college authorities are obligated, under pain of administrative sanctions, to admit the 
qualified beneficiaries. 
Given the present business practice that places a premium on formal post-secondary 
education or college training, and given the sheer number of graduates of our public school 
system, this proposed legislation is a first concrete step towards providing the deserving 
graduates of our public high schools with appropriate quality college education keyed to the 
demands of a highly competitive marketplace. 
This is a Senate counterpart bill to one filed in the House of Representatives by Rep. Raul 
V. Del Mar I 1.1 
//' 
~ 
J · 
~"-
.' k vt~' 7;'!Jd 
AfIY" MIRIAM DE \1~SOR S 11rv 
1 This bill was originally filed during the 14th Congress 1st Regular Session 
1 


1 
2 
3 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
ro 
JUL 21 
All ~19 
~It'CrlVd) !'l\ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING AND PROVIDING FOR FREE COLLEGE EDUCATION IN 
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
4 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Free Information and 
5 
Communications Technology College Education Act." 
6 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to provide quality 
7 
education to all qualified citizens at all levels of education and to establish a system of grants, 
8 
subsidies and incentives which shall be available to deserving students, especially the poor and 
9 
underprivileged, in order to enable them to truly participate in the benefits of a democratic 
10 
society, 
11 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the term: 
12 
(A) 
"Free College Education" shall mean any two-year college degree course or 
13 
program in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) offered in or conducted by Stat 
14 
colleges and universities; 
15 
(B) "State Colleges and Universities" refers to institutions of higher learning, including 
16 
specialized schools, maintained and funded by government; 
17 
(c) "Qualified Beneficiaries" shall mean all graduates of public high schools; 
18 
(D)"Tuition Fee" shall refer to the fee representing direct costs of instruction and training 
19 
facilities; 
20 
(E)"Other School Fees" refers to those fees which cover the other necessary costs 
21 
supportive of instruction, including, but not limited to medical and dental, athletic, library and 
22 
laboratory fees. 
1 


I 
However, fees related to membership in students organizations or college activities may 
2 
be collected, provided that non-payment of these fees shall not in any case prejudice the 
3 
enrollment or graduation of a qualified beneficiary. 
4 
SECTION 4. Implementation of Free College Education. - The system of Free College 
5 
Education as provided in this Act, shall commence in the School Year following approval of this 
6 
Act. Qualified beneficiaries intending to enroll or already enrolled in ICT course offerings in 
7 
state colleges and universities shall be f~ee from payment of tnition and other school fees and 
8 
shall be entitled to such other incentives or subsidies as may be granted in accordance with such 
9 
rules and regnlations to be promulgated to carry out the provisions of this Act: Provided, that 
10 
nothing in this Act shall cause or authorize the reduction or removal of any benefit which the 
II 
national or local government may be granted to the students prior to the enactment of this Act. 
12 
SECTION 5. Formulation of lOT Curriculum. - The Commission on Higher Education 
13 
(CHED) shall formulate a two-year college curriculum geared to provide students with highly 
14 
competitive training or skills consistent with the manpower demands of a highly competitive 
15 
business environment. 
16 
SECTION 6. Limitation. - The right of any student to avail of free college education shall 
17 
terminate is he fails for two (2) consecutive semesters in the majority of the subjects in which he 
18 
is enrolled during the course of his study. 
19 
SECTION 7. Place of Study and Admission. - The qualified beneficiary shall take his free 
20 
college education in state colleges or universities of his choice situated in the city or province 
21 
where he resides. 
22 
Should there be no state college or university in the city or province where he resides or 
23 
where the university or college faciliti~s cannot accommodate all qualified beneficiaries, the 
24 
student may take his free college benefit in any college or university within the region nearest to 
25 
his place of residence. In the absence of public universities or colleges within the region of his 
26 
residence, the qualified student beneficiary may avail of the privilege in any public or state 
27 
college or university in any region nearest to the province where he resides. 
28 
SECTION 8. Obligation of State Colleges. - The State colleges or universities have the 
29 
obligation to admit qualified beneficiaries, subject only to limitation of funding and facilities. A 
2 


,; , 
I 
violation of this obligation shall constitute a ground for dismissal of the school authorities 
2 
concerned. 
3 
SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The CHED, in coordination with the 
4 
association of state colleges and universities, shall issue the necessary implementing rules and 
5 
regnlations within one hundred twenty (120) days from effectivity of this Act. 
6 
SECTION 10. Funding, - Adequate funds shall he earmarked by the President from 
7 
available funds in the National Treasury for the initial implementation of this Act. The President 
8 
shall likewise utilize for the purpose available funds or savings of the CHED or the Department 
9 
of Education. Funds needed for the ensuing fiscal years for the implementation of this Act shall 
lObe included in the appropriations of State universities and colleges in the General Appropriations 
II 
Act. 
12 
SECTION II. Separability c.zause. - If any part hereof, is held invalid or 
13 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and 
14 
subsisting. 
15 
SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
16 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
17 
with the provisions of this act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
18 
SECTION 13. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteeh (IS) days after its 
19 
pUblication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
20 
Approved, 
3