Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Education is the only effective weapon we have against poverty. It is through 
education that the people learn about their fundamental rights and make well-
informed decisions. It is decent education that fuels people to be vigilant in defending 
their place, status, and stance in society and in transforming the nation into a better-
functioning government. Needless to say, a country with well-educated citizens is 
easily led towards progress and development. 
That being said, it is just proper that academic excellence be given high regard. 
In a nation where poverty is very prevalent, the plight of students who do well in 
school and who strive to finish college education in order to help themselves and 
their families despite the hardships they are experiencing due their lack of resources 
and means of their family, should never remain unnoticed or overlooked. Rather, 
their brilliance paralleled with perseverance and undying fighting spirit must be 
rewarded and their enthusiasm to learn must be further encouraged. 
Students who display excellence academically or otherwise possess an intense 
passion for learning and love for knowledge. This kind of young people are the 
nation's hope towards better governance and leadership. This kind of students who 
genuinely pursue excellence in what they do will be and should be the future leaders 
of our country. It is, therefore, the State's responsibility to make sure that these 
young intelligent people get an opportunity to finish their studies regardless of their 
situation in life. It is the state's duty, as it is also for its own benefit, to ensure that 
such brilliant minds will not be wasted just because of financial restraints. 
January 26, 2023
9:38 am
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Through this bill, the top three (3) graduating high school students, the créme 
ala créme in every graduating batch so to speak, shall be automatically given 
scholarship grants in the form of cash incentives to help them advance to 
college/tertiary education to provide for their matriculation which gets even more 
expensive by the year. 
It is prayed that through this modest cash incentive, deserving students will 
aid them in pursuing the career they want and reach for their dreams. 
It is for this reason that the approval of this bill is being sought. 
EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No._____ 
________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE EDWIN L. OLIVAREZ 
AN ACT GRANTING CASH INCENTIVES TO THE TOP THREE (3) GRADUATING 
STUDENTS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY 
Be if enacted in the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as “The Cash Incentive for 
the Top Three (3) Public High School Students Act of 2023”; 
SECTION 2. Coverage. This Act shall cover only student in public high 
schools in the country. 
SECTION 3. Cash Incentives. The top three (3) graduates of every public high 
school in the country shall be awarded cash incentives on the day of their 
commencement exercises, as follows: 
Valedictorian = P10,000.00 
Salutatorian = P5,000.00 
First Honorable Mention = P3,000.00 
SECTION 4. Appropriations. The said cash incentives shall be sourced from 
the funds of the Local Government Unit where the high school is located. 
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SECTION 5. Non-Prejudicial Clause. Said cash incentives granted under 
this Act shall be without prejudice to the other existing scholarship grants being 
enjoyed by high school graduates. 
 
SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, letters of 
instructions, executive orders, rules and regulations insofar as they are inconsistent 
with this Act, are hereby repealed or amended as the case may be. 
 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - In the event that any provision of this 
Act or any portion thereof is declared unconstitutional by a competent court, the 
other provisions shall not be affected thereby and shall remain valid and enforceable. 
 
SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after its complete 
publication in at least three (3) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved.