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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

19th CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _7279

Introduced by REP. JUAN CARLOS “ARJO” C. ATAYDE

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A MORATORIUM ON THE PAYMENT OF STUDENT LOANS
DURING DISASTERS AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

The Philippine government has been consistent in giving a premium on access to
education to all its citizens. Apart from the grant of free tuition fees in the primary and
secondary level, Congress, through Republic Act 10931 otherwise known as the
“Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act’ likewise makes tuition fee and other
fees free in all state colleges and universities (SUCs) , local universities and colleges
(LUCs) and government technical and vocational institutions (TVIs).

However, apart from tuition fees and miscellaneous fees, there are other financial
barriers that deny education to our youth. Other costs of education such as allowances,
transportation costs, board and lodging, purchase of books and supplies altogether sums
up to amounts that are burdensome to most families under the lower income brackets.
Since the government can no longer take on such financial burdens, Congress instead
made sure that student loans are available so as not to leave students with no recourse
amidst their financial difficulties. Republic Act 10687 otherwise known as the “Unified
Student Financial Assistance to Tertiary Education Act (UNIFAST)" provides for a
mechanism grants-in-aid or student loans.

Given that payment of student loans imposes a burden on a student or his/her
family, it is much worse if they fall victim to natural or man-made calamities. In the order
of spending, student loans will be among their least priority since spending will go mostly
to basic necessities for survival. In order to provide adequate relief and protection to our
students in case of calamities and emergencies, this measure shall allow the deferral of


student loan collections for a reasonable period during and after the onset of the said
unfortunate events.

The said moratorium shall cover students enrolled in SUCs, LUCs, private higher
education institutions, and public and private TVIs whose residence is located in
barangays, municipalities, cities, provinces, or regions under a State of Calamity or State
of Emergency as may be declared by the President of the Philippines or the local
sanggunian concerned.

With the relief to be given to students in times of calamities and emergencies, the
Passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

REP. JUAN CARHOS “ARJO” C. ATAYDE


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

19th CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. __7279

Introduced by REP. JUAN CARLOS “ARJO” C. ATAYDE

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A MORATORIUM ON THE PAYMENT OF STUDENT LOANS
DURING DISASTERS AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

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 “Student Loan
Payment Moratorium During Disasters and Emergencies Act."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and to ensure
that such education is accessible to all. In line with this declared policy, and in cognizance
of the need to provide adequate relief and protection to Filipinos in crisis situations, the
State shall authorize the deferral of student loan collection for a reasonable period during
and after the onset of disasters and other emergencies.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — For the purposes of this Act:

a. Disaster shall refer to the following: (i) a serious disruption of the functioning of a
community or a society involving widespread human, material, economic or
environmental losses and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected
community or society to cope using its own resources; (ji) the result of the
combination of: the exposure to a hazard, the conditions of vulnerability that are
present, and insufficient capacity or measures to reduce or cope with the potential
negative consequences; and (iii) an event that causes loss of life, injury, disease



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and other negative effects on human, physical, mental and social well-being,
together with damage to property, destruction of assets, loss of services, social
and economic disruption and environmental degradation:

. Emergency shall refer to an unforeseen or sudden occurrence, especially danger,

demanding immediate action;

. Higher Education shall refer to the stage of formal education, or its equivalent,

requiring completion of secondary education and covering programs of study
leading to bachelor and advanced degrees, including associate degrees:

|. Higher Education Institution (HE!) shall refer to an education institution authorized

and recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to offer
bachelor's degrees or graduate courses;

. Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) shall refer to duly accredited public HEIs

established by local government units (LGUs) through an enabling ordinance,
financially supported by the LGU concerned, and compliant with the policies,
standards and guidelines of CHED;

Private Higher Education Institutions shall refer to HEIs duly recognized by CHED
which are owned or operated by private individuals and entities;

. State of Calamity shall refer to a condition involving mass casualty and/or major

damages to property, disruption of means of livelihoods, roads and normal way of
life of people in the affected areas as a result of the occurrence of natural or
human-induced hazards;

|. State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) shall refer to public HEIs established by

law and are managed by their respective independent and separate governing
boards;

Student Loan shall refer to a sum of money or other forms of accommodation
exclusively intended for the payment of all fees, charges, and costs to SUCs,
LUCs, private HEIs, and public and private TVIs extended to students in exchange
for repayment in the future as evidenced by a loan agreement in writing and duly
executed for the purpose;

Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) shalll refer to postsecondary
education or training process involving general education, the study of
technologies and related sciences, acquisition of practical skills relating to
occupations in various sectors of economic and social life, and comprising formal
(organized programs as part of the school system) and nonformal (organized
classes outside the school system) approaches; and


k. Technical-Vocational Institutions (TVIs) shall refer to learning institutions offering
‘TVET programs.

‘SEC. 4. Coverage. — This Act shall cover students enrolled in SUCs, LUCs, private
HEIs, and public and private TVIs whose residence is located in barangays,
municipalities, cities, provinces, or regions under a State of Calamity or State of
Emergency as may be declared by the President of the Philippines or the local
‘sanggunian concemed, in accordance with Republic Act No. 10121, otherwise known as
the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010", Republic Act No.
11332, otherwise known as the “Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health
Events of Public Health Concem Act”; and other relevant laws, rules and regulations.

‘SEC. 5. Moratorium on Payment of Student Loans. - There shall be a
moratorium on the enforcement of payment of all fees, charges, and costs relating to the
student loans incurred for Higher Education and TVET programs, whether administered
by the HEIs or TVIs themselves or by the Unified Student Financial Assistance ‘System
for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Board, the CHED or any other government agency or
instrumentality, for the duration of the State of Calamity or Emergency as provided in
Section 4 of this Act and for thirty (30) days after the lifting of such State of Calamity or
Emergency: Provided, That the availment of the moratorium shall not adversely affect the
Status of the students concerned with regard to their eligibility for re-enrollment on the
succeeding semesters or terms, or their eligibility for graduation: Provided, further, That
No penalties or interests shall be collected on the deferred payments made pursuant to
this Act: Provided, finally, That nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent public or
private HEIs or TVIs from implementing more favorable forms of payment relief or
assistance to their students, prohibiting students from voluntarily waiving the benefit of
the moratorium on student loan payments, or availing assistance or subsidies from the
government as provided by law, rules and regulations.

SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from the
effectivity of this Act, CHED and the Technical Education And Skills Development
Authority shall, in consultation with the Philippine Association of State Universities and
Colleges, the Association of LocalColleges and Universities, and the Coordinating
Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines, or their equivalent
institutions, and other non-government stakeholders, promulgate the rules and
regulations to effectively implement the provision of this Act

‘SEC. 7. Separability Clause. — if any provision or part hereof is held invalid or


unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or Part not otherwise affected
shall remain valid and subsisting.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. —All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules
and regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,