Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

owe Bin NoA 147

Introduced by Honorable Carmelo B. Lazatin II

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of peace and orderin
the country. With its unenviable duty of thwartingthreats to the country’s internal and external security, the AFP
is at the forefront of defending the integrity of the State not only in the battle fields but alsoin times of
calamities, both man-made and natural.

Notwithstanding their invaluable service to the country, members of the AFP are saddled with
remuneration issues, especially the deployed ones,.shase compensation is not commensurate to their dedication
to publie service and the hazard that comes with the work they do. Though no monetary amount can match the
selfless dedication of our troops, this Bill secks to commend the exemplary performance of soldiers through the
provision of scholarship grants to their children.

Providing members of the AFP and their families with adequate support is scen as an integral key in
increasing professionalism and boosting the efficiency of the military personnel, considering the nature of their
profession that frequently entails alls for life-threatening duties away from their homes.

Through the provision of scholarship grants to the children of deployed troops, the State can be assured
{hat our soldiersare freed from the burden caused by the uncertainties of the duties they perform,

In view of the foregoing premises, the approval ofthis bill is earnestly sought,

‘CARMELO tan n


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4147

House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable Carmelo B. Lazatin II

ANACT
PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIP GRANTS TO CHILDREN OF THE DEPLOYED MEMBERS
OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress assembled:
SECTION |.Tidle. - This Act shall be known as the “AFP Scholarship Grant Act

SEC.2.Declaration of Policy. ~ Its the declared policy of the State to recognize the selfless deeds and
extraordinary valor of the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) assigned in the fields in order
to maintain peace and order throughout the country.As 2 way to uplift the morale of the said AFP members and
to promote their welfare and that of their families, the State shall provideftee education to their children from
Kindergarten to Senior High School, 2s well as college scholarship grants to deserving students.

SEC. 3.Enforcement of the Act. ~ It shall be the primary duty ofthe AFP, the Department of National
Defense (DND), the Department of Education (DepEd), and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), to
effectively enforce the provisions of this Act. The AFP shall be responsible in screening the qualifications and
cenifying the eligibility of the applicants.

SEC. 4.Children of AFP Personnel Scholarship Fund. ~ There is hereby created a Children of AFP
Personnel Scholarship Fund to be administered by the Department of Education for Kindergarten to Grade 12
levels, and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for college level, in financing the education of
talented and deserving children of active AFP personnel.

SEC. $ Scholarship Program The scholarship grant provided under this act shall award the grantee @
monthly stipend of Five hundred pesos (PS00.00) for Kindergarten to Grade 6, and One thousand pesos
(P1,000.00) for Grade 7 to Grade 12, during the regular academic year. Thereafter, said child of the AFP
personnel may also avail of the college scholarship: Provided, That said child shall pass the admission
examination and satisfy the pertinent requirements of the State University or College they intend to enroll
in-The grantee may enroll in any public or private university or college throughout the country and shall be
‘granted financial aid amounting to fifty percent (50%) of the tition fees,

SEC. 6. Qualifications. - To be eligible forthe scholarship grant under this Act, the applicant must be a
bona fide and legally recognized child of an AFP personnel who is deployed in combat during the time of



application, regardless of age, and must comply with all the requirements that may be established by the DepEd
or CHED for the purpose.

SEC, 7Scholarship Program-The scholarship grant provided under this act shall award the grantee a
monthly stipend of Five hundred pesos (P500.00) for Kindergarten to Grade 6, and One thousand pesos
(P1,000.00) for Grade 7 to Grade 12, during the regular academic year. Thereafter, said child of the AFP
personnel may also avail of the college scholarship: Provided, That said child shall pass the admission
examination and satisfy the pertinent requirements of the State University or College they intend to enroll
in.The grantee may enroll in any public or private university or college throughout the country and shall be
granted financial aid amounting to fifty percent (50%) of the tuition fees.

SEC. 7. Limitations, -- Children of retired and deceased members of the AFPwho were deployed in
combat shall be also entitled to the scholarship grant: Provided, That the former AFPpersonnel parent does not
have any pending criminal or administrative case before any court of justice or tribunal. In case the member is
‘charged of any criminal or administrative case during the period of scholarship, the grant shall be automatically
terminated. Scholarship applicants already possessing a Bachelor's degree are no longer qualified to be
beneficiary of the scholarship program.

SEC. 8 Conditions of the Grant. ~ The grantees of the scholarship must maintain a general weighted
average (GWA) grade of eighty-five percent (85%) or better, with no failing grade in any subject. The grantee
‘must also be enrolled full-time, in regular hours or carry a full semestral or trimestral load as prescribed in the
course curriculum and finish within the normal duration of the course. Failure to meet any of these conditions
shall be a ground for the termination of the grant.

SEC.9 Appeal. - Upon receipt of a written notice of termination of scholarship due to non-
compliance or violation of the terms and conditions of the scholarship, a grantee may, not later than fifteen (15)
days from receipt of the notice, file an appeal for reconsideration and reinstatement of the scholarship with the
DepEd or CHED. Upon the lapse of the fifteen (15) days wherein a grantee may file an appeal and no appeal is
made, the termination of scholarship shall become final and executory.

SEC. 10.Service Obligation. ~ After graduating from college, a grantee must render return service in
the Philippines on a full-time basis, preferably in the grantee's home region and along the grantee’s field of
training, for a period equivalent to two (2) years for every year that the grantee enjoyed the scholarship. Return
service may be done by being employed within the Philippines in a government agency or a
by self-employment. The proof of employment, such as, certificate of employment, business permit, income tax
return and other documents evidencing the grantee’s completion of the required number of years of return
service must be submitted to the CHED before being issued a final clearance.

‘A grantce that is unable to render the return service obligation imposed under this section shall be
liable to reimburse the Government the amount equivalent to the scholarship funds received under this Act,

SEC. 11. Review and Monitoring. ~ The AFP shall report to the President of the Philippines and to
Congress after the first year, and annually thereafter, on the implementation of the provisions of this Act and
submit recommendations for its improvement.

SEC. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ Within sixty (60) days from the approval of this
Act, the AFP, jointly with the DepED and CHED, shall promulgate the rules and regulations to effectively
implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 13 Appropriations. ~ The amount necessary to carry out the initial implementation of this Act
shall be included in the appropriations of the Armed Forces of the Philippinesin the annual General
Appropriations Act of the year the following the effectivity of this Act. For the initial funding for the college
scholarship grant, the same shall be sourced from the savings of the State Colleges and Universities (SUCs) and



‘other possible sources to be determined by the Office of the President, Thereafter, such sums as may be
necessary for the effective and continuous implementation of the provisions of this Act shall he included in the
‘annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC, 14.Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or unconstitutional, the
remainder of the law or the provisions not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting,

SEC. 15 Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations and administrative
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 16.Effectivity. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Offictal
Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation,

Approved,