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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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«(Hf;~c of Hle- ;:;rl'rrbru 
First Regular Session 
'13 
SEP -3 !\1Q:4 7 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1415 
F 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Every year, high school graduates join the mass of the ever growing out-
of-school youth who find themselves unable to pursue higher studies. Abject 
poverty has prevented them to pursue their college education and set foot in 
institutions of higher learning. 
Rizal's vision that youth is the hope of the fatherland continues to be an 
empty saying unless the State starts to seriously adopt a viable program on free 
education that can assure our deserving and qualified youth to pursue college 
education. 
" 
Hence, the bill seeks to address the perennial problem of high school 
graduates who find themselves deprived of that opportunity to get a college 
education. 
Free college education on courses leading to degrees in engineering, 
agriculture, veterinary medicine, education, computer science, nursing or mass 
communication must be made available to all the deserving students in the 
sixteen (16) regions ofthe country. 
To carry out the program, the Office of the Regional Subsidized College 
Education Program (ORSCEP) under the Department of Education headed by 
the Undersecretary is created. 
Although the program involves providing higher education, however, it is 
made an adjunct of the Department of Education rather than of the CHED, 
because the former has complete facilities, resources and manpower in all the 
sixteen (16) regions to assist in the successful implementation of the program, 
unlike the latter whose primary objective is to accredit and exercise continuing 
supervision on institutions engaged in collegiate education and does not have 
offices in all the 16 regions. 
The program is envisioned to answer for the tuition, books and other 
expenses covering the cost of education of deserving students. 
Students will be assured of constant financial assistance in the form of 
subsidies, transportation and clothing allowances, because it is not enough that 
they are provided with financial help for their studies but they likewise need 
assistance for their sustenance and other basic needs including the medical 
assistance. 
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Upon graduation, the fortunate recipients must remain in the country and 
work here for even half a decade before venturing for better work opportunities in 
other lands. Undeniably, there is an increasing brain drain today because of 
growing discontent and dissatisfaction for many reasons. With an assured crop 
of college graduates under the program, we can provide suitable replacements to 
fill in the void. 
In view of the foregoing considerations, early passage of this bill is 
earnestly sought. 
, ' 
GOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate .BiII No. 1" 7 5 
) 
) 
) 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
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{en,;, of 14. ,~m"'.;r, 
"13 
SEP -3 mo :48 
PROVIDING FOR FREE COLLEGE EDUCATION OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
THE "REGIONAL SUBSIDIZED COLLEGE EDUCATION PROGRAM OF 2013" 
AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policies. - (a) It is the policy of .the State to 
promote a just and dynamic social order that will free the people from poverty 
through pOlicies that provide adequate social services, a rising standard of living 
and an improved quality of life for all (Sec 9, Art II, Constitution). 
(b) It is the policy of the State to give priority to education, science and 
technology, arts, culture and sports to foster patriotism, nationalism, accelerate 
social progress, and promote total human liberation and development (Sec 17, 
Art II) 
(c) It is the policy of the State to provide subsidized education to the poor 
and financially handicapped high school graduates or those who had finished 
their secondary courses but are unable to pursue college education or those who 
had commenced college studies but had to stop for the same reason. 
SEC. 2. Regional Subsidized College Education Program - There is 
hereby established a Regional Subsidized College Education Program (RSCEP) 
in each of the sixteen (16) regions in the country which shall comprise the 
following: 
(a) 
Free tuition and all school expenses in any four (4) year college 
course leading to degrees in engineering, agriculture, veterinary 
medicine, education, computer SCience, nursing or mass 
communications; 
(b) 
Sustained provision for books, subsistence, clothing and 
transportation allowances; and 
(c) 
Contingent provision for medical or hospitalization expenses. 


SEC. 3. 
Office of the Regional Subsidized Col/ege Education 
Program -
There is hereby created the Office of the Regional Subsidized 
College Education Program (ORSCEPj under the Department of Education 
which shall be headed by the Undersecretary for Regional Subsidized College 
Education with the same qualification, rank and emolument of an Undersecretary 
of Education, who shall be appointed by the President to serve for a term not 
exceeding six (6) years and shall have the powers and duties: 
(a) 
To 
formulate, 
administer, 
manage and 
implement the 
subsidized college program envisioned in this Act with the end 
in view of providing free college education to poor students; 
(b) 
To determine and designate private colleges or universities in 
every region which may qualify to participate in the programs 
as well as the number of student beneficiaries who may be 
enrolled in such institutions; 
(c) 
To prepare and submit the budgetary requirements under the 
program based on the preceding fiscal year with upward 
adjustment not exceeding ten (10%) percent, Provided, 
however, upon the initial implementation of the program, the 
budget shall be based on the amount allocated herein; 
(d) 
To tap, deputize and enlist the services of the regular 
personnel of the Department of Education, in every region as 
may be necessary to implement the program and enforce such 
rules and regul;:ltions as he/she may determine; 
(e) 
To submit monthly operational reports to the Secretary of 
Education and the Oversight Committee of Congress on the 
performance of the benefiCiaries, their expenses and matters 
as may aid in ascertaining the effectivity and viability of the 
program; 
(f) 
To appoint additional personnel as may be necessary to 
effectively carry out the objectives of the program in all the 
regions; provided, however, that they are civil service eligibles 
and with adequate educational background or training; 
(g) 
To promulgate such rules and regulations to implement the 
provisions qf this Act 
SEC. 4. Program Management and Sectors Involved. - The program 
shall be managed and administered by the Undersecretary for Regional 
Subsidized College Education and shall involve private colleges and universities 
in every region as are duly accredited under the program: 
(a) 
Any private college and university submitting the lowest 
bid on the cost to be incurred for a four (4) year course 
covered by the program shall be accredited; 
(b) 
Upon accreditation, the school shall allocate 20% of its 
total enrolment for each year for admission of qualified 
student beneficiaries; 


(c) 
Students may be qualified as beneficiaries provided they 
have passed the admission test; they or their parents do 
not own any real property; they and their parents do not 
have a combined total gross income of One Hundred 
Thousand Pesos (P100,OOO.OO) per annum, and they 
shall undertake not to leave the country within five (5) 
years after graduation or passing the government 
examination, whichever is later; 
(d) 
The regional office shall, upon admission of the 
beneficiary students, compute and determine the school 
fees, costs of textbooks, allowances, transportation and 
other expenses which must be submitted to the central 
office and upon approval, distribute or disburse them 
when due; Provided that allowances and transportation 
shall be disbursed at monthly intervals. 
SEC. 5. Funding and Appropriation. - The amount of Three Billion 
Pesos (P3,OOO,OOO,OOO.OO) is hereby appropriated to carry out the purposes of 
this Act to be taken from funds not otherwise appropriated but included in the 
proposed 2013 General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 6. Effectivity. This ACt shall take effect upon its approval. 
Approved,