Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HousEBmNo.
Introduced by: HON. RUTH MARIANO-HEENANDEZ
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A LEGAL SCHOLARSEHP AIND RETURN SERVICE PROGRAM
FORQUALIFIEDANDDESERvlNGsTUDENTs,ESTABLlsrmTGFORTHEpuRpOsE
THE "AB0GADO PARA SA BAYAN", AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
AccesstojusticeisafundamentalrightofeveryFilipino,andthisbillaimstoaddressthelackof
access to legal services brought about by lack of lawyers. To achieve this goal, the bill proposes
a scholarship program that encourages deserving students to pursue a career in law with the
requirement that they render public service upon signing the roll of attorneys.
Under  the  proposed  program,  scholarship  grantees  are  required  to  render  five  years  of
continuous service either as a public attorney at the Public Attorney's Office (PAO) in a city or
municipality within the region where the scholarship grant was obtained, or as a public interest
lawyer at a legal aid organization  duly accredited  or recognized by the Integrated  Bar of the
Philippines,  in the region where the scholarship  grant was obtained.  Priority will  be given to
areas with the highest number of case load vis-a-vis the lowest number of public attorneys as
determined by the PA0 Regional Office.
This program aligns with the constitutional mandate to prioritize education, promote the right
to  quality education, and guarantee access to justice. By providing scholarships to deserving
students and requiring them to render public service, the program aims to increase the number
of lawyers who are dedicated to providing legal services to those who cannot afford them.
The enactment of this bill into law is imperative to address the lack of access to legal services for
many Filipinos. We urge our fellow legislators to support the passage of this bill and to work
Filipinos are able to exercise their right to access to justice.
sure that all
H MARIA
trict, Laguna
-HERNANDEZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO.
Introduced by: HON. RUTH MARIANO-HERNANDEZ
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A LEGAL SCHOLARSHIP AND RETURN SERVICE PROGRAM FOR QUALIFIED
AND DESERVING STUDENTS, ESTABLISHING FOR THE PURPOSE THE "AB0GADO PARA SA
BAYAN", AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted  by the Senate and the House Of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
SECTION 1. Short rI.tJe. -  This Act shall be known as the "Abogado Para sa Bayan Act."
SECTION 2. DecJarfltl.on a/Pollty. -lt is the policy of the State to protect and promote the right
of all citizens to access to justice and to quality legal services, especially those who are indigent
or underprivileged.  Towards this end, the State shall hereby establish a program to encourage
more lawyers to serve the people and to guarantee that there shall be, at all times, a sufficient
number of lawyers to provide free and adequate legal services to indigent and underprivileged
Filipinos in need of legal assistance.
SECTlou 3. Establishment Of the Abogado  Para sa Bayan Scholarship Program. -   The`
Abogado  Para  sa  Bayan  Scholarship  Program  shall  be  established  in  state  universities  and
colleges (SUCs) offering Juris Doctor degree and partner private higher educational institutions
(PHEls)  duly  identified  by the  Legal  Education  Board  (LEE)  in  consultation  with  the  Public
Attorney's Office (PAO) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP). The LEE shall identify at
least one (1)  partner PHEI in  Luzon, Visayas, and  Mindanao, respectively, for the scholarship
Program.
SECTlo"  4.  Priority  in  Selection  Of Schpl_a_r_ship `F`ecipients.  -PTloTlty  tn the  selection  of
qualified and deserving recipients for the LSRSP shall be given to:
a)   Members   of   the   Indigenous   Cultural   Communities/Indigenous   Peoples
(ICCs/lps),.
b)   Those who belong to the marginalized sector; and


c)   Applicants  who  come  from  cities/municipalities  with  a  limited  number  of
practicing public interest lawyers.
SECTloN  4.   Benefits and Entitlements from  the Program.- The  Abogado PaLra  sa BayaLn
Program established under this Act shall be awarded to qualified and deserving Filipino students
who want to pursue a degree in ]uris Doctor (JD). The grantee shall be entitled to the following:
a)   Financial assistance which shall include tuition and other school fees;
b)   Outright grant for prescribed textbooks and essential school supplies;
c)   Transportation expenses;
d)   Monthly ]ivingallowance; and
e)   Bar Review fees for first time takers.
Provided, that the financial assistance provided herein, or in the succeeding implementing rules
and regulations, shall be reviewed and adjusted to its value using the consumer price Index (CPI)
as published by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) five (5) years from the implementation
of this Act, and every five (5) years thereafter.
SECTION 5,  Ouall/rcfl£I.oJ] Requfrements. -An applicant for the Abogado Para sa Bayan
Scholarship Program shall possess the following qualifications:
a)   Must be a Filipino citizen residing in the Philippines;
b)   Must have a bachelor's degree from a tertiary education institution;
c)   Must  have  passed  the  entrance  examination  of  a  law  school  where  the
applicant intends to avail the scholarship, or is currently enrolled in one,'
d)   Mustbe of good moral character; and
e)   Must come from a low-income to middle-income household.
SECTION 6. Condftl.ol]s a/Scholarship. -Accepted grantees shall be subject to the following
terms and conditions:
a)   Must  sign   the   Scholarship   Agreement   Form   containing  the   terms   and
conditions of the scholarship;
b)   Must carry a full load every semester;
c)    Must finish the degree within the prescribed time frame of the SUC or PHEI.
Provi.did,  TJ]af Leave of Absence (LOA) may be allowed for valid and justified
reasons, but must still be subject to the retention policy of the SUC or PHEl;
d)   Must take the Bar Examination within a year after graduation; and
e)   Must render the return of service as provided under Section 8 of this Act.
SECTION 7. Di.sqwaJIJfcatl.on. -The Scholarship grant shall be terminated and the grantee shall
repay the full cost of the scholarship, in case of the following circumstances:
a)   If the grantee accepts another scholarship from other government or private
agency or organization;
b)   If the  grantee  fails to  meet the  academic  requirements,  or to  complete the
course within the prescribed period set by the SUC or PHEI;
c)   If the grantee is convicted of a crime or offense involving moral turpitude; and
d)   lf the scholar commits gross misconduct to the detriment of the community
and the reputation of the SUC or PHEl he/she is enrolled in.


SECTION 8. Mandatory Hetrrm SerVI.ce. - Within a period of eight (8) years from admission to
the Bar, beneficiaries of the Abogado Para sa Bayan program shall be required to render a year
of mandatory return service as a Public Attorney's Office (PAO) lawyer in the region where the
scholarship  was obtained,  for every year of scholarship received. Alternatively,  beneficiaries
may opt to serve as a full-time public interest lawyer for two (2) years at a legal aid organization
duly accredited or recognized by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).
In cases where a beneficiary did not take or pass the bar exam, they shall be mandated to serve
in a legal-related position within the government for at least four [4) years, which may be done
discontinuously within a period of eight (8) years from graduation. The number of years the
beneficiary has served  in  a legal  position  within  the government shall  be deducted  from  the
required years of mandatory return service if they become a lawyer.
SECTION 9. SqJicti`ons. -  A lawyer or graduate who has availed of the Scholarship Program but
fails or refuses to comply with the preceding section shall be required to pay the full cost of the
scholarship.
SECTloN  10. Selection  Of SUC and PHEI  Law  Schools.  -   Within sixty  C60)  days  From  the
effectivity of this Act, the Legal  Education Board (LEB), in coordination with Integrated Bar of
the Philippines (IBP) and PAO, shall identify the law schools which shall be covered under this
Act.
SECTION  11.  JmpJementr.Hg  Rules  and HeglfJatr.ons.  -  Within  ninety  (90)  days  from  the
effectivity of this Act, the Legal Education Board (LEB), in consultation with the Public Attorney's
Office  (PAO),  Integrated  Bar  of the  Philippines  (IBP),  and  law  schools,  shall  formulate  the
implementing rules and regulations necessary to implement this Act.
SECTION12.Sepambl`IftyClause.-lntheeventthatanyprovisionofthisActoranypartthereof
is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the provisions not hereby affected shall remain in full
force and effect.
SECTION 13. j}epeaJ]`r]g CJHuse. -All other laws, acts, decrees, executive orders, issuances, and
rules and  regulations,  or parts  thereof which  are  contrary or inconsistent with  this Act are
hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
SECTION 14. E#-gcfl.vity L./fluse .--- 'l`his Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publlcalion
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,