FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution mandates not only that quality education must be provided by the State 
to all qualified citizens - the poor and the underprivileged in particular - at all levels of education, 
but that it must likewise put in place a system of education geared towards establishing and 
making available a continuing pool of trained manpower for the country’s development efforts. 
Within the context of this coiistitutional policy, the Bill seeks to provide free college 
education in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), a two-year college degree 
course, to all high school graduates of public schools. These beneficiaries would have the right to 
choose the public or state college or university of his choice within the city, province or region, 
as the case may be, for purposes enjoying the free college education benefit. In the same vein, 
the college authorities are obligated, under pain of administrative sanctions, to admit the 
qualified beneficiaries. 
Given the present business practice that places a premium on formal post-secondary 
education or college training, and given the sheer number of graduates of our public school 
system, this proposed legislation is a first concrete step towards providing the deserving 
graduates of our public high schools with appropriate quality college education keyed to the 
demands of a highly competitive marketplace. 
This is a Senate counterpart bill to one filed in the House of Representatives by Rep. Raul 
V. Del Mar 11. 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING AND PROVIDING FOR FREE COLLEGE EDUCATION IN 
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assem bled: 
SECTION 1. Shovt Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Free Information and 
Communications Technology College Education Act of 2008.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to provide quality 
education to all qualified citizens at all levels of education and to establish a system of grants, 
subsidies and incentives which shall be available to deserving students, especially the poor and 
underprivileged, in order to enable them to truly participate in the benefits of a democratic 
society, 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. -For purposes of this Act, the term: 
(A)“Free College Education” shall mean any two-year college degree course or program 
in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) offered in or conducted by Stat colleges 
and universities; 
(B) “State Colleges and Universities” refers to institutions of higher learning, including 
specialized schools, maintained and funded by government; 
(C) “Qualified Beneficiaries” shall mean all graduates of public high schools; 
(D)“Tuition Fee” shall refer to the fee representing direct costs of instruction and training 
facilities; 
(E)“Other School Fees” refers to those fees which cover the other necessary costs 
supportive of instruction, including, but not limited to medical and dental, athletic, library and 
laboratory fees. 
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However, fees related to membership in students organizations or college activities may 
be collected, provided that non-payment of these fees shall not in any case prejudice the 
enrollment or graduation of a qualified beneficiary. 
SECTION 4. Implementation of Free College Education. - The system of Free College 
Education as provided in this Act, shall commence in the School Year following approval of this 
Act. Qualified beneficiaries intending to enroll or already enrolled in ICT course offerings in 
state colleges and universities shall be free from payment of tuition and other school fees and 
shall be entitled to such other incentives or subsidies as may be granted in accordance with such 
rules and regulations to be promulgated to carry out the provisions of this Act: Provided, that 
nothing in this Act shall cause or authorize the reduction or removal of any benefit which the 
national or local government may be granted to the students prior to the enactment of this Act. 
SECTION 5. Formulation of ICT Curriculum. - The Commission on Higher Education 
(CHED) shall formulate a two-year college curriculum geared to provide students with highly 
competitive training or skills consistent with the manpower demands of a highly competitive 
business environment. 
SECTION 6. Limitation. - The right of any student to avail of free college education 
shall terminate is he fails for two (2) consecutive semesters in the majority of the subjects in 
which he is enrolled during the course of his study. 
SECTION I. Place of Study and Admission. - The qualified beneficiary shall take his 
free college education in state colleges or universities of his choice situated in the city or 
province where he resides. 
Should there be no state college or university in the city or province where he resides or 
where the university or college facilities cannot accommodate all qualified beneficiaries, the 
student may take his free college benefit in any college or university within the region nearest to 
his place of residence. In the absence of public universities or colleges within the region of his 
residence, the qualified student beneficiary may avail of the privilege in any public or state 
college or university in any region nearest to the province where he resides. 
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SECTION 8. Obligation of State Colleges. - The State colleges or universities have the 
obligation to admit qualified beneficiaries, subject only to limitation of funding and facilities. A 
violation of this obligation shall constitute a ground for dismissal of the school authorities 
concerned. 
SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The CHED, in coordination with 
the association of state colleges and universities, shall issue the necessary implementing rules 
and regulations within one hundred twenty (120) days from effectivity of this Act. 
SECTION 10. Funding, - Adequate funds shall he earmarked by the President from 
available funds in the National Treasury for the initial implementation of this Act. The President 
shall likewise utilize for the purpose available funds or savings of the CHED or the Department 
of Education. Funds needed for the ensuing fiscal years for the implementation of this Act shall 
be included in the appropriations of State universities and colleges in the General Appropriations 
Act. 
SECTION 11. Separability Clause. - If any part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and 
subsisting. 
SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with the provisions of this act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 13. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers ofgeneral circulation. 
Approved, 
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