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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No._1523

introduced by REPRESENTATIVES ALFREDO A. GARBIN, Jr. and
ELIZALDY S. CO.

AN ACT
GRANTING PRIVILEGES TO STUDEN'IS AT ALL LEVELS.
IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS:

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Many of today’s youth fail to enter and finish school due to the rising cost of tuition fees
and the price hike of commodities such as books and school supplies. The cost of education has
considerably increased over the years and at present, only a fortunate handful are able to go to

school and actually finish tertiary education

‘The proposed bill seeks to ease the pressure of high educational costs imposed upon
students on a day-to-day basis by granting additional privileges and discounts to students on
basic goods and services such as transportation, basic school supplies, tuition fees, and admission

tees to galleries and museums.

If the government is able to pass a law providing discounts to senior citizens and persons
with disabilities, then it is about time that we consider the plight of students who are our nation’s

future.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought

8.CO



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 1523

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVES ALFREDO A. GARBIN, Jr. and
ELIZALDY S. CO

AN ACT
GRANTING PRIVILEGES TO STUDENTS AT ALL LEVELS
IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Be i enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

assembled:

SECTION I. Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Student Privilege Act of 2016.

SECTION 2. Declaration of P«

icy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to prioritize
quality education and take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all by easing the
pressure of high educational costs through the grant of privileges and discounts to students on basic

goods and services.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean’

a. Student — refers to any resident citizen of the Philippines, regardless of age, and duly
enrolled in the elementary, secondary, or tertiary level in any public or private academic
institution recognized by the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on
Higher Education (CHED);

b. Discount — refers to an amount deducted or counted off from the cost of goods or services:

c. Education Services — refer to education-related expenditures such but not limited to the

purchase of books and school supplies.

SECTION 4. Benefits and Privileges. — Upon presentation of a Student Privilege
Identification Card provided for under Section 5 of this Act, a student shall be entitled to the following:


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a, Twenty percent (20%) discount in actual fare for land transporiation travel in Public Utility
Buses (PUBs), Public Utility Jeepneys (PUJs), taxis, Asian Utility Vehicles (AUVs), shuttle
services and public railways, including Light Rail ‘Transit (LRT), Mass Rail ‘Transit (MR'T),
and Philippine National Railways (PNR);

b. Ten percent (10%) discount on the sale of textbooks and other basic school supplies;

¢. Five percent (5%) discount on admission fees charged by theaters, art gaileries, jibraries

stage theaters, and cultural events; and

. Free admission to museums and national historical shrines except during school activities
such as field trips, and subject to capacity and availability to be determined by the National
Museum and/or the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

All establishments and institutions concemed shall post or caused to be posted. in conspicuous
places within their premises, notices indicating the benefits provided for under this Act.

SECTION 5. Student Privilege Identification Card. — For purposes of this Act, the DepEd or
the CHED, as may be applicable, shall issue a Student Privilege Identification Card to students, duly
signed and validated by the heads of their respective schools. The Student Privilege Identification Card
shall properly identify the student and contain the list of privileges granted by this Act and shall be
renewed annually. It is non-transferable and violation hereof shall be a ground for the forfeiture of the

privileges.

SECTION 6. Non-Dimunition of Benefits. — Nothing in this Act shall be construed to
diminish or abolish existing privileges granted by other laws to students.

CTION 7. Penalties. — Violation of any provision of this Act shall be punished, after duc

notice and hearing, according to the following:

a. For the first violation, suspension of the license to operate or the business permit of the
establishment or person concerned for not less than two (2) weeks but not more than four
(4) weeks and a fine of not less than Twenty Thousand Pesos (P20,000.00) but not more
than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00).

b. For any subsequent violation, suspension of the license to operate or the business permit of
the establishment or the person concerned for not less than four (4) weeks and a fine of not
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less than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00), but not exceeding Two Hundred Fitty
‘Thousand Pesos (P250,000.00).

If the offender is a corporation, partnership, organization or any similar entity, the officials
thereof directly involved such as the president, general manager, managing partner, or such other

oflicer charged with the management of the business affairs shall be liable therefor.

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules. - The DepEd and the CHED, in consultation with the
Department of Finance (DOF) and Department of Transportation (DOT®), National Museum (NM), and
National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), and other concerned private and public
agencies, shall issue the implementing rules and regulation to ensure the effective implementation of
this Act.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. — All provisions of laws, orders, decrees, including rules and
regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed and/or modified accordingly

SEC
unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in force and effect.

IN 10. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is held invalid or

SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days afier its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,