Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
Introduced by: 
ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 
Second District, Batangas 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Education plays a critical role in nation building.  It helps our people gain 
knowledge as they become active citizens of our country contributing to its 
growth and development.   
As mandated by the Constitution, the State shall promote and make 
quality education accessible to all Filipino citizens.  With the enactment of 
Republic Act No. 10533, the Philippine basic education was lengthened from ten 
to thirteen years.  The Department of Education (Dep-Ed) then developed the 
Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS VP) aimed to provide financial 
assistance in form of vouchers to qualified senior high school students.  Such 
voucher program was made available only to students enrolled into private 
educational institutions and would only cover the tuition fees.   
According to the Dep-Ed’s report for School Year 2020-2021, there are at 
least 3.2 million enrolled students in public and private SHS education 
institutions.  Approximately 1.189 million were enrolled in private schools, 1.987 
million students were enrolled in public schools, while around fifty-eight 
thousand two hundred (58,200) were enrolled in SUC and Local University1. 
Secondary education is a crucial part in the educational life of our young 
constituents wherein it is the stage in which a child will figure out what career 
path he or she will be taking going forward.  Likewise, accomplishing the senior 
high school level will enable our students to acquire the necessary skills wherein 
they may complement our labor force in case they may decide to work and not 
pursue tertiary education due to a lot of factors.  Such is envisioned when 
Republic Act No. 10533 also known as the Enhance Basic Education Act of 2013 
or the K to 12 Law, was enacted.  The said law received mixed responses iun its 
implementation – primarily, because the extension of the years in basic 
education would entail additional cost to families.  While the Dep-Ed’s effort to 
augment the cost of additional years of schooling for our young generation, it is 
only reserved for students enrolled in private schools and does not cover the cost 
of food, transportation and lodging, if necessary. 
1 Historical Enrollment Senior High School (Public, Private and SUCsLUCs) SY 2010-2011 to 2020-2021 
https://www.deped.gov.ph/alternative-learning-system/resources/facts-and-figures/datasets/ 
July 22, 2022
4:54 pm
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In our government’s effort to ensure that its citizens have greater access 
to education, there is still a gap which may discourage our young generation and 
their families to continue pursuing their dreams of finishing their education and 
be part of our community as effective and active citizens contributing to our 
progress and nation-building.  Unlike the various scholarships and grant-in-aid 
programs the State has provided for students in tertiary education which also 
cover the cost of living allowance, there is still a need to provide further 
assistance to our students in the senior high school level to augment the cost of 
additional two years of education level, especially now that the prices of basic 
commodities and cost of transportation is on the rise, notwithstanding the 
economic difficulties brought about by the effects of the COVID 19 pandemic and 
other global factors. 
This bill seeks to provide our students enrolled in senior high school with 
additional assistance from the government regardless of their families’ financial 
standing.  Like the Universal Healthcare Law, this measure aims to lessen the 
our-of-pocket expenses of families while ensuring that their children will have 
greater access to education.  Lastly, if enacted into a law, it shall help encourage 
our young generation and their families to continue their education and bridge 
the gap between secondary and tertiary education. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
Introduced by: 
ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY-BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 
Second District, Batangas 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR UNIVERSAL EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE 
TO ALL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL  
AND COLLEGE STUDENTS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Universal Educational 
Assistance to Senior High School Students Act.” 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – Article XIV, Section 1 of the Constitution 
guarantees the right of every Filipino to accessible and quality basic education.  
The Constitution further mandates the State to establish a system of, among 
others, subsidies, and incentives to deserving individuals in both public and 
private schools (Article XIV, Section 2.3). 
Section 2 of Republic Act No. 10533 also known as the Enhanced Basic 
Education Act of 2013 states that the State shall establish a complete, adequate, 
and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the people, the 
country and society-at-large.   
The State shall recognize the right of its citizens to quality education and its 
corresponding obligation to provide students with utmost assistance to complete 
their education. Therefore, the State shall undertake steps to extend financial 
assistance to all Senior High School students regardless of their families’ 
financial capabilities. 
Section 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
a) Universal Educational Assistance for Senior High School refers to the
assistance the government shall provide that may be used for necessary
expenses for food, transportation and lodging that Senior High School,
students incur while studying.
b) Senior High School (SHS) Students refers to those enrolled in Grade 11 or
Grade 12 whether in public or private institutions.
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c) Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS VP) refers to the voucher 
program the Department of Education (Dep-Ed) developed wherein 
subsidies in a form of vouchers are provided to qualified Senior High 
School learners enrolled in SHS-VP participating Senior High Schools. 
 
Section 4. Universal Educational Assistance for Senior High School.  All 
Filipino Senior High School enrolled in senior high school educational institution 
in the Philippines shall receive in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (Php 
5,000.00) as educational assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and 
Development (DSWD), who shall be the primary implementor of the program.  
The assistance shall be divided into two (2) tranches in every school year.  
 
Section 5. Eligibility for Universal Educational Assistance. –  
 
a) Learners who completed Junior High School in public high schools 
operated by Dep-Ed, including private educational institutions with a 
permit or granted with government recognition to operate and enrolled for 
Senior High School level; 
b) Learners who completed Grade 10 as passers of the Alternative Learning 
System Accreditation and Equivalency (ALS A&E) and enrolled for Senior 
High School level; and 
c) Passers of the Presentation Portfolio Assessment, and of the Philippine 
Education Placement Test (PEPT) enrolled for Senior High School level. 
 
Senior High School Students are entitled to receive the benefits of this Act for 
a maximum period of two (2) years.  
 
Section 7. Implementation. – The DSWD, in coordination with the Dep-Ed, 
shall formulate the implementing rules and regulations of this Act.  The DSWD 
shall coordinate with the Dep-Ed in verifying and validating the documents that 
will be submitted by the beneficiary and shall maintain a database of enrolled 
students under the jurisdiction of their respective regional offices. 
 
Section 8. Penalties. – The following acts shall be punished by:  
 
a) prision correccional or imprisonment ranging from six (6) months and 1 
day to six (6) years and a fine of Twenty-Five Thousand Pesos (Php 
25,000.00) for parents who availed of the program for their child using 
falsified documents;  
 
b) Prision correccional or imprisonment ranging from six (6) months and 1 
day to six (6) years and a fine of Twenty-Five Thousand Pesos (Php 
25,000.00) for public officers and employees who committed acts of 
falsification defined under the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines in 
order to include beneficiaries disqualified from the provisions of this Act, 
without prejudice to other administrative charges as may be filed against 
such persons. 
 
Section 8. Appropriations – The amount necessary to carry out the provisions 
of this Act shall be included in the budget of concerned government agencies in 
the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and 
thereafter. 
 
Section 9. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, executive orders, 
administrative orders or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.  


 
 
 
Section 10. Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in 
full force and effect. 
 
Section 11.  Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,