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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWEENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo. 212

Introduced by Representative Ma. Victoria Co-Pilar

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Philippine Constitution declares that it is the policy of the State to
give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to
foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total
human development. For millions of Filipinos, education represents as a pathway
out of poverty and into a life of dignity and opportunity.

Education is universally recognized as a fundamental human right—a
powerful tool for individual empowerment and national development. Yet in the
Philippines, the ideal of equal access to quality education remains far from reality.
Despite constitutional guarantees, access to education is still largely a privilege
rather than a right. Structural inequalities and lack of support systems continue to
prevent many deserving and aspiring Filipino youth from reaching their full
potential.

This bill seeks to address these inequities by establishing Handog na
Oportunidad Para sa Edukasyon (HOPE) Centers in every city and municipality
across the country. These centers will serve as scholarship hubs—centralized and
accessible locations where students can obtain information on available
scholarships offered by public and private entities. The HOPE Centers will also
manage an integrated system for scholarship application, ensuring the efficient,
timely, and transparent delivery of educational opportunities.

By institutionalizing HOPE Centers, we aim to bring quality education
closer to every Filipino.

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

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 772

Introduced by Representative Ma. Victoria Co-Pilar

AN ACT
MANDATING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS TO ESTABLISH,
MAINTAIN AND OPERATE HANDOG NA OPORTUNIDAD PARA SA.
EDUKASYON (HOPE) CENTERS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS.
THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in

Congress assembled:

Section 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known and cited as the “Handog na
Oportunidad Para sa Edukasyon (HOPE) Center Act”.

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared a policy of the State to
protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality and accessible education at
all levels, and to take appropriate steps to make scholarship programs and
opportunities available and reachable to all deserving students, especially to the

underprivileged.

Sec. 3. Establishment of Handog na Oportunidad Para sa Edukasyon Center or
HOPE Center - To carry out the declared policy in the preceding section, there shall
be established in all cities and municipalities a Handog na Oportunidad Para sa
Edukasyon Center, hereinafter referred to as HOPE Center, which shall be operated
and maintained by the local government units (LGUs); Provided, That in Highly


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Urbanized Cities (HUCs), a HOPE Center may be established in every
congressional district.

The HOPE Centers shall be linked to the regional offices of the Commission
on Higher Education (CHED) for coordination and technical supervision, and to
the CHED central office to constitute the national scholarship program network.

The HOPE Center shalll be under the office of the city or municipal mayor.
The HOPE Center shall be initially organized by and composed of a HOPE
manager and may be assisted by a HOPE officer (HO) as may be determined by
the LGU.

Sec. 4. Objectives of the HOPE Center - The HOPE Center shall ensure the
prompt, timely, and efficient delivery of scholarship programs and opportunities,
and provision of information of the same. Specifically, the HOPE Center shall:

a) Provide a venue where people could simultaneously explore various
scholarship programs and opportunities;

b) Serve as referral and information center for the various scholarship grants,
student loan programs, subsidies, and other incentives awarded by
different public and private institutions or persons;

¢) Provide the public with adequate information on available scholarship
programs and opportunities; and

d) Network with other HOPE Centers for additional scholarships or

scholarship exchange purposes.

Sec. 5. Functions of the HOPE Center - The HOPE Center shall have the
following functions:

a) Create a repository of all available scholarship grants, student loan
programs, subsidies, and other incentives awarded by different public and
private institutions or persons;

b) Set up an integrated system of scholarship applications and maintain a
registry of applicants, making sure all underprivileged are registered
therein;

c) Assist the scholarship applicants in the preparation and submission of

necessary documents as may be required by the public and/or private


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institutions or persons awarding scholarship grants, student loan
programs, subsidies, and other incentives;

d) Conduct communication and information caravan for scholarship
applications, and programs and opportunities; and

°)

Deliver other functions incidental to the foregoing and as may be necessary

for the effective and efficient implementation of this Act.

Sec. 6. Role of CHED - It shall be the responsibility of CHED to:

a)

Provide technical supervision, coordination and capacity-building to the
HOPE Centers;

b) Establish and maintain an electronic registry of scholarship programs and

opportunities, and name of scholarship applicants as part of the overall
scholarship program network;

c) Set standards for the establishment and operation of the HOPE Centers, and

qualification standards for the HOPE Center personnel;

) Extend other services of the HOPE Center to the LGU including the conduct
of scholarship caravans, seminars, and other activities; and

e) Monitor, assess, and evaluate the performance of the HOPE Centers.

Sec. 7. Role of LGUs - The LGUs, in coordination with CHED, shall establish
the HOPE Centers. It shall be the responsibility of the concerned LGU to:
a) Operate and maintain the HOPE Center;
b) Ensure compliance with the operational standards set by CHED;
©) Extend such assistance and services as may be necessary in the promotion
of scholarship programs and opportunities within the area of jurisdiction;
and

d) Submit to CHED a periodic performance and accomplishment reports.

Sec. 8. Ministerial Duty to Receive Scholarship Applications - No person shall
be prohibited to apply for more than one scholarship program or opportunity,
unless it is proscribed by one of the scholarship providers. The HOPE Center shall
have the ministerial duty to receive all of the scholarship applications which have
substantially complied with the requirements, subject to the limitations prescribed
by the applicable scholarship provider.


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Sec. 9. Information Campaign for Scholarship Programs - The CHED, in
partnership with the LGUs, shall intensify its communication and information
campaign for scholarship programs and provide the public with the latest
available scholarship grants, student loan programs, subsidies, and other

incentives awarded by different public and private institutions or persons.

The CHED, in collaboration with the Department of Information and
Communications Technology, shall make full use of the latest technology to
disseminate information to reach every Filipino. The awareness caravan must
increase the number of scholarship applicants and successful beneficiaries of

various scholarship programs and opportunities.

Sec. 9. Appropriation - The funding for the operation and maintenance of
the HOPE Center shalll be provided by the LGU from its internal revenue allotment

and other internally generated income of the LGU concerned.

Funds for the provision of technical assistance, training and supervision of
the HOPE Center shall be included in the budget of CHED in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

The amount necessary to carry out the initial implementation of this Act,
shall be charged against the current Fiscal Year Appropriations of the concerned
offices. Thereafter, the amount necessary to implement the provisions of this Act
shall be included by the Department of Budget and Management in the annual
General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations - Within ninety (90) days after
the approval of this Act, the Commission on Higher Education shall promulgate
the necessary implementing rules and regulations for the effective implementation
of this Act.

Sec. 11. Separability Clause - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise
affected shall remain valid and subsisting.


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Sec. 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 provision of this Act is hereby repealed,
modified, or amended accordingly.

Sec 13. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

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

Approved,