Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTA’
Quezon City

Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session

3106

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative

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
University!.

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

* Historical Enrollment Senior High School (Public, Private and SUCSLUCs) SY 2010-2011 to 2020-
2021 hitps://www deped.gov.ph/alternative-learning-system/resources/facts-and-figures/datasets/



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 in 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.

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 out-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 soug!

ATTY. IKY BITR}ICS” R. LUISTRO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3 106

Introduced by Representative

ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO
Second District, Batangas

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR UNIVERSAL EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
TO ALL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
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.

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 6. 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 7. 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 8. 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 9. 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 10. 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,