Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

6040
House Bill No. _

INTRODUCED BY
REP. ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A MECHANISM TO ENABLE POOR FILIPINO FAMILIES TO
HAVE AT LEAST ONE COLLEGE GRADUATE BY INSTITUTIONALIZING
THE EXPANDED STUDENT GRANTS-IN-AID PROGRAM FOR POVERTY
ALLEVIATION (ESGP-PA) AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Filipino family is the constant social security of the country. We believe
that whatever happens, we always go back to our families to seek refuge and
support.

According to the data provided by the United Nations’ Sustainable
Development Goals, some 750 million adults remained illiterate in 2016. The
baseline projections suggest that six percent of the world population will still be
living in extreme poverty in 2030, missing the target of ending poverty. UN
further notes that in 2018, one fifth of the world’s youth were not in education,
employment, or training, meaning that they were neither gaining professional
experience nor acquiring or developing skills through educational or vocational
programs in their prime years.

While it is stated in the 1987 Constitution that “the State shall protect and
promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and shall take
appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all,” education seems to
be the missing link in breaking the cycle of poverty among Filipino families.



Thus, the government must exert more efforts necessary to invest in its
people, enabling them to fulfill their aspirations through a support system that
aims to provide at least one college graduate per family.

Under this proposed policy, a student-grantee from among the household
beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program shall receive a
maximum of P60,000.00 per academic year to cover the cost of tuition and other
expenses to empower the student to complete his or her college degree.

This bill seeks to empower Filipino families, especially those who are living
below the poverty line, to the goal of achieving a better quality of life.

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

VARGAS


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Meteo Manila
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 8040

INTRODUCED BY
REP. ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A MECHANISM TO ENABLE POOR FILIPINO FAMILIES TO
HAVE AT LEAST ONE COLLEGE GRADUATE BY INSTITUTIONALIZING
THE EXPANDED STUDENT GRANTS-IN-AID PROGRAM FOR POVERTY
ALLEVIATION (ESGP-PA) 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 “One Family, One
Graduate Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and
promote the right of all Filipino citizens to quality education at all levels and
shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. Further,
it is the policy of the State to establish and maintain system of grants,
scholarships and subsidies, to help poor families rise above and contribute to
national development.

SECTION 3. Objective. - This Act aims to contribute to the National
Government's thrust to effectively address poverty by increasing the number of
graduates in higher education among poor household and by ensuring that these
graduates are employed in high- value accupations. This ensures that qualified
household beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino
Program (4Ps) shall have at least one family member who graduated from college.


SECTION 4. Establishment of an Expanded Student Grants-in-Aid Program
(for Poverty Alleviation. - An expanded Student Grants-in-Program for Poverty
(ESGP-PA) shall be established, which shall be exclusively granted and used for
the tertiary education of poor but deserving students belonging to indigent
households under the National Household Targeting System for Poverty
Reduction (NHTS-PR), identified by the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD), or information sector families. Potential student-grantees
shall be enrolled in State Universities and College (SUCs) in course offerings
aligned with the priorities of the government.

SECTION 5. Coverage. - Grantees of ESGP-PA shall be limited to poor but
deserving students, giving to 4Ps beneficiaries who are qualified to enroll in
selected SUCs to take up priority programs of the Commission on Higher
Education ( CHED).

SECTION 6. Entitlement. - A student-grantee shall be entitled to a maximum
of Sixty Thousand Pesos (P60,000,00) per academic year or Thirty Thousand
(P30,000,00) per semester. The amount shall cover the cost of tuition and other
school fees, academic and extra curricular expenses, purchase of textbook,
board and loading, transportation, clothing, medical needs and other valid
related education expenpeses and support services to complete the student-
grantee’s degree program.

SECTION 7. Selection of Student-Grantees and Role of the DSWD. - The
DSWD shall identify and validate potential student-grantees from among
household beneficiaries of the 4Ps Program, which shall be submitted to
participating SUCs for admission process. It shall likewise coordinate necessary
intervention for the student-grantee and family at the local level, and co-monitor
with CHED the implementation of the program.

SECTION 8. Creation of the National ESGP-PA Committee. - A National
ESGP-PA Committee shall be created, which shall be composed of the following:
. CHED Chairperson, as Chairperson of the Committee

. Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), member
. Secretary of the Department of Welfare and Development (DSWD), member
. Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), member

. President of the Philippines Associations of States Universities and

Colleges (PASUC), member

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SECTION 9. Functions of the National ESGP-PA Committee. - The Committee
shall have the following functions:

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2.

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. Re-allocate unfilled slots to other qually deserving students-grantees;
. Decide on appeals, grievances, camplaints, request for additional slots;

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Oversee the operation and implementation of the program;
Enchance the policies that will ensure that the service provided by the
program shall serve the target student-grantees;

Orient SUCs on the implematation of the program;

and

. Monitor and evaluable the administration and implematation of the

program.

SECTION 10. Qualifications of the Students-Grantees. - Student-Grantees
must have the following qualifications for the program:

1

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. Identified “4Ps” beneficia
. Physically and mentally fit;

. High school graduate or equivalent;

. No other higher education scholarship/ grant from public institutions;

Pass the entrance exam and academic requirements set by the SUCs;

. Pass the requirements set by the National ESGP-PA Committee; and
. Must enroll in CHED priority Programs.

SECTION 11. Responsibilities of Students-Grantees.

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2.

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4.

Carry a full load per semester as precrisbed in the curricumlum and finish
within therequired period of the program.

Maintain a satisfactory academic performance in accordance with policies
and standards of the SUCs.

Enter into a return service agreement of 2 years after graduation.

Adhere to the term and conditions stipulated in the contact.

SECTION 12. Responsibilities of Parents/ Guardian of the
‘Student/Grantees.

1.

Sign the contract with the SUCs as the executor of the program.

2. Ensure that related expenses and other incidental expenses for health and

clothing shall be paid on time.

. Ensure That recipient will religiously attent is/her classes, minimize

absences, and complete school requirements.

. Ensure that all financial benefits directly received by the grantee shall only

be spent on legitmate purposes and on time.


5. If the beneficiary is the head of the family, he shall assume the fore going
responsibilities to complete his studies.

SECTION 13. Monitoring and Reporting by State Universities and Colleges.
~ State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) where grantees of the ESGP-PA are
enrolled shall monitor and report to the ESGP-PA Committee the academic
performance of the grantees at the end of each academic year until the grantees
have graduated.

SECTION 14. Appropriations. - The DBM shall release directly to the respective
SUCs the amount of Two Billion Five Hundred Million Pesos (P2,500,000,000.00)
for the student grantees and thea ctivities of the program for each academic year,
which shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The CHED, in
consultation with the DSWD, DOLE, DBM, and PASUC shall promulgate the
necessary rules and regulations to carry out the provision of this Act, within six
(6) months from its effectivity.

SECTION 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof contrary to, or inconsistent With this Act, are hereby
modified or repealed accordingly.

SECTION 17. Separabality Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is held
unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall
remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 18. 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,