Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 5832

INTRODUCED BY HON.LUIS JOSE ANGEL N. CAMPOS, JR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Itis a known fact that for some reason or the other some of our senior
citizens could not to complete or start their education. However, advance
age should not be a reason to deny a person his/her basic right to quality
education,

Section 1, Article XIV, of the Philippine Constitution states 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.”

The right of any person, regardless of age, to access quality education
is enshrined in our Constitution. In addition, the United Nations
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared that
it “believes that education is a human right for all throughout life and that
access must be matched by quality”.

Under the foregoing principles senior citizens who still wish to
continue, finish or even start their formal education should be given such
opportunity.

This bill seeks to give our senior citizens such opportunity by
exempting them from paying tuition fees in public schools and universities.

For the foregoing reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 5832

INTRODUCED BY HON.LUIS JOSE ANGEL N. CAMPOS, JR

AN ACT PROVIDING FREE EDUCATION TO SENIOR CITIZENS.

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 as “Free Education
for Seniors Act”.

SECTION 2: Declaration of Policy — It is the State’s duty to provide its
citizens access to quality education regardless of their age. This bill seeks to
ensure that quality education is made available to Senior Citizens by
exempting them from the payment of tuition fees in any public school.

SECTION 3: Exemption from the payment of tuition fees - Senior Citizens
as defined in this Act shall be exempt from paying tuition fees in any public
school in the Philippines.

Senior Citizens availing of this exemption shall still be required to
comply with the minimum admission requirements of the school he/she
wishes to enroll in.

No additional academic requirements shall be imposed on Senior
Citizens to avail of the exemption from payment of tuition fees under this
Act.

SECTION 4: Who are considered Senior Citizens - For the purpose of
availing the exemption from payment of tuition fees under this Act, any
Filipino who is already seventy (70) years old or older shall be considered a
Senior Citizen,


SECTION 5: Which schools are considered public - For the purposes of
this Act, any school which receives regular funding from the government
shall be considered a public school.

SECTION 6: Implementing rules and regulations - Within thirty (30)
days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of Education together
with the Commission on Higher Education, shall promulgate the necessary
rules and regulations to further carry out this Act.

SECTION 7: Separability clause - If any part or provision of this Act is
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts thereof not affected
thereby shall remain valid.

SECTION 8: Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulation or part thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or
amended accordingly.

SECTION 9: Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days upon completion of its publication in at least two (2) national
newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,