Expanding the Coverage of the Tertiary Education Subsidy

• CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES TWENTIETH CONGRESS First Regular Session HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H. No. 8476 BY REPRESENTATIVES ACIDRE, FRESNEDI, DIONISIO, CO, TINIO, ROMULO, TEODORO, CUA, DIMAGUILA, MONTES, ORETA, GARCIA (D.), TERENG, PADIERNOS, ROMUALDEZ (Y.M.), ROMUALDEZ (A.J.), ATAYDE, AGARAO, ZUBIRI, CRUZ (R.), SUANSING (M.A.), YAP (C.), RODRIGUEZ (E.), TAN (K.M.), FLORES, DE LIMA, SALCEDA, VILLANUEVA, OLIVAREZ, RIDON, DY (F.), MARCOS, LIBANAN, RODRIGUEZ (R.), ESCUDERO, ALANO, AGYAO, CORVERA, GARCIA (K.H.), SAGARBARRIA, LUMAYAG, GATCHALIAN, DAZA, DIOKNO, CENDAÑA, LOPEZ, BAUTISTA (J.M.), AMANTE, CALDERON, AMATONG, SAN FERNANDO, SALVADOR, VERGARA, ELAGO, ROMAN, MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, MADRONA, RECTO, BRIONES, TEVES, ROQUE, ABALOS, YAP (A.), LORIA, SANTOS (M.A.S.), BELTRAN, HERNANDEZ (F.), ESPINA, CELESTE, CAGAS, CENIZA, DALOG, POE, TOLENTINO, BENITEZ (J.M.), CRUZ (A.), GOMEZ, PANCHO, ODUCADO, MOMO, BARONDA, ZAMORA (M.C.), ARENAS, MENDOZA, YU (J.K.), LAGDAMEO (M.Y.M.), TTENG, LABADLABAD, GONZALES (A.), TAN (J.), ONGCHUAN, ESPARES, HERNANDEZ (C.A.), UY (R.), DIMAPORO (S.A.), AQUINO-MAGSAYSAY, GONZALES (A.M.), CHAN (J.F.N.J.), PRIMICIAS-AGABAS, GARIN AND UY (D.C.) AN ACT EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF THE TERTIARY EDUCATION SUBSIDY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10931, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY TERTIARY EDUCATION ACT", AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 3 of Republic Act (RA) No. 10931, or the

"Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act," is hereby amended to read 3 as follows: "SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act: xxx (1) POOR AND ACADEMICALLY QUALIFIED STUDENT REFERS TO A STUDENT WHO BELONGS TO A HOUSEHOLD = RANKED AS "POOR" BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT BASED ON PROOF OF INCOME AS PRESENTED TO THE UNIFAST BOARD, AND WHO CONSISTENTLY MEETS THE ACADEMIC RETENTION

TO AVAILABLE FUNDS, THE REMAINING TES SLOTS SHALL BE AWARDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RANKING OF APPLICANTS BASED ON THEIR PER CAPITA HOUSEHOLD INCOME USING THE COMMUNITY-BASED MONITORING SYSTEM (CBMS) MANDATED UNDER R.A. NO. 11315, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "COMMUNITY- BASED MONITORING SYSTEM ACT", OR SUBMITTED DOCUMENTS AS PROOF OF INCOME: PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT students WHO ARE not part of the [Listahanan 2.01, CBMS ranked according to estimated per capita household income based on [submitted documentation of THE proof of income to be determined by the UniFAST Board SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE TES: Provided, further, That such prioritization shall not apply to Filipino students in cities and municipalities with no existing SUC or LUC campus AND PUBLIC TVI: PROVIDED, FINALLY, THAT FILIPINO STUDENTS ENROLLED IN UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS IN PRIVATE HEIS IN CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES WHERE A SUC OR LUC EXISTS, BUT DOES NOT OFFER COMPARABLE OR EQUIVALENT DEGREE PROGRAMS, SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE TES. TO SUPPORT THE COST OF TERTIARY EDUCATION OR ANY PART OR PORTION THEREOF, [Tithe TES may, among others, land to support the cost of tertiary education or any part or portion thereof, cover the following: a Full Ultution and other school fees (TOSF) in privat les, and pivale of LGo-operated TVis, which shall de equivaler to the tuition and other school fees of the nearest SUC or state-run TVI in their respective areas: PROVIDED, THAT SUCH TOSF SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AVERAGE AMOUNT SPENT BY THE GOVERNMENT PER STUDENT UNDER THE FREE HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN SUCS AND LUCS: PROVIDED, FURTHER, IN CASES WHERE THE TOSF EXCEED THIS AVERAGE AMOUNT, THE UNIFAST BOARD SHALL ADMINISTER GUIDELINES IN SETTING THE AMOUNT OF THE TES; supplies, personal expenses, including a reasonable allowance for the documented rental or purchase of a personal computer or laptop] DESKTOP OR PORTABLE COMPUTER, WHEN APPLICABLE [and other education related expenses]; by the studen, NAPLIAm and board costs TO BE incurred related For dee with a disabli cudito spe for series, personal assistance, transportation, equipment, and supplies that are reasonably incurred: and

(e) For a student in a program requiring professional license or certification, the one (1)-time cost of obtaining the first professional credentials or qualifications, which may include the following: application fees, notarial fees, review classes fees, insurance premium fees and documentation fees: Provided, That the amount of subsidy shall be based on the guidelines set forth by the UniFAST Board and on the annual budgetary appropriation for this purpose. xxx ALL TES BENEFICIARIES SHALL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE SUCH BENEFITS OR SUBSIDY UNTIL THEY COMPLETE THEIR POST-SECONDARY TECHNICAL- VOCATIONAL COURSE OR HIGHER EDUCATION DEGREE PROGRAM: PROVIDED, THAT THEY COMPLY WITH THE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES OF THE HEIS AND TVIS."

SEC. 5. A new Section 7-A is hereby inserted after Section 7 of R.A. No. 10931,

to read as follows: "SEC. T-A VOUCHER SYSTEM FOR POOR AND ACADEMICALLY QUALIFIED STUDENTS OF PRIVATE HEIS AND TVIS. - THERE SHALL BE A PROPORTIONAL BUDGETARY ALLOCATION TO SUPPORT POOR AND ACADEMICALLY QUALIFIED STUDENTS THROUGH A PORTABLE VOUCHER SYSTEM TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE UNIFAST BOARD: THAT SHALL ALLOW BENEFICIARIES TO STUDY IN PRIVATE HEIS AND PRIVATE TVIS IN CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THERE ARE EXISTING SUGS, LUCS, AND PUBLIC TVIs. THE ELIGIBILITY OF STUDENTS UNDER THE VOUCHER SYSTEM SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE BOARD, BASED REASONABLE ECONOMIC AND ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS, NOT LATER THAN THE START OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR AS DETERMINED BY THE CHED, AND, IN THE CASE OF TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL NOT LATER THAN THE PERIOD DESIGNATED BY STUDENTS, THE TESDA, AND PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SPECIFIC TRAINING PROGRAM OR COURSE. STUDENTS OF PRIVATE HEIS AND PRIVATE TVIs WHO ARE TES GRANTEES CAN NO LONGER QUALIFY FOR THE VOUCHER SYSTEM. ALL VOUCHERS ISSUED UNDER THIS ACT SHALL BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING POOR AND ACADEMICALLY QUALIFIED STUDENTS WHO OPT TO STUDY IN PRIVATE HEIS AND PRIVATE TVIS IN CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THERE ARE EXISTING SUCS, LUGS AND PUBLIC TVIS.

FOR THIS PURPOSE, AND WITHIN SIXTY (60) DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE COST OF TUITION AND MISCELLANEOUS FEES FOR PRIVATE HEIS AND TVIS IN THE COUNTRY, WHICH SHALL BE THE NOMINAL VALUE OF THE VOUCHER UNDER THE SYSTEM. THE AMOUNT OF TUITION AND MISCELLANEOUS FEES SHALL BE REVIEWED EVERY THREE (3) YEARS TO ALLOW FOR ADJUSTMENTS DUE TO INFLATION." :

SEC. 6. A new Section 9 shall be inserted, to read as follows, with the

succeeding provisions renumbered accordingly: "SEC. 9. STRENGTHENING THE VALIDATION AND VERIFICATION FUNCTIONS OF CHED REGIONAL OFFICES TO IMPLEMENT THE UAQTE AND STUFAPS PROGRAMS. - EACH CHEDRO SHALL STRENGTHEN ITS VALIDATION AND VERIFICATION FUNCTIONS TO REVIEW, VALIDATE, AND VERIFY THE DOCUMENTARY SUBMISSIONS FROM HEIS OR STUDENTS TO ENSURE THEIR ADHERENCE TO EXISTING LAWS TO EXISTING LAWS, ORDERS, AND RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE RELEVANT STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS (STUFAPS) AND THE UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY THE CHED. FOR THIS PURPOSE, CHED MAY DETERMINE THE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THIS FUNCTION, SUBJECT TO EVALUATION AND APPROVAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT (DBM), AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH CIVIL SERVICE LAWS LAWS AND PERTINENT LAW, RULES, RULES AND REGULATIONS."

SEC. 7. A new Section 10 shall be inserted, to read as follows, with the

succeeding provisions, renumbered accordingly: "SEC. 10. UAQTE GRIEVANCE MECHANISM. - A GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE SHALL EACH BE ESTABLISHED WITHIN BOTH THE CHED AND THE TESDA, WHICH SHALL ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE AND UPDATED INFORMATION ABOUT THE GRIEVANCE MECHANISM AND ITS PROCESS ARE ACCESSIBLE TO THE STUDENTS, HEIS, AND TVIs. THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED IN THE CHED SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATING AND RESOLVING DISPUTES AND COMPLAINTS BY STUDENTS AND HEIS IN RELATION TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT. THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE SHALL INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE UNIFAST.

-- THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED IN THE TESDA SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE IN INVESTIGATING AND RESOLVING DISPUTES AND COMPLAINTS BY STUDENTS AND TVIS IN RELATION TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT. THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE SHALL INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE UNIFAST."

SEC. 8. Sections 9 to 14 of R.A. No. 10931 are hereby renumbered as

Sections 11 to 16.

SEC. 9. Section 15 of R.A. No. 10931 is hereby amended and

renumbered as Section 17, to read as follows: - The amounts necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, specifically Sections 4, 5, 7, [and] 8, AND [9] 11 shall be included in the Appropriations Act (GAA) and shall be appropriated under THE SUCs, CHED and TESDA in accordance with the provisions of this Act: Provided, That an amount equivalent to not more than three percent (3%) of the TES and student loan program for tertiary education provided under this Act may be used as administrative cost under the

SEC. 10. Sections 16 and 17 of R.A. No. 10931 are hereby renumbered

accordingly.

SEC. 11. Section 18 of R.A. No. 10931 is hereby amended and renumbered as

Section 20, to read as follows:

"SEC. [18] 20. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the UniFAST Board, in consultation with the CHED, the TESDA, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT DSWD, OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT and other relevant stakeholders in higher technical-VOCATIONAL education, shall promulgate the REVISED implementing rules and regulations necessary to ensure the efficient and effective implementation of this Act: Provided, That the failure of the Board to promulgate the said rules and regulations shall not prevent or delay the effectivity and impiementation of this Act [in accordance with Section 21 hereofl.*

SEC. 12. Sections 19 and 20 of R.A. No. 10931 are hereby renumbered

accordingly.

SEC. 13. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its COMPLETI

ublication in the Officia/ Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulatior Approved,