Expanding the Coverage of the Tertiary Education Subsidy

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session ) AUG -6 P2:14 SENATE RECE NED B S. No. 1042 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 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" EXPLANATORY NOTE Quality, accessible, and inclusive education has always been among the priorities of the government pursuant to the Constitutional mandate that the State shall "establish and maintain a system of scholarship grants, student loan programs, subsidies, and other incentives which shall be available to deserving students in both public and private schools, especially to the underprivileged." In 2017, Republic Act No. 10931, otherwise known as the "Universal Access to Quality Education Act," was enacted to make education, particularly higher and technical-vocational education, accessible to all through adequate funding and partnership with private educational institutions. By virtue of the said law, Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) was established in all state universities and colleges (SUCs), local universities and colleges (LUCs), private higher education institutions (HEIs) and all technical-vocational institutions (TVIs).

In light of making education more inclusive, this proposed measure seeks to amend R.A. 10931 by also giving proportional budgetary allocation to poor and academically competent students who opt to study in private institutions even if there are existing public institutions in their areas. Further, TES beneficiaries with good scholastic records and who comply with residency requirements of HEIs and TVIs will continue to receive the benefits under the law until they complete post-secondary technical-vocational course or higher education degree program. In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is highly recommended. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA

2011 TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AUG -6 P2:14 First Regular Session SENATE RECEMEO EN S. No. _ 1042 Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 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" Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Section 7 of Republic Act No, 10931 or the "Universal Access to

Quality Tertiary Education Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: "Sec. 7. TES for Filipino Students. - To support the cost of tertiary education or any part or portion thereof, a TES is hereby established IN ALL SUCS, LUCS, PRIVATE HEIS AND TVIS for all Filipino students who [shall] enroll in THE undergraduate, post-secondary TERTIARY EDUCATION OR TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL TRAINING program[s] [of-SUGs, LUCs, private HEIs and all TVIS] OF THEIR CHOICE. The TES shall be administered by the UniFAST Board and the amount necessary to fund the TES shall be included in the RESPECTIVE budgets of the CHED and the TESDA: Provided, That prioritization shall be given to QUALIFIED students in the following order: (a) students ENROLLED IN SUCS, LUCS and PUBLIC TVIs who are

part of households included in the UPDATED OR MOST RECENT Listahanan 2.0, ranked according to the estimated per capita household income; [and] (b) students ENROLLED IN SUCS, LUCS and PUBLIC TVIS WHO ARE not part of the Listahanan 2.0, ranked according to estimated per capita household income based on submitted documentation of proof of income to be determined by the UniFAST Board [:Provided, further, That such prioritization shall not apply to Filipino students in cities and municipalities with no existing SUG or LUG campus]; (C) STUDENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN PRIVATE HEIS AND TVIS IN CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THERE ARE NO ESTABLISHED SUC, LUC, OR PUBLIC TVI; AND (D) STUDENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN PRIVATE HEIS AND TVIS IN CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THERE ARE ESTABLISHED SUCS, LUCS, OR PUBLIC TVIS: PROVIDED, THAT THE CHED, IN CONSULTATION WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES CONCERNED AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT, SHALL DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF SUBSIDIES TO BE GRANTED, AND THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR TES BENEFICIARIES. "TO SUPPORT THE COST OF TERTIARY EDUCATION OR ANY PART OR PORTION THEREOF, [Fithe TES may, among others, Land to support the cost of tertiary education or any part or portion thereof] cover the following: "(a) Tuition and other school fees in private HEls, and private or LGU-operated TVIs which shall be equivalent to the tuition and other school fees of the nearest SUG or state-run TVI in their respective areas; "(b) [An] [alAllowance for books, SCHOOL supplies, transportation TO AND FROM SCHOOL, and [miscellaneous

personal expenses including a] reasonable allowance for the documented rental or purchase of a [personal computer or taptop] DESKTOP OR PORTABLE COMPUTERS and other education-related expenses, IF APPLICABLE; "(c) An allowance for room and board costs incurred by the student IF APPLICABLE; "(d) xxx; AND "(e) XXX." "ALL TES BENEFICIARIES SHALL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE SUCH BENEFITS OR SUBSIDY UNTIL THE COMPLETION OF THEIR RESPECTIVE UNDERGRADUATE, POST-SECONDARY TERTIARY EDUCATION OR TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS: PROVIDED, THAT THE TES BENEFICIARIES SHALL COMPLY WITH THE RETENTION AND RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE HEIS AND TVIS."

Sec. 2. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or

unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

Sec. 3. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive

order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, amended accordingly.

Sec. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect immediately after its publication

in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,