TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JIL -3 P6:06 SENATE **. S. No. 123 Introduced by Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino IV AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING STANDARDS FOR RELATED LEARNING EXPERIENCES (RLE) IN NURSING EDUCATION, PROHIBITING THE COLLECTION OF RLE FEES IN STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES (SUCS) AND LOCAL UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES (LUCS), AND PROVIDING FUNDING SUPPORT THROUGH THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION (CHED) EXPLANATORY NOTE Related Learning Experiences (RLE) are a vital component of nursing education, providing students with hands-on clinical training and essential exposure to real-world healthcare settings. Under CHED Memorandum Order No. 14, Series of 2009, RLES are mandated components of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program and are integral to the development of competent Filipino nurses. Despite public investments in higher education through the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (RA 10931), many nursing students in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Local Universities and Colleges (LUCS) continue to bear additional financial burdens due to fees collected for RLEs. These fees, often including training, transportation, insurance, and clinical site charges, create significant barriers to students from low-income families. This bill seeks to institutionalize the non-collection of RLE fees in SUCs and LUCs from students, while mandating these institutions to submit projected RLE expenses to CHED for funding through the regular budget or UniFAST allocations. The measure also expands eligibility for the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) to cover RLE fees of nursing students in accredited private higher education institutions. By standardizing the delivery and financing of RLEs across public and private institutions, this bill reinforces the State's commitment to accessible and inclusive nursing education and strengthens the country's health workforce development.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. Bam quin
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session 25 JIL -3 P6:06 SENATE RAL. S. No. 123 Introduced by Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino IV AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING STANDARDS FOR RELATED LEARNING EXPERIENCES (RLE) IN NURSING EDUCATION, PROHIBITING THE COLLECTION OF RLE FEES IN STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES (SUCS) AND LOCAL UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES (LUCS), AND PROVIDING FUNDING SUPPORT THROUGH THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION (CHED) 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 the "Libreng RLE Act."
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the declared policy of the State to protect
and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and to take 4 appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all, pursuant to Article XIV, 5 Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Consistent with this mandate, and 6 recognizing the crucial role of Related Learning Experiences (RLE) in nursing education, the State shall institutionalize standards for RLE and ensure that no additional financial burden shall be imposed on nursing students in the country for the conduct of such activities.
Sec. 3. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to:
a. All SUCs and LUCs offering nursing education programs duly recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED);
b. All private higher education institutions (HEIs) with CHED-accredited nursing programs; and c. All nursing students enrolled in recognized nursing education programs in the Philippines.
Sec. 4. Standards for Related Learning Experiences (RLE). - CHED shall
institutionalize and enforce standards for the conduct of RLEs. These standards shall guarantee the provision of quality clinical instruction and learning environments, adequate clinical partnerships, and competent supervision of nursing students.
Sec. 5. Prohibition on Collection of RLE Fees in SUCs and LUCs. - No SUC or
LUC shall collect fees or charges from nursing students for the conduct of RLEs that are part of their approved academic program. All RLE-related expenses shall be considered part of the tuition or institutional costs charged to the government through the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST).
Sec. 6. Budgeting and Funding of RLE in SUCs and LUCS. - All SUCs and LUCS
offering nursing programs shall submit projected RLE expenses to CHED annually. CHED shall evaluate and consolidate these for inclusion in its annual budget proposal to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Approved funding shall be disbursed to SUCs and LUCs through UniFAST or other designated CHED mechanisms.
Sec. 7. Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) for Nursing Students in Private HEIS.
- Nursing students enrolled in accredited private HEIs may apply for assistance for RLE-related expenses under the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) program pursuant 22 to Republic Act No. 10931. TES guidelines shall be updated to include RLE fees as allowable costs.
Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from
the effectivity of this Act, CHED, in coordination with DBM and UniFAST, shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.
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Sec. 9. Appropriations. - The amounts necessary to implement the provisions
2 of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) under the 3 CHED budget and UniFAST Fund.
Sec. 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held
unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of the provisions shall not be affected.
Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations
7 inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
9 publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,