Deltate eas Office of the Secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES P2:56 APR -7 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED BY: Senate Bill No. 2028 Introduced by Senator Erwin T. Tulfo AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PRESIDENTIAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE Access to quality higher education is vital for shaping a brighter future for our nation. While the government has initiated programs to support deserving students, there remains a need to institutionalize a unified, merit-based national scholarship program to recognize excellence, provide opportunities to those with potential, and empower the next generation of leaders to contribute meaningfully to national development. The Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program, as an administrative initiative, has demonstrated the importance of recognizing outstanding Filipino students who exhibit academic excellence, leadership, and civic engagement. However, without a statutory basis, its continuity and expansion remain uncertain. This bill seeks to institutionalize and strengthen the program by establishing the Presidential Merit Scholarship Program, ensuring its permanence, adequate funding, and nationwide implementation. By doing so, our the government ensures that the scholarship will be consistently available, transparently administered, and accessible to all qualified students, regardless of their socio-economic background.
This representation believes that by supporting top-performing students consistently, our country can nurture future leaders, innovators, and skilled professionals. Overall, this proposed measure will transform an administrative initiative into a sustainable tool for excellence, equity, and national development. In view of the foregoing, the passage of the measure is earnestly sought. ERWIN T. TULFO
Senate TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE Office of the Soccretarp REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session APR -7 P2:56 SENATE RECEIVED BY: 2028 Senate Bill No._ Introduced by Senator Erwin T. Tulfo AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PRESIDENTIAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 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
2 "Presidential Merit Scholarship Act."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy
5 of the State to promote equitable access to quality higher education, 6 recognize and support academic excellence, leadership, and civic 7 responsibility among Filipino youth, institutionalize a sustainable and 8 merit-based scholarship system under a unified national framework, 9 and ensure that the country's brightest students are afforded 10 opportunities to contribute meaningfully to national development.
SEC. 3. Presidential Merit Scholarship Program. - The Bagong
Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program (BPMSP) is hereby institutionalized as the Presidential Merit Scholarship Program (PMSP). As used in this Act, PMSP shall serve as the premier national 18 merit-based scholarship program of the government
SEC. 4. Coverage and Eligibility. - The PMSP shall cover all
deserving Filipino students who meet the following eligibility requirements: a) Incoming freshman enrolling in a CHED-recognized Higher Education Institution (HEI offering a PMS priority program. b) Senior High School (SHS) graduate awarded High Honors or Highest Honors, with a General Weighted Average of 95% and above. c) TESDA National Certificate (NC) holders are welcome to apply provided they also satisfy the High Honors/Highest Honors requirement in SHS (95% GWA and above) and have not earned any units/degree in tertiary education. d) Those who belong to a household classified as low-to- middle-income, based on CHED's income guidelines. e) With good moral character and no existing scholarship grant from other national government programs. f) Other qualifications to be prescribed by the implementing agencies, consistent with national development priorities.
SEC. 5. Presidential Merit Scholarship Priority Program. - The
PMSP shall prioritize enrollment in high-demand fields essential to national and regional development, such as: a) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); b) Agriculture, Forestry, Environmental Science, and related fields; c) Health and Allied Health programs;
d) Information Technology, Computing, and Data-related fields; e) Teacher Education in specialized and critical subject areas, f) Other development-priority disciplines as determined by CHED
SEC. 6. Scholarship Benefits. - All PMSP scholars shall receive
financial assistance, including stipends, tuition support, and allowance, depending on their school and location. Students enrolled in state universities and colleges (SUCs) in Metro Manila shall receive P25,000 stipend per semester and P4,000 as book and connectivity allowance per semester. Students enrolled in SUCs outside Metro Manila shall receive stipend and book and connectivity allowance to be prescribed by 20 Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Students enrolled in private universities shall receive P75,000 tuition subsidy, P25,000 stipend per semester, and P4,000 as book and connectivity allowance per semester.
SEC. 7. Lead Agency. - The CHED shall serve as the lead agency
in the implementation of the PMSP, in coordination with Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Education And Skills Development Authority (TESDA), State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), Local Government Units (LGUs), and other relevant government agencies.
SEC. 8. Selection and Screening. - CHED shall establish a
transparent, competitive, and merit-based selection process which may include: a) Academic performance; b) Results of standardized national examinations; c) Leadership and extracurricular achievements;
d) Socioeconomic background, to ensure inclusivity; and e) Regional representation.
SEC. 9. Return Service Obligation. - All PMSP scholars shall be
5 required to undertake a return service obligation as an integral component of their scholarship commitment. The Return Service Agreement is hereby established to promote 9 civic responsibility and advance nation-building, mandating that 10 scholars render service in government agencies, community 11 development programs, research initiatives, or other qualified national 12 development activities upon completion of their degree or in 13 accordance with the applicable guidelines.
SEC. 10. Consideration of Disadvantaged but Meritorious
Students. - In the implementation of the PMSP, the CHED shall give due consideration to applicants who, while satisfying the eligibility requirements under Section 4 of this Act, come from economically disadvantaged families, including beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), without diminishing the merit- based nature of the PMSP.
SEC. 11. Monitoring and Evaluation. - The CHED shall
establish a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system to ensure the effective implementation of the Program, including scholar performance, fund utilization, and post-graduation outcomes.
SEC. 12. Transitory Provision. - All existing scholars under the
Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program at the time of the effectivity of this Act shall continue to receive their scholarship benefits and shall be governed by the provisions of this Act. Existing guidelines, rules, and regulations of the Program shall remain in force and effect insofar as they are not inconsistent with this Act, until such time that new implementing rules and regulations are promulgated.
SEC. 13. Implementing Rules and Regulation. - The CHED shall,
2 in coordination with DepEd, TESDA, SUCs, LGUs, and other relevant government agencies, issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act not later than sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act.
SEC. 14. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's 9 appropriations of CHED. Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for 10 the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual 11 General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 15. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act
or part hereof be declared unconstitutional, the other provisions or parts not affected thereby shall remain valid and effective.
SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders,
issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 17. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,