REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINESHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City, Metro Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESSSecond Regular Session

House Resolution No. 1763

Introduced by Kabataan Party-List Representative Raymond V. Palatino

A RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR SANGGUNIANG KABATAAN OFFICIALS AND CHILDREN OF BARANGAY OFFICIALS AS PROVIDED UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991”

WHEREAS, Section 434 of the Local Government Code of 1991 provides, in part, that

“During their incumbency, Sangguniang Kabataan officials shall be exempt from payment of tuition

and matriculation fees while enrolled in public tertiary schools, including state colleges and universities.

The national government shall reimburse said college or university the amount of the tuition and

matriculation fees: Provided, that, to qualify for the privilege, the said officials shall enroll in the state

college or university within or nearest their area of jurisdiction”;

WHEREAS, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government, there is an

estimated 330,000 SK officials in the country today, all of whom deserve assistance from the national

government;

WHEREAS, Section 393 of the Local Government Code of 1991 states that the Punong

Barangay, the Sangguniang Barangay members, the Barangay Treasurer and the Barangay Secretary

shall “be exempted during their incumbency from paying tuition and matriculation fees for their

legitimate dependent children attending state colleges or universities.” The barangay official “may

likewise avail of such benefits in a state college or university located within the province or city to

which the barangay belongs”;

WHEREAS, there are reports and complaints that some SK officials and children of barangay

officials were not able to avail of such benefit manily due to the lack of funds for such scholarship

programs;

WHEREAS, despite the noble intent of the law to provide aid to qualified SK officials and

children of village officials by exempting them from paying tuition and matriculation fees while

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enrolled in public tertiary schools, some state colleges and universities are complaining of the rising

costs of education and the dwindling budget allotted to them by the government making it difficult for

them to accommodate government scholars, including the SK officials and children of village officials;

WHEREAS, although the law provides that “the National Government shall reimburse said

college or university the amount of the tuition and matriculation fees,” it appears that the provision of

Section 434 is not being strictly observed, drawing complaints from said higher educational institutions;

WHEREAS, several SK officials have also proposed to scrap the provision on Section 434 of

the Local Government Code stipulating “that to qualify for the privilege, the said officials shall enroll in

the state college or university within or nearest their area of jurisdiction.”

WHEREAS, there is a need to clearly understand how the legislated scholarships for

Sangguniang Kabataan officials and children of barangay officials are actually being implemented and

to identify sources of conflict among the stakeholders, namely, the National Government, higher

educational institutions and the scholars themselves;

WHEREAS, an inquiry will certainly help address issues relevant to this cause and draw up

recommendations for the efficient and effective implementation of the law;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that the

Committee on Higher and Technical Education to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the

implementation of the scholarship program for Sangguniang Kabataan officials and children of

barangay officials as provided under Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the “Local

Government Code of 1991.”

Adopted,

(sgd)HON. RAYMOND V. PALATINORepresentative, Kabataan Party-list

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