SBN 2596, AN ACT ESTABLISHING A LEGAL SCHOLARSHIP AND RETURN SERVICE PROGRAM FOR DESERVING STUDENTS
Mr. President, dear colleagues:
As Chairperson of the Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education, I rise to sponsor Senate Bill No. 2596 under Committee Report No. 231, entitled “An Act Establishing a Legal Scholarship and Return Service Program for Deserving Students, and Appropriating Funds Therefor”, or the Abogado Para sa Bayan Act, in substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 1610 and 1639, filed by Senators Raffy Tulfo and Joel Villanueva, respectively.
In a nutshell, this bill provides free legal education to deserving Filipinos on the condition that they shall repay the scholarship they have received with government service.
Administering this program is a Legal Scholarship and Return Service or LSRS which this bill establishes.
Under this bill, beneficiaries shall enjoy:
- Free tuition and other school fees
- Book and school supplies allowances
- Bar review fees
- Licensure fees
The following may qualify for the program:
- Filipino Citizen residing in the Philippines
- Graduating student or a graduate of an undergraduate degree
- Passed the entrance examination and has qualified for admission to the Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Laws degree program in an accredited school
To retain the scholarship and to continuously enjoy its benefits, the grantee must:
- Enroll in the mandatory load of subjects per semester
- Finish the Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Laws degree program within the prescribed period
- Take the Bar examinations within a year after earning the Law degree
- Comply with all the terms and conditions of the scholarship
Under the bill, the scholarship can be terminated if the grantee fails academically, or unable to graduate within the prescribed period without valid cause, or commit gross misconduct.
To repay the state for the legal education received, beneficiaries are obliged to render a two-year mandatory return service in any government office.
In the allocation of scholarship slots, this bill authorizes the Legal Education Board to set the annual national ceiling as well as regional quotas.
Mr. President, dear colleagues, I submit this bill for your consideration and approval.