Amendment to Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 dated June 23, 2016

August 14, 2017

CHED-DBM-DSWD-DOLE-JOINT MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 006-17

1.0 Rationale

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), as the highest policy making body for higher education in the country pursuant to Republic Act (RA) No. 7722, is mandated to formulate guidelines for the ESGP-PA to guarantee the efficient utilization of the appropriations for this Program, and the rationalization of Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs) as the tuition fee is free.

Rationalization of StuFAPs in higher education is consistent with RA No. 10687 otherwise known as "Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Act" which mandates that the National Government programs for scholarships, grants-in-aid and student loans shall be unified and harmonized to ensure that deserving Filipinos are given equitable access to educational opportunities, as embodied in Sections 1 and 2(3), Article XIV of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

The appropriation for ESGP-PA shall be used for tertiary education of poor but deserving students belonging to indigent household under the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or informal sector families. Potential student-grantees shall be enrolled in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in course offerings aligned with the priorities of the government based on current supply and demand situation in the labor market.

2.0 Amendments

2.1 Mode of Fund Release and Disbursements

The requirements for ESGP-PA shall be sourced from the appropriations authorized under the FY 2017 budget of SUCs amounting to Two Billion Three Hundred Ninety Four Million and Nine Hundred Ninety Seven Thousand Pesos (PHP2,394,997,000).

The release of Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) and Notice of Cash Allocation (NCA) shall be subject to the submission of a special budget request supported by the following:

• Physical Plan;

• Financial Plan; and

• Monthly Disbursement Program.

Utilization of the fund shall be subject to the usual budgeting, accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

All unreleased appropriations and unobligated allotments in the implementation of this program shall revert to the General Fund at the end of the validity of appropriations and shall be available for expenditure only upon subsequent legislative enactment. In no case shall said amount be treated as trust fund or trust receipts under any circumstances.

2.2 Implementation of the Free Tuition Fees

To avoid duplication of benefits and considering that ESGP-PA already grants free tuition fee, all student-grantees of the ESGP-PA shall no longer be covered by the 2017 Free Tuition Policy pursuant to Special Provision (SP) No. 1 of SUCs and SP No. 2 of CHED under RA No. 10924 General Appropriations Act (GAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017.

2.3 Implementation of Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Act

The implementation of ESGP-PA shall be subject to the provisions of RA No. 10687 (UniFAST Act) which covers all existing modalities of StuFAPs for tertiary education and special purpose education assistance in both public and private institutions.

3.0 Separability Clause

If, for any reason, any part or provision of this JMC is declared invalid or unconstitutional, any part or provision not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. ETHIDa

4.0 Repealing Clause

All other issuances that are inconsistent with this JMC are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

5.0 Issues for Resolution

Interpretation of the provisions in this JMC, including cases not covered herein, shall be referred to the National ESGP-PA Steering Committee (NSC)/UniFAST Board for final resolution.

6.0 Effectivity

This JMC shall take effect immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

(SGD.) JUDY M. TAGUIWALO, Ph.D.Secretary

(SGD.) SILVESTRE H. BELLO IIISecretaryDepartment of Labor and Employment

(SGD.) BENJAMIN E. DIOKNO, Ph.D.Secretary

(SGD.) PATRICIA B. LICUANAN, Ph.D.Chairperson