WHEREAS, it has been the declared policy of the state to promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the development of the country and the liberation of the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote a rising standard of living, and improve the quality of life of the people;

WHEREAS, it is the enshrined duty of the state to protect the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all, and maintain a system of scholarship grants, students subsidies and other incentives to deserving students especially to those in the underprivileged sectors of society;

WHEREAS, a significant proportion of the school going age of the population is unable to access to post-secondary education due to inadequate academic preparation or financial resources;

WHEREAS, to further encourage every indigent family to send at least one (1) child to post secondary education, there is an urgent and compelling need to expand access and opportunity to the poorest of the poor families through a scholarship program under the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. There is hereby created a scholarship program to be known as the "ISKOLAR NG MAHIRAP NA PAMILYA" PROGRAM for the poorest of the poor families living below the poverty line to benefit one (1) grantee per family.

SECTION 2. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Health (DOH)/Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC) are hereby tasked to identify the poorest of the poor families nationwide based on the now available listing of indigent families.

SECTION 3. The CHED and TESDA shall jointly formulate the implementing guidelines or program mechanics of the "ISKOLAR NG MAHIRAP NA PAMILYA" PROGRAM in consultation with the DepEd, NEDA, DSWD, DOH, DILG and other concerned stakeholders for implementation in the coming school year.

SECTION 4. The CHED and TESDA shall issue the certificates/vouchers that will entitle each of the qualified poorest families to one scholarship certificate/voucher equivalent to P10,000.00 (Ten Thousand Pesos) per target scholar per annum for a period of two (2) years, in the case of TESDA, or four (4) years, in the case of CHED.

SECTION 5. The amount necessary for the initial operation of the "ISKOLAR NG MAHIRAP NA PAMILYA" PROGRAM shall be taken from any applicable source under the CY 2004 General Appropriations Act or from any applicable funding source to cover the initial funding requirement of the Program, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.  For the succeeding fiscal year, such amounts as may be necessary for the budgetary requirement of the Program shall be provided for in the annual General Appropriations Act in the budgets of CHED and TESDA.

SECTION 6. If any provision of this Executive Order shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions shall remain effective.

SECTION 7. All laws, orders, issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 10 Apr. 2004


By the President:

(SGD.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO
Executive Secretary