1-PACMAN Party-list Representative Michael Romero has filed a bill proposing the establishment of a post-baccalaureate scholarship program with a return service requirement for deserving students.

In House Bill 10199, Romero emphasized the government’s mandate to prioritize research and development, innovation, and science and technology education.

Romero pointed out that the rapid globalization, technological advancements, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have permanently changed the global landscape.

“Para hindi na maulit ang kasaysayan, kinakailangan na ang research and development at science and technology ang nasa unahan ng edukasyon,” Romero stated.

He cited the 2020 Philippine Statistics Report, which showed that out of 22,870,213 households pursuing college and university degrees, only 327,063 households—or 1.4%—continued to post-baccalaureate studies in the fields of science and technology.

The proposed bill seeks to expand the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act and the Doktor Para sa Bayan Act to include all fields of post-baccalaureate or post-graduate studies.