State Scholarships and Scholarship Council Act

Must rank within the first ten of their graduating class.
Must meet tests, standards, or criteria showing special gifts in chosen fields.
Must come from families unable to finance higher education.
Must be in good health, with excellent moral character and unquestionable integrity.
Must be natural-born Filipino citizens not older than 21 years at selection.

A council is established to consolidate, integrate, systematize, administer, and implement all scholarship programs.
Responsibilities include prescribing tests/criteria for candidates, determining the number and courses available for scholarships based on societal needs.
Selecting qualified colleges and universities based on standards and facilities.
Screening and approving candidates as per established qualifications.
Authorizing expenses and payments related to scholarships.
Also administers other government and private scholarships placed under its charge according to relevant laws.
Can seek assistance from various local and international entities for scholarship support.
Assists in job placement and employment of scholarship program graduates.
Employs necessary staff, fixes their compensation, and prescribes duties subject to civil service laws.
Has authority to make rules, arrangements, and measures for effective scholarship program management and fund allocation.

Members include Secretary of Education (Chairman), President of the University of the Philippines, chairpersons of Senate and House Education Committees, Chairman of the National Science Development Board, Directors of Public and Private Schools, and two presidential appointees from non-government educational professional groups.
Regular meetings monthly; special meetings as needed.
Quorum is a majority of members.
Public official members receive no extra compensation; private citizen members receive a per meeting fee, not exceeding two meetings per month.

An Executive Secretary is appointed by the President upon Council recommendation with Commission on Appointments consent.
Responsible for implementing Act provisions and Council decisions.
Receives yearly compensation not exceeding ten thousand pesos plus other benefits determined by the Council.

All existing government scholarship programs, including personnel and resources, are transferred to the State Scholarship Council.
All powers and duties related to scholarships previously held by various entities are vested in the Council.

Annual appropriation of two million pesos from the National Treasury starting fiscal year 1964.
Additional funding as necessary included in General Appropriations Acts.

All laws, orders, resolutions, ordinances, rules, and regulations inconsistent with this Act are repealed.