MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives on Monday approved the proposed Presidential Merit Scholarship Act. House Bill No. 8477 hurdled third and final reading with 259 lawmakers voting in favor of the measure during the plenary session. One lawmaker abstained. “By institutionalizing the Presidential Merit Scholarship Program, we are making sure that the country’s brightest senior high school graduates will have the opportunity to pursue college in priority fields, regardless of their financial situation,” House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos said in a statement. The bill seeks to institutionalize the Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program and is considered a priority measure.