FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC

OF THE PHILIPPINES
8 JUN -3 K?:%

+--
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

SENATE
BY :
~~~.~~~~
S.B. 2366

Introduced by Senator Villar

EXPLANATORY NOTE

"My highest schoolgrade is 95 %...but Zcan 't go to school thisyeap.

"Malaki po ung hinayang ko ng malarnan ko na hindi na uko makakapasok sa

eskwela ngayong taon. Ang taas pa numan ng aking mga grado. Hindi kusi kuya nilu
tatay at n a n q na pagsabay-sabayin kaming magkakapatid na pumasok sa eskwela, "
says Edlen, a 2"d-year high school student.

Edlen has 16 siblings. She is the SIh child of a poor couple who lives in
mountainous village in Northern Cebu. Both her parents have not even completed
their elementary education.

So all of them could eat, Edlen and her four older siblings help their parents
work in sugar cane plantations.

"Buong a r m po kaming nakayuko at nakabiladsa araw para magbunot ng mga

dam0 sa tubuhan. P4Opo ang bayad sa akin kada uraw, " shares Edlen.

"Sayang talaga, kusi uko lang yata ang mayroong grade na 95% sa buong
barangay namin. Ang pinaka-mababang grade ko naman ay 85% . Kung mahtapos
sana ako ng pag-aarul at makahanup ng maayos na irabaho, matulungan ko sila tatay
ut nanay nu mupag-aral ang aking mga kuputid. " says Edlen.

-the story of Edlen as stated in the

campaign materials of the
World Vision Philippines

It is the story of Edlen that inspired the submission of this bill. Edlen's plight is
reflected in the statistics of the National Statistical Coordination Board that for every 100
children who enter Grade 1, only 63 will reach Grade 6, down from 69 children in 1997-1998
and that in high school, the cohort survival rate have dropped even more: from 71 to 55.

No Filipino child must be left behind.

It is the objective of this bill to allow all Filipino children to complete elementary and
tertiary education by establishing a systematic program that will ensure the following:
 By 2012, all Filipino children of compulsory age must have completed
elementary education;
By 2016, all Filipinos must have obtained and completed high school education.

The measure, aptly titled, “No Filipino Child Left Behind Act of 2008”, seeks to liberate
and free the country’s children from the quagmire of ignorance and lack of education which hold
and sink them into poor quality of life and helplessness.

We must not allow our children to fall into a lifetime of trap of decadence or to become
imprisoned in a gloomy and ominous cell of ignorance. By leading them into the stairway of
essential education, we are equipping them with the ammunition necessary to advance in life.

, To arm all Filipino youth with knowledge is to lead OUT nation to the path of redemption
and advancement.

The bill seeks to catapult our country once again to the zenith of “a free and educated
race” capable of excelling globally and achieving economic growth as a consequence.

We urge that OUT world-renowned gift of “people power” be once again resurrected to
push this important measure which stands to benefit not only all our children without
discrimination but all Filipino families and the nation as a whole.

May the torch this bill seeks to light and empower lead us to the path of our nation’s
dream; that no Filipino child is left behind.
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC
OF THE PHILIPPINES
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

introduced by Senator Villar

AN ACT
TO ENSURE THE FULL REALIZATION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT OF
ALL CITIZENS TO QUALITY EDUCATION ORDAINING FOR THE PURPOSE
“A NO FILIPINO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT OF 2008”

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

amembled:

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “No Filipino Child Left Behind Act
of 2008.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is declared a policy of the State to protect and

promote the right of the citizens to quality education and to take appropriate steps to make such
education accessible to all. Towards this end, the State shall provide the necessary framework
and resources for the implementation of educational programs, projects and services; encourage
local initiatives for the improvement of schools and community based learning facilities;
promote compulsory education and provide only for limited special circumstances when children
of compulsory school age would not be required to attend school; provide a system for the
monitoring of children of compulsory school age and ensuring that they enjoy the benefit of
having the opportunity to be educated; and ensure that the schools and other facilities of
learning are able to reflect the values of the community by allowing the teachers, learning
facilitators and other staff to have flexibility in servicing the needs of the learners.

In the implementation of this Act, the following objectives are set:

a. by the year 2012, all Filipino children of compulsory age must have completed
elementary education;

b. by the year 2016, all Filipinos must have obtained and completed high school
education.

SECTION 3. Establishment of a School or Learning facility.- There shall as far as

practicable be established in every barangay an elementary school under the supervision of
 Department of Education in coordination with the Local School Board.

At least one central elementary or national high school in every province must be opened
and operated as a night school: Provided, That as far as practicable distance and open
education system must be established in all provinces of the Philippines.

A citizen .who may have relevant knowledge and adequate background and experience,
'
without obtaining relevant units in education, may volunteer to teach and complement a regular
teacher's function, particularly in far flung areas. For the purpose, subject to consultation, the
Department of Education shall provide them with honoraria in accordance with the guidelines
issued for the purpose.

A tertiary student enrolled in optional Reserved Optional Training Course (ROTC) class
may opt to be a volunteer teacher and the same may be credited as compliance of the course.

The Department of Education must construct and promote the use mobile libraries;
utilization of comics; television and audio visual discs and tapes and other visual aids in
education; internet and other facilities that will enhance learning and acquisition of knowledge.

All secondary educational institutions must have a science laboratory with equipment and
tools.

SECTION 4. Mandatory Monitoring of children of Compulsory School Age. - In

addition to the duties identified in the Local Government Code, it shall be the duty of the
officials in the barangay to monitor children of compulsory school age and ensure that they are
afforded the opportunity to obtain basic literacy and functional skills.

For this purpose, the barangay council shall submit periodic report to the Local School
Board on the number of children belonging to the compulsory school age and the status as to
whether or not these children are able to attend school.

SECTION 5. Compulsory Attendance of Children - it shall be the responsibility of the

parent or guardian to enroll the child of compulsory school age in a school or a learning
facility or apply and register the child for home education or secure an exemption if
circumstances so warrant.

A system of penalty shall be devised by the DepEd in consultation with the Department
of Interior and Local Government and representatives of the private sector and all other
interested parties.

SECTION 6. Special Circumstances for Exemption fiom Compulsoq Attendance - The

Local Chief Executive may upon recommendation of the Barangay Council and favorably
endorsed by the Local School Board, may, upon application by the parent or guardian of the
child issue a certificate exempting the child fiom attendance in a school or leaming facility, if :

a. The learner is registered for home education;

 b. It is in the learner’s best interest, having regard to the care, health development,
mental or emotional development or education of the learner, to exempt himher
from school or a learning facility.

c. It is necessary or desirable owing to the personal circumstance of the child’s

family provided that the parent or carer should allow the child to participate in
basic literacy training skills to be organized by the barangay at least once a week
for children of compulsory school age.

SECTION 7. Prohibition on Employment of Children of Compulsory School Age. -

It shall be unlawful for any person to employ or engage the services of a child of compulsory
school age on a day and at a time, when the child is required to attend schoolflearning facility, a
school activity or an approved educational course.

The penalty of a fine of Ten Thousand Pesos (P 10,000.00) for the first offense and
imprisonment of not less than fifteen days but no more than thirty (30) days for repeat offenders,
shall be imposed on any person found to violate this provision.

SECTION 8. Penalty for Public Officials. - Any public officer or employee who
violates any provision of this act may be meted administrative disciplinary action, without
prejudice to the filing of appropriate civil or criminal action.

.
SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Education, in
collaboration with the Department of Interior and Local Government, upon prior consultation
with the Committees on Education of the Senate and the House of Representatives, shall issue
the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within a period of
ninety (90) days after its approval.

SECTION 10. Appropriations. - Beginning the year this Act is enacted, and for the
next ten (1 0) years:

a. an amount of ten billion pesos (Php 10,000,000,000.00) must be added in the

existing bndget.of the Department of Education to support the construction of school buildings
and repair of existing facilities, acquisition of science laboratory equipment, computers, and
hiring of new teachers including those who will teach in the night school.

b. without diminishing their entitlements, all members of Congress must

appropriate thirty percent (30 %) of their congressional initiatives for education-related projects
within their respective districts.

. In addition to the respective corporate social responsibilities being funded by private

entities and corporations, the DepEd must encourage the implementation of the “Adopt a Public
School Program” for support. Corresponding tax credit and incentives relevant to this bill and
may be granted to persons, natural or juridical, in support of this Act shall be formulated by the
Department of Finance.

SECTION 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in force and effect.

SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
 SECTION 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation, whichever is earlier.

Approved,