THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THEPHlLIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 
Introduced by Senator LUISA “LOI” P. EERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 17 provides: 
“The State shall give priority to education, science 
and technology, arts, culture and sports to foster patriotism 
and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote 
total human liberation and development.” 
Our schools must prepare young people for active participation in community life 
and a democratic society. This is not possible without knowledge and understanding of 
the humanities. 
In order to ensure that our children acquire the necessary conceptual and 
analytical skills and have an appreciation for the traditions and values of our culture, 
studies in the humanities are essential. However, it is not possible to accomplish this goal 
unless our teachers have the necessary background and training in the humanities. . . 
~ 
Hence, it is the purpose of this bill to authorize a national program for the 
establishment and operation of teacher institutes for the enhancement of the humanities 
knowledge of private and public elementary and secondary school teachers. 
The early passage of this bill is earnestly recommended. 
LUISA ‘ZOI” 
EJERCITB ESTRADA 
Senator 


yj/j 
jUjJ 30 
1 :J8 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PKlLlPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 
Introduced by Senator LUISA “LOI” P. EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING A NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR IMPROVIl’?G THE QUALITY OF 
INSTRUCTION IN THE HUMANITIES IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE 
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House 0fRepresentative.s ofthe Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short title -This Act shall be known as “The Humanities Excellence 
and Teacher Training Act”. 
SEC. 2. Purpose. - It is the purpose of this Act to authorize a national program for 
improving the quality of education which would make grants to institutions of higher 
education for the establishment and operation of teacher institutes for the enhancement of 
the humanities knowledge of -private and public elementary and. secondary “school 
teachers. 
SEC. 3. De$n&ion. - For the purposes of this Act: 
(1) The term ‘institution of higher education’ means any colleges or universities 
within a region. 
(2) The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of the Department of Education. 
(3) The term ‘humanities’ means both modern and classical languages, literature, 
history, philosophy, Iangpage arts and social studies when taught in 
elementary and high schools. 


SEC. 4. Grants - 
.
.
 
(a) The Secretary shall make grants in each region to an institution of higher 
education (or consortium of such institutions) whose application is approved 
under subsection (b) for the purposes of conducting humanities training 
institutes for the professional development of elementary and secondary 
school teachers. Any institution or consortium whose application is so 
approved shall receive an amount equal to not more than P3,500 multiplied by 
the number of teachers, not to exceed two hundred, enrolled in such institute. 
(b) Any institution of higher education or consortium desiring to receive a grant 
shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such form, and 
containing such information and assurances as the Secretary may require. No 
such application may be approved by the Secretary unless the application -- 
(1) contains a description of the proposed program of instruction, and the 
extent to which eligible classroom teacher participants will be involved in 
the planning and design of the institutes; 
(2) contains an estimate of the number of teachers, including the number of 
teachers fi-om private elementary and secondary schools, to attend the 
institute, and describes the selection procedures; 
.
.
 I 
(3) describes the nature and location of existing facilities to be used in the 
operation of the institute; 
(4) specifies the teaching and administrative staff for the institute including 
the involvement of faculty from both the humanities and education 
departments and elementary and secondary school teachers; 
( 5 )  specifies the academic credits, if any, to be awarded for the completion of 
the course of study to be offered at the institute; 


(6) provides a schedule of stipends to be paid teacher participants in the 
institute, including (a) allowances for subsistence and other expenses for 
teachers attending the institute and their dependents and (b) provisions 
assuring that there will be no duplication of governmental benefits paid to 
. .  . 
participants; 
(7) provides adequate assurances that teachers who wish to participate will be 
selected on the basis of recommendations from a principal or other 
supervisory official and a demonstrated interest in the humanities 
discipline or disciplines studied in the institute; and 
(8) provides assurances that the institution of higher education will seek to 
enroll at least eighty qualified teachers in the institute; 
(c) Awards under this section shall be made to the institutions (or consortia) on 
the basis of excellence of the program proposed in the application, taking into 
consideration such elements as library resources, faculty achievement, and 
humanities learning facilities. 
(d) Funds available to institutions under this section may be used to cover costs 
associated with enrollment in an institute, including tuition fees, 
administration and living expenses. 
(e) In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall assure, to the 
maximum extent consistent with the purposes of this 'Act, that tfiere is 
equitable distribution of institutes established and operated under approved 
applications among regions and within regions. The Secretary shall award not 
less than one institute in each region. 


(9 No grant to a single application may exceed P700,OOO in any fiscal year. 
SEC. 5. Restriction. - No grants shall be made or contracts entered into under this 
Act except to such extent, or in such amounts, as may be provided in the appropriation 
Acts. 
*
.
 
~ 
SEC. 6, Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
SEC. 7. Repealing Clause - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or 
inconsistent with the provision of this Act i s  hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
SEC. 8. Efectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,