FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S.NO. 2166 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution explicitly mandates the State to give highest budgetary priority to 
education. The rationale behind this mandate is not only to make education accessible to all but 
also to give quality education to all Filipinos. It is sad to note however, that the noble intent of 
the framers of the Constitution will be rendered meaningless if the present policy in the 
appointment of the major players in the educational system - the classroom teachers - will not be 
rectified. It has been observed that the appointment of classroom teachers has been made by 
considerations other than merits and fitness of the candidates. It is not infrequent when 
applicants without the necessary credentials except political connections are able to infiltrate and 
effectively deteriorate the teaching profession. The ranking system, an effective method to 
determine the teaching capability of the applicants, in most cases, has been disregarded. This 
situation has legions of skeptics in the appointment process. 
This bill therefore, seeks to strengthen the ranking system in the appointment of public 
school teachers. To effectively address this issue, the Local School Boards shall be empowered 
to screen and recommend applicants, who possess the necessary qualifications and standards, 
including the ranking system, set by the Department to any teaching position in their area of 
jurisdiction. The said Boards, being composed of local chief executives, division superintendents 
of schools, supervisors, chairman of the education committee of local government units, duly 
elected president of the federation of parents-teachers association and the duly elected non- 
academic personnel of public schools, are in a better position to determine the needs of the 
school This bill will also provide a check and balance to the appointing power of DepEd by 
granting the power to screen and recommend the applicants to another body, the Local School 
Boards. Thus, the appointment of non-qualified candidates will be severely restrained. It is the 


foremost intention of this important piece of legislation to attract the best and the brightest to the 
teaching position if only to provide quality education to all. 
This is a Senate counterpart bill to one filed in the House of Representatives by Rep. 
Emilio C. Macias 11. 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
EMPOWERING THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO SCREEN AND 
RECOMMEND THE APPLICANTS TO TEACHING POSITIONS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assem bled: 
SECTION 1. The Local School Boards; Powers. - The Local School Boards are hereby 
empowered to screen and recommend applicant to any teaching position in the Department of 
Education, hereinafter referred to as the Department; Provided, however, That the applicant 
possesses the necessary qualifications and standards, including the ranking system, set by the 
Department. 
SECTION 2. Manner ofllppointment. - Public school teachers shall be appointed by the 
Secretary of the Department or his duly authorized representative based on the recommendation 
submitted by the Local School Boards. 
SECTION 3. Rules and Regulations. - The Department, in coordination with the League 
of Local Government Units, shall issue the implementing rules and regulations within sixty (60) 
days upon approval of this Act. 
SECTION 4. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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