THIRTEENTH CO 
Firsf Regular Session 
33 i’3 yj 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
S E N A T E  
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator S. R. Osmeiia 111 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Several provisions in the Philippine Constitution highlights the primacy 
attached to education. Section One, Article XIV, of the Constitution provides 
that: 
“The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens 
to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to 
make such education accessible to all.” 
Section 5, subparagraph 5, of the same Article under the Constitution further 
states that: 
“The State shall assign the highest budgetary priority to 
education and ensure that teaching will attract and retain its rightful 
share of the best available talents through adequate remuneration 
and other means of job satisfaction and fulfillment.” 
Pursuant to such provisions of the Constitution, the State in its mandate to 
exercise reasonable supervision and regulation of all educational institutions 
(Sec. 4 (1) Article XIV, Constitution), shall guarantee every .Filipino’s right to 
education. In cases where students are deprived of this right, the State shall be 
responsible for making education accessible to them. 
A particular case where the student’s accessibility of education is 
compromised is when educational institutions close down without proper 
notification to their students and faculty. 
Displaced students of closed down 
universities are forced to either stop their schooling for a while or suffer the 
hardships of looking for an educational institution that will accept them despite 
their lack of residency. 
The faculty is also rendered unemployed by such 
unexpected occurrence. 
To protect the welfare of the students and faculty of the adverse effects of 
the sudden closure of educational institution, this bill seeks to require the latter to 
properly notify said students and faculty of their decision to close shop. In the 
event that the closure may no longer be put-offl the educational institution shall 
see to it that its students, especially those who may not be accepted due to lack 
of residency, are properly enrolled in duly recognized schools. 
In view hereof, approval of this bill is therefore earnestly requested 
& b  
SERGIO OSMENA 111 
Senator 


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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF TH 
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First Regular Session 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES% 
Introduced by Senator S. R. Osmeiia I l l  
AN ACT 
REQUIRING ALL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO GIVE PROPER NOTICE 
OF EDUCATION, CULTURE AND SPORTS, STUDENTS BODY, AND ALL 
EMPLOYEES AFFECTED THEREBY, PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFORE 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 
OF THEIR INTENDED CLOSURE OR PHASE-OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared to be the 
policy of the State to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality 
education at all levels and to safeguard the continued and unhampered 
education of all citizens. 
SEC. 2. Notice of Phase-Out or Closure. - No educational institution 
shall phase-out or stop its operations without giving due notice within a 
reasonable time to the Department of Education (DepEd), Student Body and all 
its faculty and employees stating in particular, the date and reasons for the 
closure or phase-out. 
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SEC. 
3. 
Transfer of Displaced Students. - In cases where an 
educational institution has to stop its operations, it shall undertake the transfer of 
all its students to, and acceptance by, duly recognized schools and provide them 
with all the necessary assistance so as to ensure continuity in their education 
during the school year period. 
SEC. 4. Unhampered Education Phase-Out of Graduating Pupils or 
Student. - The tender of notice of closure by any educational institution shall 
not prejudice the right of graduating pupils or students to finish their elementary, 
secondary or collegiate course thereat: 
Provided, however, That when the 


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DepEd certifies that the closure is by reason of financial difficulties, the 
educational institution shall be governed by the provisions of Section 3 hereof. 
SEC. 
5. 
Rules and Regulations. - The DepEd shall issue and 
implement the necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of 
this Act. 
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SEC. 6. 
Penalties. - The President or Head of any educational 
institution who violates the provisions of this Act or of the rules and regulations 
issued by the DepEd shall suffer the penalty of a fine not less than Twenty 
thousand pesos (P20,000.00), 
but not more than Fifty thousand pesos 
(P50,OOO.OO) or by imprisonment of not less than five (5) years but not more than 
ten ( I O )  years, or both, at the discretion of the Court. 
SEC. 7. 
Relation to Other Laws. - Nothing in this Act shall be 
construed as to eliminate or diminish in any way benefits granted to employees 
by other applicable provisions of the Labor Code, including its implementing rules 
and regulations. 
SEC. 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of 
general circulation whichever comes earlier. 
Approved,