Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 7441
Introduced by: “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO’
EXPLANATORY NOTE

Under Art. XIV Sec. | of the 1987 Constitution, the law mandates the State to protect and
promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps
to make such eduction accessible to all. Furthermore, Section 2 Par. 3 states that it shall
encourage non-formal, informal, and indigenous learning systems, as well as self-learning,
independent, and out-of-school study programs particularly those that respond to community
needs.

The right to basic education shall also be enjoyed by our fellow brothers and sisters from
indigenous communities throughout the entire Philippines. This will help them improve their
lives and adapt to the changing needs of time.

This bill seeks to educate basic education to the indigenous sectors to acknowledge and
develop their valuable contribution to our society and culture.

Hence, this proposal is submitted for consideration

“KUYA” JOSE Al 10 R. SY-ALVARADO.
Representative

“irst District of Bulacan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 7441
Introduced by: “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A BASIC EDUCATION SCHOOL IN EVERY
INDGENOUS PEOPLES COMMUNITY IN THE COUNTRY AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “School for Every Indigenous
Peoples Community Act of 2017.

SECTION 2. The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality
education at all levels of education and shall take appropriate steps to make such
education accessible to all.

The Constitution provides that the State recognizes and promotes the rights of
indigenous cultural communities within the framework of national unity and
development.

SECTION 3. As used in this Act:

a. Basic Education refers to the intended basic learning needs which provides the
foundation on which subsequent learning can be based. It includes kindergarten,
elementary and secondary education as well as alternative learning systems for out-of-
school learners and those with special needs.

b. Basic Education School refers to learning institutions accredited by the
Department of Education (DepEd) to deliver services addressing the intended basic
learning needs of students; and

c. Indigenous Peoples or Indigenous Peoples Community refers to the same
definition stated in Section 3h, Ch. 2 of RA No. 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights
Act of 1997 which describes it as “group of people or homogenous societies who have
lived as organized community on communally bounded and defined territory, sharing
common bonds of language, customs, traditions and other distinctive cultural traits, or
who have resisted political, social and cultural inroads of colonization, non-indigenous
religions and cultures, or the establishment of present state boundaries.”

SECTION 4. It is herein mandated that there shall be established at least one Basic
Education School for every Indigenous Peoples Community in the country.


SECTION 5. The Department of Education, in coordination with the Department
of Public Works and Highways, is herein tasked to formulate the Implementing Rules and
Regulation of this Act within thirty (30) days from its effectivity

SECTION 6. An initial amount of One Hundred Million Pesos (P100,000,000.00)
necessary for the implementation of this act shall be included in the Annual General
Appropriations Act upon the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 7. If any provision hereof is held invalid or unconstitutional, the
remainder of the law or provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and
subsisting.

SECTION 8. All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SECTION 9. This act shatf take effect upon its approval

Approved,