Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila > DATED

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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BLL No. 626

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE KIMI S. COJUANGCO

Explanatory Note

The proposed measure aims to improve the quality of public school
education by hiring those that are truly qualified for the job. This is made
possible with the Independent Proficiency Assessment system where the
Department of Education will call upon the College of Education of the
University of the Philippines to administer a test to all those applying for the
position of public school teacher. Only those that pass the test, which will
be determined by the University of the Philippines, will be included in the
division-wide rank list of applicants for the position. This ensures that the
Filipino learners will be receiving quality education from qualified teachers
as well as protect the system from corrupt practices, personal biases and
personal favors, which are often times politically motivated. Safeguards have
been included against those that plan and possibly will alter or hinder the
results.

This system of testing applicants has already been done in the town of
Sison, Pangasinan where I served mayor before I became
Congresswoman. As a result of my decision to conduct this assessment
before hiring teachers, the quality of education in the town began to rise.

It is no mystery what the state of public education in the Philippines is and
the way to fix it is to make sure that the Filipinos are given the best possible
education by qualified teachers. Just like in the town of Sison, if this system
is implemented nationwide then there in turn will be a nationwide rise in the
quality of public school education. In the end, it is the youth of our country
who will benefit from this bill. We not owe it to them to fulfill the right given
by the Constitution to quality education. It is through this bill that their
right is served.

In view of the above, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested.

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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. _ 626

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE KIMI S. COSUANGCO

AN ACT

REQUIRING AN INDEPENDENT PROFICIENCY ASSESSMENT IN THE
APPOINTMENT AND HIRING OF TEACHERS FOR PUBLIC ELEMENTARY
AND SECONDARY LEVELS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Title - This Act shall be known as the “Independent
Proficiency Assessment for Applicant Teachers Act of 2013."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared the policy of the
State to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality basic
education by providing all Filipino learners with the most qualified,
competent and highly skilled teachers whose appointment should be based
on merit and fitness.

It shall be one of the primordial goals of basic education to eliminate
mediocrity in instruction by instituting a system that will ensure that only
quality teachers and those who have the potential to be leaders in education
be allowed to occupy the basic teaching positions in public elementary and
secondary education.

SEC. 3. Objectives. - This Act aims to attain the following objectives:

1) To ensure that only the most qualified of applicants and those who
have the potential to be leaders in education are given the positions of
teacher. By requiring all applicants to take and, more importantly,
pass the “Independent Proficiency Assessment”, we are ensuring that
our teachers are the best they can be.


2) To remove corruption from the system of choosing teachers by
removing personal biases and favors from the picture.

3) To provide Filipino learners with quality education by guaranteeing
that only those applicants who have passed the “Independent
Proficiency Assessment” and are truly qualified to fill the role of
teacher.

4) To ensure that schools are equipped with the most capable of teachers
therefore ensuring that all schools are able to provide top quality
education to all its students regardless of background.

5) To provide all Filipino learners equal opportunities at quality
education by ensuring that all schools are staffed by truly capable and
qualified teachers.

6) To aid in the government’s goal of providing top quality education to
all Filipino learners by ensuring all students are taught by qualified
and well trained teachers.

SEC. 4. Independent Proficiency Assessment for Applicant
Teachers. - There is hereby established a system to be known as the
“Independent Proficiency Assessment for Applicant Teachers” which all
applicants for teaching positions in public elementary and secondary levels
must undergo and pass before they may be included in the Registry of
Qualified Applicants and in the division-wide ranklist_ to be prepared by the
Division Selection Committee organized by the School Division
Superintendent pursuant to DepED Order No. 20, series of 2009.

SEC. 5. Implementation - The College of Education of the University
of the Philippines shall be the lead agency responsible for the conduct of the
Independent Proficiency Assessment for Applicant Teachers, and shall be
tasked with the preparation of the rules of the examination, its method,
type, coverage, planning and dissemination.

It may also engage the services of a reputable and independent testing
center duly accredited by it, which shall serve to assist in the proper and
efficient implementation or administration of the proficiency test. In all
cases, such testing center/s shall be under the direct control and
supervision of the lead agency.

SEC. 6. Appointment and Hiring of Teachers - No applicant for
teaching positions in public elementary and secondary levels shall be
appointed and hired unless he or she is included in the Registry of
Qualified Applicants and in the district-wide ranklist of applicants as
provided in Section 3 hereof, after successfully passing the proficiency


assessment conducted by the College of Education of the University of the
Philippines or any of its accredited independent testing centers.

SEC. 7. Rules and Regulations - The Department of Education, in
coordination with the College of Education of the University of the
Philippines, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act.

SEC. 8. Penal Provision. - Any person who shall willfully alter,
modify, or tamper with the true and correct results of the proficiency
assessment, or shall, in any manner, obstruct, prevent, delay, or hinder
the release thereof, for the purpose of giving undue advantage to an
applicant or applicants, or shall suppress any of the objectives of this Act,
will, after being convicted by a competent court, be liable to pay a fine of
fifty thousand pesos (Php50,000.00) or to suffer an imprisonment of six
months but not more than two years or both such fine and imprisonment, at
the discretion of the court

SEC. 9. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial
implementation of this Act shall be made chargeable against the budget of
the Department of Education under the current General Appropriations
Act. Thereafter, such sums deemed necessary for the continued and
effective implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any portion or
provision of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the
remaining parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall
continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders,
rules and regulations, and other issuances, or any part thereof, which are
inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
publication in the official gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved,