Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 364

Introduced by Honorable RHEA MAE A, GULLAS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish a national mathematics and science high school
in the Municipality of San Fernando, Province of Cebu

Under the 1987 Constitution, the State is mandated to protect and promote
the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and to take appropriate
steps to make such education accessible to all. It must establish, maintain, and
support a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education relevant to the
needs of the people and society.

The Municipality of San Fernando has a total student population of more
than 18,000. It is one of the few municipalities in the province that do not have a
science and mathematics high school. None of the eight public schools in this
municipality offers a specialized or accelerated curriculum in science and
mathematics. While some public high schools in the area offer science and
mathematics subjects, these schools have regular secondary curricula. They may
only accommodate a limited number of science and math students since they also
cater to other programs in the general education category. The absence of a
science and mathematics high school in this municipality deprives its people of
quality education and other benefits provided and offered by a science and
mathematics school.

The establishment of San Fernando Math and Science High Schoo! will
promote and enhance the development of the municipalities in the province. It
will serve the needs of residents in their quest for specialized and quality high
school education. It will also allow the people of San Fernando to pursue and
avail of the education provided by a science and mathematics school without the
need to travel to other science and mathematics schools. It will give them the
opportunity to harness their talents and excel in the fields of science and
mathematics, prepare them to face the challenges and demands of science and


technology driven-society, and ultimately, enable them to pursue higher education
and careers in science and mathematics. Increasing the number of students in
these fields will boost the competitive edge and innovative capacity of the
municipality and will provide sound economic development strategy.

The measure aims to provide basic and highly specialized secondary
education to the qualified students of San Fernando by establishing a school that
will offer an accelerated curriculum on science and mathematics, provide a
conducive environment for learning math and science skills, concepts and ideas,
and establish a math and science community that will meet the demands of the
town, province and country for math and science professionals.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is urgently recommended

RHEA MAE A. GULLAS


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

364

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable RHEA MAE A. GULLAS.

AN ACT.
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL IN
SOUTH POBLACION, MUNICIPALITY OF SAN FERNANDO, PROVINCE OF
CEBU, TO BE KNOWN AS THE SAN FERNANDO MATH AND SCIENCE HIGH
SCHOOL, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. San Fernando Math and Science High School. — There is
hereby established, under the supervision of the Department of Education, a
national mathematics and science high school in South Poblacion. Municipality
of San Fernando, Province of Cebu to be known as the “San Fernando Math and
Science High School.”

SECTION 2. Appropriations. - The Secretary of Education shalt
immediately include in the Department’s program the operationalization of the
San Fernando Math and Science High School. The funding of which shall be
included in the General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 3. Implementation. — The Secretary of Education shall issue
such rules and regulations as may be necessary for the effective implementation

of this Act.

SECTION 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
publication in the official gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,