Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL No. 3794

Introduced By: REPRESENTATIVE FELIX WILLIAM B, FUENTEBELLA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA) is a specialized public
high school in the Philippines created by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 1287.
It offered arts-focused general secondary level education program, combined
with a special curriculum oriented to the arts and geared towards the early
recognition and development of highly talented, exceptionally gifted students in
the arts.

The PHSA has successfully produced notable alumni like the famous
pianist Rowenna Arrieta, Leila Florentino, a singer who played a leading role in
the Broadway-run Miss Saigon,, Candice Adea, then principal dancer of Ballet
Philippines, Raymond Red, filmmaker and recipient of Palme d’Or Award at the
2000 Cannes Festival for his short film “Anino”, John Cinco, Professor of
Computer Graphics at Farleigh Dickinson University and many others,

However, since its creation in 1978, a similar specialized public high
school for the arts program has not been established in any part of the country
limiting in the process the chances of many exceptionally gifted students to be
discovered and harness their talents, particularly those in far-flung areas.

This bill therefore seeks to establish a high school for the arts program in
San Rafael High School located at Barangay San Rafael, Municipality of Tigaon,
Province of Camarines Sur to be known as the San Rafael High School for the
Arts Program in order to replicate the enviable accomplishments of the PHSA
and its lasting contribution to the field of arts


‘The establishment of the San Rafael High School for the Arts Program will
certainly open windows of opportunity to highly talented and exceptionally
gifted students in the arts not only in the Province of Camarines Sur but in the
entire Bicol Region as well. It is intended to attain the following objectives:

(a) To recruit and screen students with special talents in the arts;

(b) To provide a special and elite arts program for highly talented and
specially gifted children in a separate school site, which is already
available for the purpose; and

(c) To create a dedicated group to manage the implementation of the
program, which will include the development of facilities and
recruitment of trainors.

‘The paramount objective of the program is to provide a continuing source
of artists of excellence and leaders in the preservation and promotion of Filipino
heritage in the arts.

In view of the foregoing reasons, the approval of this bill is camnestly
sought.

FELIX WIL) [PY” B. FUENTEBELLA
entative

Fourth District, Camarines Sur


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 3794

Introduced By: REPRESENTATIVE FELIX WILLIAM B, FUENTE)

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING AN ARTS PROGRAM IN SAN RAFAEL NATIONAL HIGH
SCHOOL LOCATED AT BARANGAY SAN RAFAEL, MUNICIPALITY OF
TIGAON, PROVINCE OF CAMARINES SUR TO BE KNOWN AS THE SAN.
RAFAEL NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS PROGRAM AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Establishment. ~ There is hereby established an arts program
in San Rafael National High School located at Barangay San Rafael, Municipality
of Tigaon, Province of Camarines Sur to be known as the San Rafael National
High School for the Arts Program under the Department of Education (DepEd),
which shall implement a policy and program, in consultation with the Cultural
Center of the Philippines (CCP), with special emphasis on subjects pertaining to
the arts, with the end in view of preparing its students for a career in the arts.

SEC. 2. Program Director; Appointment, Compensation, Term of Office
and Powers and Functions, - The San Rafael National High School for the Arts
Program shall be headed by a Program Director, who shall be appointed by the
Secretary of the DepEd or the Chairperson of the Board, and whose functions,
powers and duties shalll be defined by the DepEd.


SEC. 3. Assistant Director. - There shall be an Assistant Director, who
shall assist the Director in the arts education phase of the school. In the absence
of the Director, he shall assume such administrative and supervisory functions of
the Director as he may be authorized by the DepEd. He shall be appointed by the
Secretary of the DepEd.

SEC. 4. Board of Advisers. - The San Rafael National High School for the
Arts Program shall have a Board of Advisers, hereinafter referred to as the
Board, which shall be composed of the Secretary of the Department of Education
as Chairperson, the Schools Division Superintendent, as Vice-Chairperson, and
the Program Director and a representative each from the field of music, dance,
theater arts and visual arts, who shall be appointed by the Chairperson of the
Board, as members,

SEC. 5. Powers and Prerogatives. - The Board, which shall act as the
overseer, shall have the following duties

(a) To fix the site of the school;

(b) To receive and appropriate for the ends specified by law such sums as
may be provided by law for support of the high school;

(¢) To recommend to the DepEd the appointment made and contracts
entered into by the Director in connection with employment of
teachers, lecturers and other employees of the school, subject to the
provisions of Section 12 of this Act; to fix their compensation and other
conditions of employment; and to remove them for cause after proper
investigation;

(d) To provide fellowships for faculty members and approve the grant of
scholarships, stipends and such other allowances to deserving
students;

(c) To establish criteria for the selection and admission of students which
shall include, among others, national competitive examinations;

() To approve the issuance of certificates of diplomas to successful
candidates for graduation;

(g) To receive in trust legacies, gifts, and donations of real and personal
property of all kinds and to administer the same for the benefit of the
High School or for aid to any of its students.

SEC. 6. Quorum. - A quorum of the Board shall consist of majority of all
the members holding office at the time a meeting is called.

SEC. 7. Reportorial Requirement. - On or before June of each year, the
Board shall submit to the President of the Philippines a detailed report on the
Progress, condition and needs of the High School


SEC. 8. Executive Council. - The DepEd shall organize an Executive Council
consisting of the Director, the Assistant Director, as hereinafter provided, the heads of
departments, and such other ranking faculty members or officials of the High School.
The Council shall have the power to screen and select the students to be admitted to the
High School, to select students who shall be recipients of scholarships, stipends, and
other allowances, and to develop the curricula, course or study, and rules of discipline.

The Council shall implement and execute the policies laid down by the DepEd as
recommended by the Board and exercise such other functions, powers and duties as the
Board may prescribe.

SEC. 9, Tax Exemption Privilege, - All legacies, gifts and donations for the
benefit of the High School or for its support and maintenance or for aid to any of its
students shall be tax-exempt and shall be an allowable deduction from its gross income
of the donors, For the purpose of the income tax, the high School shall be exempt from.
payment of all taxes, fees and assessments and other charges of the government, its
branches and subdivisions, It shall likewise be exempt from taxes and duties on any
equipment, books, articles, goods or services it may import from abroad, including
withholding taxes on honoraria or fees paid by the High School to visiting lecturers or
professors from abroad.

SEC. 10, The High School for the Arts Program Fund, = All incomes and
donations to the Special Program shall be formed into a fund, to be known as the e High
School for the Arts Program Fund. This fund shall be expended as authorized by the
Board exclusively for the purpose of this Act

SEC. 11. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to implement this Act is
hereby appropriated and made available from the funds of the National Treasury not
otherwise appropriated for the current year, Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary
for the continuous operations the High School shall be charged against the annual
appropriations of the Department of Education.

SEC. 12. Effectivity Clause, - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in any newspaper of general circulation,

Approved,