Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. 10732 
_______________________________________________________ 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE 
MICHAEL L. ROMERO 
_______________________________________________________ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1987 Constitution mandates the state to establish sufficient school 
infrastructures/buildings through appropriate technology and research, with 
adequate financial, equipment and other support services. 
Article XIV, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution highlights the 
government's duty to ensure a complete and suitable education system that 
meets the needs of the people in an ever-changing environment. It also calls 
for support for students through scholarships and other aid, especially for 
those from underprivileged backgrounds.  
Furthermore, it promotes alternative learning approaches, including 
informal and community-based programs. The Republic of the Philippines, 
must find a permanent and lasting solution to our recurring school shortage 
crisis. The state must ensure a stable and sufficient program by involving as 
many stakeholders as possible in all sectors. 
We must review the mandate and flow of operations of all our 
government agencies involved in the production and distribution of all our 
school facilities and programs to improve synergy in pursuant to the mandate 
of the Constitution. Several recent studies have pointed out the alarming 
deterioration of the quality of learning in the Philippines, but this was officially 
confirmed in the basic education report delivered by concurrently serving as 
secretary to the Department of Education (DEPED). There are several issues 
that plague the country’s basic education system and reforms. 
previous surveys have indicated about the low academic proficiency of 
Filipino students. The biggest concern. The lack of school infrastructure and 
August 7, 2024
12:21 pm


resources to support the ideal teaching process is the most pressing issue 
pounding the Philippine basic education. 
The latest government inventory which shows that out of 327,851 
school buildings in the country, only 104,536 are in good condition. There 
are 100,072 school buildings that need minor repairs, 89,252 that require 
major repairs, and 21,727 that are set for closure. 
 The procurement practices in the DEPED had red flags that demanded 
immediate actions. Initial findings in the ongoing review of the K-12 
curriculum that underscored the failure of the 10-year-old program to deliver 
satisfactory results. 
There had been much criticized heavy workload assigned to teachers as 
she pressed for an immediate review of the current setup in public schools. 
This is a system that burdens them with backbreaking and time-consuming 
administrative tasks, a system that provides no adequate support and robs 
them of the opportunity to professionally grow and professionally teach, assist, 
and guide our learners. 
Data unveiled the education agenda and focused on curriculum reform, 
accelerated delivery of services, promoting the well-being of learners, and 
providing greater support to teachers. Responding to the report, in 
acknowledging the government’s accountability to the nation’s young learners. 
DEPED promised to build better infrastructure by investing heavily in 
education. 
The President had referenced his administration’s development plan 
(PDP), education crisis is linked to years of incapacity and lacking investment 
in education. This dismal state of basic education was welcomed by some 
educators. The state vowed to work with in passing education reform 
measures. 
This House Bill seeks to create programs aimed to attain national goals 
and promote well-being for all students/learners. To bolster the construction 
of more school buildings/facilities. 
Thus, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
MICHAEL L. ROMERO Ph.D.   


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. 10732 
__________________________________________________________ 
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE 
MICHAEL L. ROMERO 
__________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE CREATION OF MORE SCHOOL 
BUILDINGS AND INFRASTRUCTURES, TO PROTECT AND 
PROMOTE THE RIGHT OF EVERY FILIPINO TO QUALITY, 
EQUITABLE, CULTURE-BASED, AND COMPLETE EDUCATION, 
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. 
SHORT TITLE. - This Act shall be known as the " 
School Buildings/Facilities Act of 2024 ". 
SECTION 2. 
DECLARATION OF POLICY - It shall hereby be a 
declared the policy of the state to protect and promote the right of all citizens 
to quality basic education and to make such education accessible to all by 
providing all Filipino children a free and compulsory education in the 
elementary level and free education in the high school level. 
Such education shall also include alternative learning systems for out-
of-school youth and adult learners. It shall be the goal of basic education to 


 
provide them with the skills, knowledge and values they need to become caring, 
seIf-reliant, productive and patriotic citizens. 
SECTION 3. 
SCHOOL BUILDINGS/FACILITIES - shall be the heart of 
the formal education system. It is where students learn. Schools shall have a 
single aim of providing the best possible education for all learners. 
Governance of education shall begin at the national level it is at the regions, 
divisions, schools and learning centers herein referred to as the field offices - 
where the policy and principle for the governance of basic education shall be 
translated into programs, projects and services developed, adapted and offered 
to fit local needs. 
The state shall encourage local initiatives for improving the quality of basic 
education. The state shall ensure that the values, needs and aspirations of a 
school community are reflected in the program of education for the children, 
out-of-school youth and adult learners. Schools and learning centers shall be 
empowered to make decisions on what is best for the learners they serve. 
 
 
SECTION 4.  
ESTABLISHMENT 
OF 
A 
SELF-GOVERNING 
NATIONAL ADVISORY-CONSTRUCTION COUNCIL. — There shall be 
established a self-governing advisory council to be headed by the DEPED. 
The National Advisory Council shall formulate its own implementing 
rules and regulations to govern its proceedings. The Council shall choose its 
official home base and organize a staffing protocol to aid and carry out its 
functions. 
Existing structures, facilities and equipment’s that would meet the 
standard requirements could be upgraded to effectively serve and be 
designated as such in compliance with rules and regulations set by the 
Department of Education (DEPED). 


 
SECTION 5.  
REGIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL - for purposes of 
this act, to execute the foregoing policy, there shall hereby be created the 
Regional advisory Council. This council shall have the overall authority and 
responsibility and accountability for crafting and formulating a comprehensive 
program for the implementation of school construction.  
The regional advisory councils and NAC shall have, as members, 
representatives from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) 
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of 
Education (DEPED), Commission on Audit (COA) Commission on Higher 
Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development 
Authority (TESDA). The regional advisory councils and NAC shall also have, 
as 
additional 
members, 
two 
(2) 
representatives 
from 
accredited 
nongovernmental organizations working or monitoring school construction 
and service programs. 
The Council shall formulate its own implementing rules and regulations 
to govern its proceedings. The Council shall choose its official home base and 
organize a staffing protocol to aid and carry out its functions. 
 
SECTION 6.  
CRITERIA FOR Construction – it should meet the 
prescribed standards of DEPED in accordance with the DPWH regulations and 
protocols. 
SECTION 7.  
RECURRING ASSESSMENT. - Every three (3) years 
after the effectivity of this Act, the (NAC) shall conduct an impact assessment 
to evaluate the quality of the buildings/facilities, the reliability and the 
program implementation should go and shall be completed as scheduled. 
The amounts indicated in this Act shall be made available to the 
members of all the (NAC) during the implementation of this Act. 
Provided, that every three (3) years after the effectivity of this Act, the 
(DPWH) shall recommend to the DBM whether the cash grants shall be 


 
adjusted to its present value using the current price index, as published by the 
PSA 
Provided, further, That the NAC shall ensure that the grant amounts are 
sufficient to make a positive impact on the entire education sector and are 
delivered timely. 
SECTION 8.  
SETTINGS 
FOR 
ENTITLEMENT. - 
All 
qualified/accredited contractors/suppliers shall comply with all of the 
following required conditions as set by the NAC for continued program 
eligibility, in accordance with the building code. 
 
SECTION 9. 
MANDATES OF THE COUNCIL – to institutionalize 
all foregoing policies, the Republic of the Philippines shall focus all its 
development plans and programs towards the achievement of the National 
goals. 
The DPWH and the DBM shall provide the necessary technical and 
financial assistance to ensure the effective operation and construction of the 
school infrastructures/facilities. 
SECTION 10.  
NONCOMPLIANCE 
WITH 
TERMS 
AND 
CONDITIONS. - The responsible person of a reported who fails to comply with 
conditions set forth by the (NAC) shall at first be notified in writing and the 
payment of shall immediately be terminated. After review (3) months of the 
noncompliance, the person/entity shall be subject to case management 
process of the NAC. 
Should the so notified persist in not complying with the conditions 
within a period of three (3) months since the day of receipt of the written 
notification, they shall be removed from the program. 
 
SECTION 11. 
SUPERVISING AND ASSESSMENT CONCERNS. — 
the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department 


 
of Budget and Management (DBM), shall provide the necessary technical and 
financial assistance to ensure the effective operations and build-up. 
SECTION 12.  
IMPLEMENTING AGENCY. — the Department of 
Education (DEPED).  
The DEPED shall serve as the central planning, coordinating, 
implementing and monitoring body of the Program, it shall 
 
SECTION 13.  
IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. — 
Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Department of 
Education (DEPED), and other concerned government and private agencies, 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of 
this Act. 
SECTION 14. 
TRANSITORY PROVISION – Existing industries, 
businesses and offices affected by the implementation of this Act shall be given 
three (3) months transitory period from the effectivity of the IRR or such other 
period as may be determined, to comply with the requirements of this Act. 
SECTION 15. 
APPROPRIATION. — The amount necessary for the 
initial implementation to fund this act shall be charged under the Department 
of Education (DEPED).  
The amount of fifty (50) billion pesos (Php 50, 000,000,000.00) 
necessary for the initial implementation to fund this act shall be charged under 
the Department of Education (DEPED).  
The amount determined by the Department of Budget and 
Management (DBM) for the implementation of this Act shall be charged under 
the existing funding of the Department of Education (DEPED).  
Thereafter such amounts necessary for the successive and continuous 
implementation of this Act, including the operations maintenance of reserves 
shall be automatically appropriated in the General Appropriations Act (GAA). 


 
Thereafter, such amounts necessary for the initial implementation of this act 
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).  
The agencies concerned shall provide for the continued maintenance, 
operation, and management of all the facilities and equipment’s. 
SECTION 16. 
CONTINUING APPROPRIATION. - The Department 
of Budget and Management (DBM) is hereby mandated to include annually 
in the next five (5) years, in the President's Program of expenditures for 
submission to Congress, and release, an amount not less than ten (10) billion 
pesos (Php 10, OOO, OOO, OOO.OO) for the implementation of this Act. 
SECTION 17. 
PERIODIC REPORTS - The Secretary of the 
(DEPED) shall submit periodic reports on its findings and make 
recommendations on actions to be taken by Congress and Senate and the 
appropriate department, and in order to carry out the objectives and 
mandates of this Act. 
The DEPED shall annually publish a full report of the construction 
progress, for the implementation of the previous fiscal year.  
The said report shall include financial disclosures, number of schools 
for construction/renovation, and recommendations to the National Advisory 
Council, to the President and to both chambers of Congress on how to further 
enhance it. This report shall be submitted to Congress before the submission 
of the President’s Budget Message. 
SECTION 18.  
MANDATORY MONITORING. - The DEPED shall 
monitor the implementation of the program and report its status at least once 
every three (3) years in order to ensure the attainment of the national goals 
enumerated in of this Act to the House of Representatives and the Senate of 
the Philippines. 
SECTION 19.  
AUTOMATIC REVIEW - Every three (3) years after 
the effectivity of this Act, an independent review panel composed of experts 
to be appointed by the President of the Republic shall review the policies and 


 
programs in the agriculture sector and shall make recommendations, based 
on its findings, to the President and to both Houses of Congress. 
SECTION 20.  
INDEPENDENT 
MONITORING 
AGENCY. - 
An 
Independent Monitoring Agency shall be created at the regional, and 
national levels, composed of representatives from the private sector to 
complement the monitoring activities of the DEPED and DPWH to provide 
feedback for appropriate action.  
It shall submit a report on the results of its monitoring activities 
relative to the implementation of the program to the respective regional 
advisory councils and the NAC. 
Section 21.  
PROGRAM CLARITY— The DEPED shall regularly 
and timely post and update on its website a report of financial disclosures 
and information about beneficiaries based on geographical area, social, 
economic and cultural circumstances. 
SECTION 22.  
SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. — If any provision of this 
Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions which 
are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SECTION 23.  
REPEATING CLAUSE. — All laws, decrees, executive 
orders, rules and regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof, contrary 
to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby modified, amended or repealed 
accordingly. 
SECTION 24.  
EFFECTIVITY. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
circulation. 
Approved,