EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section  1   of  Article  XIV  (Education)  of  the  Constitution  provides,  in  part,  that  the
State shall take appropriate steps to make education accessible to all.   Likewise, the State is
q.irected by the Constifutiion to "establish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate, and
integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the people and society."
This  bill  seeks  to  create  the  National  Education  Coordinating  Council  in  order  to
integrate,  coordinate  and  interface  the  program  and  policies  of the  formal  and  non-formal
educational system.
In  the  Philippines,  the  system  of  education  is  implemented  by  the  Department  of
Education   (DepEd),   the   Commission   on   Higher   Education   (CHED)   and   the   Technical
Education   and   Skills    Development   Authority   (TESDA).       These   three   agencies   are
independent bodies and supreme in their respective realm of responsibilities.   As such, they
have their own distinct set of policies and programs which sometimes clash with each other,
thus   adversely  affecting   the   educational   system   in   the   country.      Hence,   there   is   an
imperative  need  to  coordinate  the  activities  and  functions  of the  three  agencies  to  better
implement  the   programs   and   policies   set   by   the   national   government   relative   to   the
operations and management of the educational system.
The  measure  proposes to establish the  National  Coordinating  Council which will  act
as the over-all advisory and coordinating body for all literacy endeavors and human resource
development    program    of   the    country.        It    is    an    inter-agency   body.  composed    of
representatives of the three agencies of education and various government agencies.   The
Council  is  tasked  to  ensure  a  coherent,  integrated,  proficient  and  responsive  educational
system in the country.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS                  )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES    )
First Regular session                            )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Introduced by Representative Rufus 8. Rodriguez
House Bill No.  53 4 7
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING  THE  NATIONAL  EDUCATION  COORDINATING  COUNCIL,  DEFINING
ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it erl?ct.ed  by the  Senate and  House of Representatives of the  Philippines in  Congress
assembled:
SECTION   1.        Short  7+.I/e.   -This  Act  shall   be   known   as  the  "Wafi.ona/  Educafi.on
Coordinating Council Act".
SEC.  2.  Dec/araf/.on  of Po//-cy.  -    lt  is  the  declared  policy  of  the  State  to  protect  and
promote  the  rights  of all  citizens  to  affordable  quality formal  education  at  all  levels  and  to
relevant and efficient technical education and skills development opportunities responsive to
and in accordance with Philippine development goals and priorities.   For this purpose, it shall
maintain  a  coordinating  body which  shall  integrate,  coordinate  and  interface  the  programs
and policies of the formal and non-formal educational systems.
SEC. 3.   Wafi-ona/ Educafi-on Coordi-nat/ng Counci./. -  There is hereby created a National
Education   Coordinating   Council,   hereinafter   referred   to   as   the   "Counc/'/,"  which   shall
integrate  and  coordinate  the  policies,  plans,  programs  and  projects  in  the  areas  of formal
and   non-formal   education  at  all   levels   in  order  to  establish  and   maintain  a   complete,
adequate   and   comprehensive   system   of  education   relevant   to   the   goals   of   national
development.
SEC. 4. Compos/.fi.on. -The Council shall be composed of the following:
a)   The Secretary of Education, as Chairman;
b)   Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education, as Vice Chairman;
c)    Chairman of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority;
d)   Director-General   of   the    National    Economic   and    Development   Authority   or   a
representative;
e)   Secretary of Labor and Employment or his representative;
f)    Secretary of science and Technology or his representative; and
g)   Secretary of Trade and Industry or his representative, as members.
SEC.  5.    Dufi.es  and  Funcf/.oms.  -  The  Council  shall  exercise  the  following  duties  and
functions:
a)   Act  as  the    overall  advisory  and  coordinating  body  providing  policy  and
program  directions  for  all  formal  and  non-formal  educational  systems,  particularly
technical education and skills development program;
b)    Coordinate with  the  participating  agencies  represented  in  the  Council  in
providing opportunities for the acquisition of skills necessary to enhance and ensure
continuing  employability,   efficiency,   productivity  and   competitiveness  in  the  labor
market;
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c)  Serve  as  a  means  for  expanding  access  to  educational  opportunities  to
citizens of varied  interests,  demographic characteristics and  socio-economic origins
of status;
d)    Formulate,  plan,  implement and  coordinate  the  policies,  plans  programs
and projects for the following:
(1)     Primary and secondary education
(2)     Non-formal education, vocational and technical education
and skills development
(3)    Highereducation
e)    Formulate  and  coordinate  the  implementatjon  of  policies  on  matters  of
common   interest  to  the   various   departments  and   agencies   of  the  government
concerned with the formal and  non-formal education and  make recommendations to
the President in connection therewith; and
f)   Perform  such  other functions as  may  be  necessary  in  furtherance  of the
purposes of this Act.
SEC. 6.   Meeti.ngs. - Regular meetings of the Council shall be held at least once a month.
Special  meetings  may  be  held  as  often  as  may deemed  necessary:  Provt.ded,  That in  the
absence  or  incapacity  of  the  members  to  attend  any  regular  or  special  meeting  of  the
Council,  the duly designated  representative of the  member shall attend and  be vested with
the same power and authority as a regular member.
A quorum of the Council shall consist of four (4) members holding office at the time of
the meeting: Prov/.bed, however, That the chairperson of the Council is among those present
in the meeting.
SEC.  7.  Compensaf/.on.  - The  member of the  Council  shall  be  entitled  to  per diems and
honoraria  as  may  be  approved  by  the  Council.    They  shall  serve  without  service  credit,
benefit or pay except the approved per diems and honoraria.
SEC. 8.   Secrefarl.af. -The Council shall have a permanent secretariat which shall be under
the supervision and  control  of the  Chairperson  of the Council.   The Council shall determine
the  administrative  personnel  and  research  staff as  it  may  deem  necessary for the  proper
discharge  of its functions  and  responsibilities.    All  the  appointments  shall  be  made  by the
Chairperson subject to existing civil service laws, rules and regulations.
SEC.  9.  /mp/emenfr-ng Ru/es and Regu/afi.ons. - Within thirty (30) days from the date of
the  effectivity of this  Act,  the  Council  shall  convene  to formulate  the  rules  and  regulations
necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.
SEC.  10.  Approprt.afi.on.  -The funds  necessary to  carry out the  provisions  of this Act  is
hereby appropriated  out of any funds  in  the  National  Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary to implement shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act.
SEC.11.    Repea//'r)g  C/at/se.  -All  laws,  decrees,  orders,  rules  and  regulations  or  parts
thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
SEC.12.   Effecfi-yi-fy. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in
at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,
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