Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Quezon City
18™ CONGRESS
First Regular Session

6691

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative EVELINA G. ESCUDERO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Before the outbreak of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID 19), the country’s
education system is already beset with various issues. The COVID 19 pandemic has
made matter worse as it altogether compelled the government to order the closure of
schools. With no vaccine in sight, the extension of the closure is an eventuality. A
World Bank report! noted that “[e]xtended schoo! closures may cause not only loss of
learning in the short-term, but also further loss in human capital and diminished
economic opportunities in the long-term.”

The 1987 Constitution provides that the “[t]he State shall protect and promote
the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and shall take appropriate steps
to make such education accessible to all.” ? And for this purpose the State shall
“{elstablish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate, and integrated system of
education relevant to the needs of the people and society.”>

The disruption of the education system brought about by this pandemic requires
a hybrid but viable system of education. As mandated by the constitution, the State
must ensure that its citizens, especially the children and the youth, have continued
access to not only basic but also quality education even in times of public health
emergencies.

Thus this Bills seeks not only to ensure that the students and learners have
continuous access to quality education in a way that is safe and equitable but also to
strengthen national response and preparedness , especially of the education sector,
during public health emergencies.

1 The World Bank Education Global Practice Guidance Note: Remote Learning & COVID-19 (updated
April 7, 2020)

2Section 1 Article XIV, 1987 Philippine Constitution.

Section 2 (1) Article XIV, 1987 Philippine Constitution.


‘As mentioned, human capital is the primary force that drives national
development. Consequently, necessary measures to safeguard the people's health and
education must be undertaken for the country to survive and thrive.

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


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

‘Quezon City
18™ CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 6691

Introduced by Representative EVELINA G. ESCUDERO

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING BLENDED LEARNING IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
SCHOOLS DURING PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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 and cited as the “Public Health
Emergency Blended Learning Act of 2020.”

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared as a policy of the State,
consistent with the constitutional provisions on education and national development to
protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education even in times of public
health emergencies.

As such, quality education must be available to the students and learners
through means that protect the health of the learners and at the same time are
accessible, multi-modal, and equitable.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms.

a.) “Public health emergency” is as an occurrence or imminent threat of an
illness or health condition, caused by bio terrorism, epidemic or pandemic
disease, or (a) novel and highly fatal infectious agent or biological toxin, that
poses a substantial risk of a significant number of human facilities or
incidents or permanent or long-term disability +

4 WHG/DCD, 2001


b.) “Pandemic” is “an epidemic occurring worldwide, or over a very wide area,
crossing international boundaries and usually affecting a large number of
people. 5

c) “Blended learning” designates the range of learning possibilities in an
education program in which content and instruction are presented by
combining internet, digital media, television or radio broadcast with
established classroom forms that require the physical co-presence of teacher
and students.6

Sec. 4. Use of Blended Learning in All Institutions of Learning Public and
Private Schools During Public Health Emergency. - All institutions of learning,
including but not limited to, schools, colleges, universities, vocational learning
institutions, shall adopt a suitable Blended Learning, as herein defined, during a
declared public health emergency to ensure the safety and the continued access to
quality education of the students and learners.

Sec. 5. Blended Learning Program Development. The Department of Education
(DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall initiate the
development of appropriate Blended Learning program within their jurisdiction taking
into consideration the resources available to the schools, teachers and students.

Sec. 6. Teacher Training. DepEd and CHED shall ensure the training of teachers,
public and private, in the development and delivery of content and instruction under
the Blended Learning program.

Sec. 7. Subsidized Data Rates for Access of Blended Learning Materials
Published Online. During the period of the declared public health emergency, access to
websites where the Blended Learning materials are published or posted shall be
subsidized by the government and may be accessed free of charge.

Sec. 8 Implementing Rules and Regulations - DepEd and CHED, in
coordination with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) shall
promulgate the corresponding implementing rules and regulations of this Act within
sixty (60) days from the date of its effectivity.

5 Last JM, editor. A dictionary of epidemiology, 4th edition. New York: Oxford University Press; 2001.
& Integrated from Norm Friesen, Report: Defining Blended Learning, August 2012 and Heather Clayton
Staker and Michael B. Horn, Classifying K-12 Blended Learning, Innosight Institute, Inc, May 2012


Sec. 9. Appropriations. - The funds necessary to implement the provisions of
this Act shalll be sourced from the respective budgets of the CHED and the DepEd in the
annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, and rules and regulations
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.

Sec. 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is held invalid
or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and
subsisting.

Sect. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette.

Approved,

( Ghtudiel ,