ee
Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Seay 2

House Bill No.

Introduced by HON. JOSEFINA B. TALLADO

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE ‘ONE TABLET, ONE STUDENT’ PROGRAM FOR ALL STUDENTS
ENROLLED IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Inthe digital age where technology moves in a very fast pace, our educators and learners have
began tapping technological innovations lke the use of Tablet computers (Tablet) to enable them to
access a vast gamut of information and online educational materials like never before.

The onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic further emphasized the need to have access to digital
devices to enable distance learning and establish online interaction in a virtual classroom set-up.

Unfortunately for our learners, particularly those enrolled in public schools, state universities and
colleges, devices like Tablets come with a hefty price tag that the parents of these students cannot afford.
Most resort to the use of smart phones which are not suitable to learning due to a small digital user
interface and less than ideal monitor size that strains the eyes. Worse, most families only have one smart
phone that is clearly not sufficient if you have more than one student in the household.

{n my District in Camarines Norte, majority of public school students have no access to Tablets
and the government has no adequate funding allotted for such purchase. While | have donated hundreds
of Tablets from my personal income as Representative during the 18" Congress, it was not sufficient to
address the number of public school student population that needs the same. This is the reason why |
am filing this bill which was the initiative of my good friend, Senator Loren Legarda, who filed the same
in the 18° Congress. We need to act now to close the gap or disparity of technological learning between
students from affluent private schools and those from our public school system.

We often here that our children are our future but we need to equip them with means to realize
that future. Itwill be impossible to realize that future if the government will tum a blind eye on the nagging
necessity that they must at least be provided with tools to access online information and learning
materials in the digital age.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this billis earnestly sought

JOSEFINA B. TALLADO
1® District, Camarines Norte


Republic of the Philippines.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BillNo. 2312

Introduced by HON. JOSEFINA B, TALLADO

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE ‘ONE TABLET, ONE STUDENT’ PROGRAM FOR ALL STUDENTS
ENROLLED IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. - This Act shall be known as the “One Tablet, One Student Act of
2022."

SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF POLICY. - The State shall protect and promote the right of all
citizens to quality education at all levels. Further, the State shall take appropriate measures to make
‘education accessible to al

SECTION 3. ONE TABLET, ONE STUDENT PROGRAM. - The One Tablet, One Student
program is hereby established to provide deserving public elementary and secondary students as well
as students enrolled in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) a tablet computer (‘tablet’) to enable them
to effectively participate in online learning. Provided, that students who already have their own personal
learning gadgets or who belong to a household with financial means to procure the same, shall be given
educational assistance in the form of an intemet allowance to cover the cost of connectivity

SECTION 4. IMPLEMENTING AGENCIES. - The Department of Education (DepEd) and the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) are hereby tasked to implement the One Tablet, One Student
Program shal:

1. Develop a comprehensive system to determine the eligibility of students who will qualify
under the said program;

2. Develop an efficient and expeditious distribution system; and

3. Formulate guidelines on usage, maintenance, and accountability for the tablet.


SECTION 5. APPROPRIATIONS. - An amount of Two Hundred Billion Pesos
(PhP200,000,000,000.00) is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury for the
inital implementation of this Act. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the implementation of
this Act shall be appropriated in the succeeding General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 6. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. - The DepEd and CHED, in
coordination with the local government units through the Department of Interior and Local Government
(DILG) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), shall promulgate all
the necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation not later than thirty (30) days upon
the effectivity ofthis Act. The DepEd and CHED shall publish such rules and regulations once a week for
two (2) consecutive weeks in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

SECTION 7. REPEALING CLAUSE. - All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations,
issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.

‘SECTION 8. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. - If any part or portion or provision of this Act shall be
held invalid or unconstitutional, no other part, section. or provision thereof shall be affected thereby.

SECTION 9. EFFECTIVITY. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
publication either in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.