RECEIVED

Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives site
Quezon City, Meteo Aasiln Bu
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS Se 7, of
First Regular Session NDEX.
5207

House Bill No.

INTRODUCED BY REP. ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO
PREPARE AND IMPLEMENT A LAND USE DEVELOPMENT AND
INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN FOR THE OPTIMUM UTILIZATION OT ITS
RESOURCES IN ADDRESSING, BASIC EDUCATION FACILITY SHORTAGES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Around four million or 18 percent of the 21 million elementary and high school
students who begin their academic year in the Philippines are cramped into
extremely overcrowded public schools. In 2017, the Department of Education
(DepEd) estimates that the public school system still lacked 47,000 classrooms.
A 2015 study found that school buildings in the eastern seaboard and thus
prone to natural disasters are poor compared to the buildings in the northern
safe areas. In addition, there was worse
ies in southern provinces where civil unrest

continues.

These problems in our public school system are alarming especially as studies
show that the quality of educational facilities is directly proportional to student
performance. The state, through the school officials and relevant government
agencies, must apply a systematic approach to the evaluation on infrastructures
and monitoring of facilities for maintenance and repair. The ultimate aim herein
is to provide both a conducive teaching-learning and recreation area for the
students and faculty for the holistic development of the learners.

‘The State is mandated under Section 17, Article II of the Constitution to address
such problems. Priority is given to education “to foster patriotism and

j0las Jones, “School Congestion in the Philippines: A Breakthrough Solution, “Asia Foundation, April
5, 2017, https: / /asiafoundation.org/2017/04/05/school-congestion-philippines-breakthrough-solution,
Rajel Adora, “DepEd to address shortage of teachers and lack of classrooms,” UNTV News and Rescue,
August 16,2017, https: / /www,untvweb,com /news /deped-address-shortage-teachers-lack-classrooms,



nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and
development”. Sec. 1 and 2 of Article XIV further provides the primary task of
the State to ensure that all citizens are provided quality education at all levels
and that the education system is adopted to the needs of the people and society.
As such, the States should thus be able to utilize the land, facilities, and
resources of its public elementary and secondary schools.

Given this mandate this bill seeks to organize the preparation of a land use and
development plan in all public schools. This involves the evaluation of existing
buildings and facilities to determine whether or not they are conducive for
learning. It should be followed by a design and financial plan for the
rehabilitation, maintenance, and/or repair based on the findings of the
assessment. Given that the needs of schools differ depending on the area they
are located, the plan should also incorporate disaster risk management
principles for contingency purposes. Moreover, this should be made in
anticipation of the future needs and expansion of school relatives to school
population growth and construction of needed infrastructure and physical
facility requirements.

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

Ligaya Leah Figueroa, Samsung Lim, & Jihyun Lee, “Investigating the relationship between school facilities
and academic achievements through geographically weighted regression , “Annals of GIS, 22:4, 273-285,
DOI: 10.1080/19475683.2016.1231717

Ibid.

Mark Raguindin Limon, "The Effect of the Adequacy of School Facilities on Student's Performance and
Achievement in Technology Livelihood Education, “International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive
Education and Development, Vol. 5 No. 1, January —-2016.
hitps://hrmars.com/hrmars_papers/The_Effect_of

_the Adequacy of School Faciloties_on_Students%E2%80%99_Performance and Achievement in Techno
logy_and_Livelihood_ Eduction. pdf

Ibid.


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Queen City, Meteo Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5207
House Bill No.

INTRODUCED BY REP. ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO
PREPARE AND IMPLEMENT A LAND USE DEVELOPMENT AND
INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN FOR THE OPTIMUM UTILIZATION OT ITS
RESOURCES IN ADDRESSING, BASIC EDUCATION FACILITY SHORTAGES

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 “Public School
Land Use Plan Act of 2019”.

Section 2. Declaration of Policies. -It is the policy of the State to ensure
optimum utilization of the land resources of all public elementary and secondary
schools for the purposes of anticipating future needs and expansion of schools
relative to school population growth and construction of needed infrastructure
and physical facility requirements which will contribute to a more conducive
teaching-learning environment and comply with disaster risk education
management in schools.

Section 3. Preparation and Implementation. ~The school principals,
with the assistance of the Officer of the School Division Superintendent, the
District/City/Municipal Engineering Office of the Department of Public Works
and Highway (DPWH), the Local Government Unit (LGU) where it is located, and
the duly-established Local School Board, shall prepare and implement a land
use development and infrastructure plan designed to improve and optimally
utilize the resources of their respective public elementary and secondary schools.
The land use development and infrastructure plan shall be submitted to the
Department of Education (DepEd) within two years after the approval of this Act
and shall be updated periodically as the need arises. The plan shall also be


incorporated into the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and the
Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) of the respective LGU where the school
is located.

Section 4. Land Use Development and Infrastructure Plan. -Each
public elementary and secondary school shall endeavour to provide both a
conducive teaching-learning and recreation area for the students and faculty for
the holistic development of the learners. The infrastructure and physical facility
requirements must also comply with prevailing disaster risk reduction and
mitigation measures.

The site development must be flexible enough to allow modifications according
to the school’s prevailing and future needs: Provided, That modifications shall
adhere as much as possible to the basic pattern of development.

The land use development and infrastructure plan shall include, but it is not
limited to, the following:

{a) Detailed geographical description and survey of the site occupied by the
educational institution;

(b) Inventory of all existing buildings, facilities and other infrastructure within
the compound or area occupied by the public school;

(c) Recommendations for use of all idle and available land inside the school
campus including a feasibility study on the construction of additional
classrooms or building relative to population growth and estimated
increase in student environment;

(a) School building and facility condition assessment report which will include
actual defects, damages, and other structural issues; replacement,
repairs, retrofitting, improvements, and maintenance needed;

(e) Design and estimated cost of construction, operation and maintenance of
other infrastructure needs of the educational institutions; and

() Financial plan, which may include among others, feasibility studies,
sources of funding, income, loans, and public-private partnerships.

Section 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~The departments
and agencies charged with the carrying out of the provisions of this Act shall,
within (60) days of its effectivity, formulate the rules and regulations for its
effective implementation.

Section 6. Repealing Clause. -Any law, presidential decree or insurance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation,
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed,
modified, or amended accordingly.


Section 7. Separability Clause. -If any provision or part of this Act is

held unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining parts or provision not affected
shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 8. Effectivity. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,