a

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4079

Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Bill seeks to deliver educational advancement to the Filipino studentry
through the use of alternative means of instruction such as print, radio, television, and
other multi-media learning and teaching technologies that allow students to study on
their own without having to regularly attend class in the conventional classroom setup.

This alternative learning system adheres with the constitutional mandate of
providing access to relevant quality education through the employment of an
alternative learning system that would enable the youth including adults to overcome
geographical, socioeconomic and/or physical constraints to their completion of
secondary and tertiary education including advance studies.

The prevalence of computers or the so called artificial intelligence and the
rapidly changing society and the demand to the globally competitive cannot be
ignored. It has to be addressed by keeping at par with the high tech genre.

This legislation gives birth to ELearning as an alternative mode of learning. This
Cyber Education Bill aims to institutionalize the Open ELearning School System thereby
defying hindrances in the effective, systematic and advance means of computer
education.

Hence, immediate passage of this legislation is urgeftt)

GUS S/TAMBUNTING


a

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bit no. 40°79

Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE OPEN ELECTRONIC LEARNING SCHOOL
SYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress as assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Open ELearning
School System Act of 2016."

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared that the policy of the
State to access relevant quality education through the employment of an alternative
learning system that would enable the youth including adults to overcome
geographical, socioeconomic and/or physical constraints to their completion of
secondary education and tertiary education including advance studies.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For the purposes of this Act, the following
terms are hereby defined:

a) Open Electronic Learning School or Elearning - a system of delivering
educational services to high school, college and advance studies students
utilizing print, radio, television and computer-based communications, satellite
broadcasting, teleconferencing, and other multimedia learning and teaching
technologies that allow students to study on their own without having to
regularly attend class in conventional classrooms.

b) Distance Learning Program - an educational program whereby the teaching and
learning processes are accomplished through self-instructional materials that
allow independent study, multi-channel learning and school-family community
partnership.

¢) Cyber Ed / Cyber Education - computer based instructional system using active
online modules and materials accessible through the internet.


d) Diploma / Non diploma - certification of academic achievement acquired through
ELearning.

e) Conduit Schools / University and other Learning Institutions - partner schools
locally or internationally located.

f) Accreditation Certificate - MOA between the Open System and the Conduit
Schools/university and other Learning institutions.

g) ELearning Centers - Distance learning centers shall be established in pilot areas.
The Center is a room of building where the distance learners can conduct
researches or gather additional information on topics under study.

SECTION 4. Jnstitutionalization of the Open School System. - To carry out the
above-declared policy, the Open School hereinafter referred to as the system is hereby
institutionalized in the Philippines in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

SECTION 5. Coverage. — This Act shall apply to public secondary and tertiary
educational institutions with existing distance learning programs and all other such
institutions that shall later be authorized as qualified to implement the system.

All existing programs and projects of the Department of Education regarding
dropout intervention and poverty alleviation through education shall be part of the
Open ELearning School System.

SECTION 6. Coverage. — The System shall be open to all youth and adults who
have finished elementary education and high school qualifiers of the Philippine
Educational Placement Test (PEPT).

SECTION 7. Administration and Supervision. - The Department of Education
(DepEd) shall administer and supervise the System. The DepEd shall create a program
attached to the Office of the Secretary under the Office for the Cyber Ed Program with
following duties and functions:

1) Formulate the objectives and basic policies of the System;

2) Formulate, adopt and supplement programs that will make the System effective
and productive;

3) Monitor and evaluate existing distance learning programs for the integration
with the system;

4) Develop and validate prototype instructional distance learning materials;

5) Shall modify the adopted curriculum, devise a rating system, instructional
strategies and materials;


6) Consult and collaborate with other DepEd divisions, local government units,
non-government organizations (NGOs) and other private agencies for the
effective operation of the system;

7) promulgate the necessary guidelines, rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of the System;

8) Recommend to the DepEd the annual budget of the System for inclusion in the
General Appropriations Act for the year;

9) Linkage with conduit schools, university and other learning institution; and

10)Perform such other tasks as may be necessary to attain the objectives of the
System.

SECTION 8. Collaboration Between the Department of Education (DepEd) and
Private Learning Institutions Whether Local or Abroad. - The DepEd shall sign a
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) defining the role of the government vis conduit
schools, university or other learning institutions in the operation of the system in order
to ensure maximum success.

SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of
Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Science
and Technology (DOST), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Department of Budget
and Management (DBM) and other related agencies shall issue the necessary rules
and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within a period of ninety
(90) days after its approval.

SECTION 10. Oversight Committee. - Upon prior consultation with the
Committees on Education of the Senate and the House of Representatives, an
Oversight Committee shall be formed and shall evaluate annual reports submitted by
the Program.

SECTION 11. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriation
of the Distance Learning Program of the DepEd. Thereafter, such as may be necessary
for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriation
Act.

SECTION 12. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in full
force and effect.

SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.


SECTION 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect immediately after its
publication in the Official Gazette or any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,