Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives

Batasan Wills, Queson City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.__9231

Introduced by Representative Florencio Gabriel “Bem” G. Noel

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Pursuant to Section 13, Article II of the 1987 Constitution, the State recognizes the vital
role of the youth in nation-building and shall promote their physical, moral, spiritual,
intellectual, and social well-being. To this end, we must acknowledge that with the growing
complexities of a modernizing civil society and the importance that education has in furthering
our nation’s progress, it is of utmost importance that we show a willingness to make changes
in our education system to adopt the most effective methods in providing quality education to
our youth as well as promote their physical and mental well-being. This Act aims to uphold
this policy of the State of promoting the youth’s well-being by providing a mandate prohibiting
educational institutions whether public or private from commencing class hours at a time earlier
than 8:40 AM.

An aspect of the daily lives of students that we often ignore or take for granted is the
effect that sleep has on the physical and mental well-being on our youth. The American
Psychology Association has provided, through an analysis of different studies, a compilation
of the most common benefits that an adequate number of sleep has on our health and functions,
particularly on adolescents. Sleep is vital in almost all areas of human functioning and they
have shown to have particular benefits to':

(a) memory and learning

(b) attention

(c) emotional regulation

(d) mental health and well-being

While a loss of sleep leads to decreases in or problems with:
(a) information retention and cognition

(b) student behavior and classroom conflict

(c) attendance issues

(d) mood regulation.

1merican Psychology Association. (2014). Later School Start Times Promote Adolescent
Well-Being. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/pi/families/resources/school-start-times.pd


‘Numerous scientific studies have shown a correlation between the number of hours of
sleep adolescents receive and their good overall health. According to a study of over 9,000
students in eight public high schools in the United States conducted by Wahlstrom, K., Dretzke,
B., Gordon, M., Peterson, K., Edwards, K., & Gdula, J. (2014) reveal that an 8:30 AM or later
school start time allowed for more than 60% of students to obtain at least eight hours of sleep
per school night which attributes to a significantly lower risk of depression symptoms, greater
use of caffeine, and are at lower risk of making poor choices for substance abuse. Their findings
also show significantly positive improvement with respect to their academic performance
outcomes, performance on state and national achievement tests, attendance rates and reduced
tardiness when start times are at least at 8:35 AM or later. Lastly, later start times lead to a
significant decrease in teen driver car crashes by 70%”.

These examples shown above are among many other studies that have researched on
the significant benefits that a later commencement of class hours brings to not only the students,
but also the teachers, and parents. We must not allow ourselves to be discouraged from
integrating this into our laws and education system solely based on the complexities that this
undertaking may entail. For if we weigh what this Act seeks to accomplish with the challenges
we may face in its implementation, the scales of justice must tilt this in favor of the well-being
of our students,

In view of the foregoing, the enactment of this bill is earnestly sought

FLORENCIO GABRIEL “BEM” G. NOEL
An Waray Partylist Representative

? Wahlstrom, K., Dretzke, B., Gordon, M., Peterson, K., Edwards, K., & Gdula, J. (2014).
Examining the Impact of Later School Start Times on the Health and Academic Performance
of High School Students: A Multi-Site Study. Center for Applied Research and Educational
Improvement. St Paul, MN: University of Minnesota.


Republic of the Philippines

House of Representatives

Batasan Wills, Queson City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 523)

Introduced by Representative Florencio Gabriel “Bem” G. Noel

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE LATER COMMENCEMENT OF CLASS HOURS
IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE
PHILIPPINES

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 “Regulation of Class
Commencement Hours Act”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in
nation-building and shall promote their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-
being

SEC. 3. Regulation of Class Hours. ~ It is hereby prohibited for any educational
institution, whether public or private, to commence class hours earlier than 8:40 AM.

SEC. 4. Exempted Schools. — Schools which, due to the lack of classrooms or teachers,
require two schedules of classes within a single day are hereby exempted from complying wi
the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 5. Transition Framework. — The Department of Education (DepED) and the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall adopt a framework that will assist educational
institutions in transitioning their class schedules in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 6. Penalties. ~ The DepED and the CHED shall promulgate the necessary rules
and regulations to ensure the compliance of all educational institutions to the provisions of this
Act. The imposition of appropriate fines and penalties for any violation of this Act shall
likewise be under the jurisdiction of the DepEd and the CHED.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.


SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decree, executive order, letter of
instruction, other issuances, rules or regulations contrary to, or inconsistent with the provisions
of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly

SEC. 9. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

APPROVED.