Republic of the Philippines 77, oF NESE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES /y
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ENTEENTH CONGRESS:
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4251

Introduced by Representative Salvador B, Belaro, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to require cities and municipalities in far-flung areas to
have a schoolbus or other alternative transport system to serve public school
students in the Kindergarten and elementary grades.

In far-flung areas of the country, our public school students literally
climb mountains, cross seas and trek hills just to get to the nearest schools.
This is dangerous as it exposes our young learners to daily susceptibility to
all sorts of travel hazards.

Such a situation can be mitigated by requiring all cities and
municipalities in far-flung areas to have a schoolbus or at the very least, to
provide for an alternative transport system for the children of their
constituents who are enrolled in public Kindergarten and elementary grades,

Representative
1-Ahg Edukasyoh Party List

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SAILVADOR nite 9, JR.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
t Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Salvador B. Belaro, Jr.

AN ACT TO REQUIRE CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES WITH
FAR-FLUNG AREAS TO PROVIDE A SCHOOLBUS OR
ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR KINDERGARTEN
AND ELEMENTARY STUDENTS”

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

. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Schoolbus for F

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to give
priority to education as well as to recognize the vital role of the youth in
nation-building and to promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual,
intellectual, and social well-being.

SECTION 3. As defined in this Act, the following terms mean as follows:


(a) “Far-flung Areas” refer to areas in the country where schoolchildren
encounter difficulties in going back and forth to school due to the lack of
appropriate infrastructure in the area.

(b) Alternative Transport System refers to a transport system which could be
any form of transportation arrangement for schoolchildren enrolled in the
Kindergarten and public elementary schools initiated by a local government
unit, and which is funded, implemented, managed and monitored by it.

SECTION 4. All cities and municipalities in the country with far-flung areas
are required to have a schoolbus or to institute an alternative transport
system for students enrolled in the public Kindergarten and elementary
grades,

SECTION 4. Within Thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act, the
Department of Education (DepEd), in collaboration with the Department of
Transportation (DOT) and the Department of Interior and Local Government
(DILG) are hereby mandated to make a list of cities and municipalities with
far-flung areas, and to inform those included in the list of their inclusion
thereat and the immediate need for them to comply with this Act.

SECTION 5, The Department of Education (DepEd) is likewise mandated
to formulate the implementing rules and regulations of this Act.

SECTION 6. The funds necessary to carry out the provision of this Act shall
be included in the General Appropriation Act of the year following its
enactment into law and thereafter

SCTION 7. Separability Clause —If any provision of this Act is held
invalid, the other provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION, 8. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees or rules inconsistent
with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

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

Approved,