FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonnyy' F. Trillanes N 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article XIV, Section 2(1) of the Constitution stipulates that the State shall establish, 
maintain, and support a complete, adequate, an integrated system of education relevant to 
the needs of the people and society. It is in the public interest to support unique 
opportunities for high-achieving and underachieving pupils in the public elementary and 
schools who are identified as gifted and talented. Special efforts should be made to 
ensure that economically disadvantaged pupils be provided with full participation in these 
unique opportunities. 
However, the country's school system does not have adequate programs that go beyond 
identifying gifted children by nurturing them until they have completed their education.' 
This bill seeks to improve the quality of existing programs for gifted and talented pupils 
and to provide for experimentation in the delivery of the programs that go beyond the 
structures of time-honored education system. Moreover, it seeks to provide for the 
identification of gifted and talented pupils by schools divisions in a variety of ways as 
long as this does not serve to diminish the quality of programs for individual pupils. 
The programs for gifted and talented pupils shall include all of the following: 
(1) differentiated opportunities for learning commensurate with the gifted and talented 
pupil's particular abilities and talents; (2) alternative learning environments in which 
gifted and talented pupils can acquire skills and understanding at advanced ideological 
and creative levels commensurate with their potentials; (3) elements that help gifted and 
talented pupils develop sensitivity and responsibility to others; (4) elements that help to 
develop a commitment in gifted and talented pupils to constructive ethical standards, ( 5 )  
elements that assist gifted and talented pupils to develop self-generating problem-solving 
abilities to expand each pupil's awareness of choices for satisfying contributions in his or 
her environment; and (6) elements that help gifted and talented pupils develop realistic, 
healthy self-concepts. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 
A N $ O ~ O  "SONNY" F.'TRILLANES 
Senator 
UP explores early placement for gifted children. UP Newsletter. 
httu://www.uo.edu.pNupnews1etter.uhu?i=215&~chiv~~es&~~2006&mn=9, 
Information retrieved on 18 
June 2008. 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
/ 
Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM FOR GIFTED AND TALENTED PUPILS 
ENROLLED IN PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, PROVIDING FUNDS 
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
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 “Gijted and Talented 
Pupil Program of 2008”. 
SEC. 2. Definition of Term. - For the purposes of this Act, 
a. “Gfted and talented pupil” shall mean a pupil enrolled in a public elementary school 
who is identified as possessing demonstrated or potential abilities that give evidence of 
high performance capability; 
b. ”Highly gijted pupil” shall mean a gifted and talented pupil who has achieved a 
measured intelligence quotient (IQ) of 150 or more points on an assessment of 
intelligence administered by qualified personnel or has demonstrated extraordinary 
aptitude and achievement in language arts, mathematics, science, or other academic 
subjects, as evaluated and confirmed by both the pupil’s teacher and principal. Highly 
gifted pupils shall generally constitute not more than one percent (1%) of the pupil 
population. 
c. “Participatingpupil“ shall mean a pupil identified as a gifted and talented pupil who 
takes part in a program for at least one semester of a school year. 
SEC. 3. The Program - There is hereby created a “Gifted and Talented Pupil 
Program”, hereinafter referred to as the “Program”, which shall be an appropriately 
differentiated curriculum provided by the Department of Education for gifted and 
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talented pupils which meets the standards established pursuant to this Act, and which also 
include the identification of these pupils. 
SEC. 4. Categories for DeJlning Pupils’ Capabilities. - For the purposes of 
this Act, the demonstrated or potential abilities that give evidence of high performance 
capability shall be defined by each local school district in accordance with regulations 
established by the Department of Education, hereinafter referred to as the DepEd. 
Each DepEd division shall use one or more of the following categories in 
defining the capability: intellectual, creative, specific academic, or leadership ability; 
high achievement; performing and visual arts talent; or any other criterion that meets the 
standards set forth by the DepEd. Each DepEd schools division shall also consider 
identifying as gifted or talented any pupil who has transfemed from a division in which he 
or she was identified as a gifted and talented pupil. 
SEC. 5. Coverage of the Program - The DepEd shall maintain regulations 
governing the following areas: 
a. Procedures that DepEd schools divisions shall use in identifying gifted and talented 
pupils who are eligible for the program and in providing programs pursuant to this 
Act; 
b. Definitions of special day classes, part-time grouping, enrichment activities, cluster 
grouping, independent study, acceleration, postsecondary education opportunities and 
other pragams that the DepEd deems appropriate, 
c. Establishment of allowable indirect cost expenditures that may be funded by gifted and 
talented program funds; 
d. Establishment of subsidies, scholarships, and grants for economically disadvantaged 
pupils that may be funded by gifted and talented program funds; and 
e. Other areas that the DepEd schools division deem necessary to implement fully the 
intent and provisions of this Act. 
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SEC. 6. DqEd. - The DepEd shall: 
a. Apportion funds pursuant to this Act to each DepEd schools division for which an 
application to offer programs pursuant to this Act has been approved by the DepEd 
according to this Act and regulations adopted by the DepEd; 
b. Assist schools division, upon their request, to design, implement, and evaluate 
programs funded under this Act; 
c. Ensure that the expenditure of funds authorized for programs pursuant to this Act is 
consistent with the Act; 
d. Encourage the development of locally designed, innovative programs for gifted and 
talented pupils; 
e. Assist schools divisions in the development and implementation of staff development 
programs related to gifted and talented pupils; and 
f Encourage the development of procedures that assure the ongoing participation of 
parents of gifted and talented pupils in the planning and evaluation of programs 
funded pursuant to this Act. 
SEC. 7. Schools Divisions. - 
a. Schools divisions that elect to provide programs pursuant to this Act may establish 
programs for gifted and talented pupils consisting of special day classes, part-time 
groupings, and cluster groupings, consistent with the regulations of the DepEd. These 
programs shall be planned and organized as an integrated, differentiated learning 
experience within the regular school day, and may be augmented or supplemented 
with other differentiated activities related to the core curriculum using such strategies 
as independent study, acceleration, postsecondary education, and enrichment. 
b. Each participating schools division shall determine the most appropriate curricular 
components for participating pupils within its division. 
c. For all programs for gifted and talented pupils, including programs for pupils with high 
creative capabilities and talents in the performing and visual arts, each participating 
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school district shall concentrate part of its curriculum on providing participating pupils 
with an academic component and, where appropriate, with instruction in basic skills. 
SEC. 8. Operation of the Program - The participating schools division that 
provides a program for gifted and talented pupils pursuant to this Act may: 
a. Conduct programs, seminars, and classes for gifted and talented pupils within or 
without the boundaries of the schools division and, for that purpose, employ 
instructors, supervisors, and other personnel and provide necessary equipment and 
supplies; and 
b. Transport or arrange for transportation of pupils to or from educational institutions 
where regularly scheduled programs and classes are being conducted. 
SEC. 9. Approprlation. - The amount of Fifty Million Pesos (Php 
50,000,000.00) is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the Special Activities Fund 
of the President of the Republic of the Philippines, or from any other source that may be 
identified for the purpose. Thereafter, such sum required for the operation, maintenance, 
and development activities of the Program shall be included in the annual budget of the 
Department of Education. 
SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, rules, regulations, orders, circulars, and 
memoranda inconsistent with any provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
SEC. 11. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act be declared 
invalid or unconstitutional, no other provisions hereof shall be thereby affected. 
SEC. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DepEd, shall, within sixty 
(60) days after the approval of this Act, prepare and issue the necessary guidelines to 
implement the same. 
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SEC. 13. Eflectl~V. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its 
publication in the Oflciul Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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