‘SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES)
First Regular Session )

ee

INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE MARK A. VILLAR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In this age of globalization, science and technology (S&T) have undeniably
become the most significant tool in economic growth and source of competitive
advantage

The past years, the Philippines has been silently reaping laurels in science
and technology. In 2006, in the World Robotics Olympiad in Nanning, China, the
country's representatives Kim Marco Perez, Dann Joseph Garcia, and Francisco
Gabriel Nunez of the First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities bagged the
Gold Medal in the Open Category with their theme "Humanoids". Equally outstanding
are the Winning feats of Filipino students in the Intel Intemational Science and
Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2006.

Last year, the Philippine contingent bagged two of the highest awards during
the 2012 World Robotics Olympiad held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in November. Dr.
Yanga Colleges Inc. of Bocaue, Bulacan won the gold medal for the Junior High
School Open Category with their robot creation "HERO." "HERO" or Humanoid for
Educational Reinforcement Operation is a teaching assistant robot inspired by the
2009 CNN Hero of the Year, the Philippines’ very own Efren Pefiafiorida

It would appear that more and more Filipino students, both in the public and
private schools, are gaining interest with robotics, and the Philippine Robotics
Olympiad is an annual competition which aims to offer an opportunity for students to
explore robots and robotic systems in schools. Every year, grand winners of the
PRO represent the country in the World Robot Olympiad.*

According to the Department of Science and Technology, robotics is one of
the platforms the country can depend on. Last 2012, the DOST launched the
Smarter Philippines campaign, a program that will use Information and



Communication Technology (ICT) as “an enabling tool to provide more efficient and
reliable services in some priority industries in the country’. Robotics can be used in
areas like manufacturing, health, agriculture, and so on?

Thus, this bill is proposed with the foremost consideration of supporting
modem education through the integration of robotics application in secondary
science curriculum.

Under the bill, robots, as may be applicable, shall be utilized as technology
tools that will allow students to perform experimental applications in designing,
building and testing gadgets for instructional purposes. They shall be utilized by
teachers as complementing their efforts.

Initially, all campuses of the Philippine Science High School and selected
science high schools under the Department of Education shall be introduced the
knowledge of robotics application. Teacher training that includes but not limited to
software programming; robot assembly; integration of robotic concepts on energy,
light and optics, electronics and magnetism,’ force, power, work and motion, shall be
robustly conducted.

Science and Technology are what the country needs to survive the modem
world. And hence, early enactment of this legislation is eamestly sought

7

MARK A. VILLAR:

Ibid


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES)
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

HOUSE BILL No. 3382

Introduced by HONORABLE MARK A. VILLAR.

AN ACT
INTEGRATING ROBOTIC APPLICATION IN THE TEACHING OF SECONDARY
SCIENCE EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. The use of modem technology through robotics application is
hereby promoted as part of the Philippine science educational curriculum. Robotics
application shall be integrated in the teaching of physics and other science subjects,
concepts, theories and principles. Robots, as may be applicable, shall be utilized as
technology tools that will allow students to perform experimental applications in
designing, building and testing gadgets for instructional purposes

Initially, all campuses of the Philippine Science High School and selected
science high schools under the Department of Education shall be introduced the
knowledge of robotics application. Teacher training that includes but not limited to
software programming; robot assembly; integration of robotic concepts on energy,
light and optics, electronics and magnetism, force, power, work and motion, shall be
conducted

SEC. 2. The sum of One Hundred Million Pesos (Php100,000,000.00) is
hereby appropriated to support the initial implementation of this Act which shall


include the designing of the course on robotics application, teacher training,
development of tools and instructional materials and other concepts on robotics.

SEC. 3. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in coordination
with the Department of Education (DepEd) and in consultation with all relevant

sectors engaged in education shall issue the necessary implementing rules and
regulations of this Act.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete
Publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,