FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC } 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
S.B. NO. 9246 
Introduced by Senator Francis N. Pangilinan 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The advent of the new millennium has posed a serious challenge among developing countries to 
strengthen, expand and improve their respective education systems in order for them to fully meet the 
growing demands of globalization. 
For several years now, our country's educational system has been rocked by various problems, 
most affected of which are those that belong to private education accessible to all. (Sec. 1, Art. XIV), 
Further, the Constitution explicitly states that the system of the education to be established, 
maintained and supported should be relevant to the needs of the people and society (Sec. 2(1), Art. XIV), 
hence it has also responsibility to strengthen and develop our Madrasah education system in Muslim 
Mindanao and other Muslim-populated regions in the archipelago. 
The Madrasah education system, like their Christian counterparts, has pre-school, basic education 
and higher education levels. To date, there are at least 1,171 Madrasahs in existence offering basic 
education (elementary and high school) and 40% of them are in Maguindanao. 
However, the number of Madrasahs offering post-secondary and college programs is still being 
ascertained, and only 54 Madrasahs are given recognition and accreditation by the Department of 
Education (DepEd). 
Relatively, the Department of Education, in close coordination with the Commission on Higher 
Education, the Office of the Muslim Affairs (OMA) and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao 
(ARMM), shall determine the integration of the Madrasah school system into the country's formal education 
system and therefore worthy of government support and assistance. 
Based from the foregoing, the approval of this bill is urgently requested. 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC } 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
S E N A T E  
S.B. NO. 
Introduced by Senator Francis N. Pangilinan 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO MADRASAH SYSTEM, 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. This Act shall be known as the "Fund Assistance to Madrasah Education Act of 
200j". 
SEC. 2. Declaration of State Policy. i It is a declared policy of the State in conformity with the 
mandate of the Constitution, to promote and make quality education accessible to all Filipino citizens 
regardless of cultural origin, conviction, creed or belief. The State also recognizes the Zomplementary roles 
of public and private educational institutions in the country's educational system and the invaluable 
contribution of private educational institutions to educate its citizenry. And this includes the Madrasah 
schools in Muslim Mindanao and other areas in the country where Muslim population abounds. 
The State shall also, as a matter of policy, establish a fund for Madrasah infrastructure 
development apart from maintaining a system of scholarship grants, student loans programs, teacher 
development program, subsidies and other incentives which shall be available to deserving students 
especially to the underprivileged. Further, the State shall encourage non-formal, informal and indigenous 
learning systems as well as self-learning, particularly those that respond to community needs. 
For this purpose, the State shall mandate the Department of Education (DepEd), in close 
coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Office of Muslim Affairs (OMA), and the 
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), to provide mechanisms that will improved the quality of 
Madrasah education as well as open the opportunity of more Muslim students benefiting said educational 
system by maximizing the use of existing resources of private education, recognizing in the process the 
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government responsibility to provide education to its people. 


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SEC. 3. Madrasah Curriculum. - The Madrasah Curriculum shall be enriched and harmonized to 
make it compatible with the curriculum of the formal education system. Equivalency, learning accreditation, 
experienced-based learning and other innovative education approaches shall be utilized in order to make 
possible and smooth transition of learner from the Madrasah education system to the formal education 
system and vice versa. 
SEC, 4. Criteria for Assistance, - The program for assistance shall be based on a set of criteria 
which shall include, among others, tuition fees charged by the schools, the socio-economic needs of the 
students giving priority to those who come from the poorest sector of society, overall performance of the 
school, the academic qualifications and the financial needs of both students and teachers. 
In addition to the aforementioned criteria, students who may qualify scholarship assistance in 
Madrasah schools can continue to study in higher education institution: Provided, That they pass the 
minimum requirement of said program. 
SEC. 5. 
Forms of Assistance. - 
For the purpose of this Act, apart from infrastructure 
development, program and assistance to the students and teachers in Madrasah schools consist of the 
following: 
(1) Nutrition and Feeding Program for Young Children; 
(2) Classroom FacilitieS,.such as desks, tables, chalkboards and other basic classroom needs; 
(3) Textbook Assistance Funds; 
(4) Scholarship Grants to deserving students; 
(5) Education Loan Fund; 
(6) In-service Training Fund for teachers; 
(7) Scholarship Grants to children ofieachers. 
SEC. 6. Funds. - The funds necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be provided in the 
General Appropriations Act (GAA) in the amount of Five hundred million pesos (P500,000,000.00) and shall 
be charged under the current appropriations of the Department of Education. 
SEC. 7. lmplemenfing Rules and Guidelines. - The Secretary of Education, in close coordination 
with the Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education, Office of Muslim Affairs and the Autonomous 
Region in Muslim Mindanao, shall issue rules and regulations necessary for the effective implementation of 
this Act. 


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SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, presidential 
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proclamations, rules and parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or 
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modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the same 
shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions hereof. 
SEC. IO. Hfectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in 
two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,. ,