Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5324

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by HON. LORNA P. BAUTISTA-BANDIGAN

In consonance with Section 2 of Republic Act 9155 also known as the
“Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001” provides in Section 2 that “It shall be
the goal of basic education to provide them with the skills, knowledge and values
they need to become caring, self- reliant, productive and patriotic citizens.”
Corollary to this, Article 14 of the Philippine Constitution stipulated that “The State
shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels,
and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. Provide
adult citizens, the disabled, and out-of-school youth with training in civics,
vocational efficiency and other skills.”

To promote literacy among the Filipinos, particularly in remote barangays,
schools in elementary and high school levels were established to make this goal a
reality. In the Province of Davao Occidental, there is the Barangay Datu Danwata,
one of the 30 barangays, in its biggest municipality, Malita. It is 30 kilometers from
the Malita Poblacion, with majority of the inhabitants are predominantly
Tagacaolos.

There are seven elementary schools in the different sitios of Barangay
Danwata in the Municipality of Malita, which produce around a hundred graduates
every school year. A feeder school in the barangay graduates some one hundred
students every academic year. In January 2018, the barangay has a total population
of 4, 241.

The barangay council has made a resolution to donate the old barangay site
for the establishment of the school. A Deed of Donation has been given by the donor
amounting to 10,000 square meters.

There is a private school, the nearest one, that is participating in the
Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Educators and
Educational Scheme (GATSPE) is 35 kilometers away which takes a couple of hours
by hiking or half an hour by motorcycle ride. The exorbitant expenses incurred in


enrolling in this school is a problem for the students and their parents, considering
that their livelihood consist of small time farming, poultry, and livestock. These
expenses caused most of the students to stop going to school.

The establishment of the Datu Danwata High School in Malita will serve more
than 300 students who will be in Grade 7 - 10 and could create the possibility of
opening the senior high school levels.

It is the desire of the national government to provide literacy programs that
will reach out to all the citizens in all parts of the country.

Hence, approval of this Bill is earnestly sought.

REP. LORNA P. BAUTISTA-BANDIGAN


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5324

HOUSE BILL NO.

introduced by: HON. LORNA P. BAUTISTA-BANDIGAN

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN BARANGAY DATU
DANWATA, MUNICIPALITY OF MALITA, PROVINCE OF DAVAO OCCIDENTAL TO
BE KNOWN AS GASPAR DANWATA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL, AND
APPOPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SEC. 1. There is hereby established, under the supervision of the Department of
Education, a national high school in Barangay Datu Danwata, Municipality of Malita,
Province of Davao Occidental to be known as the Gaspar Danwata National High
School

SEC. 2. The Secretary of Education shall immediately include in the
Department's program the operationalization of the Gaspar Danwata National High
School, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act

SEC. 3. Within one hundred twenty (120) days from the approval of this Act.
the Secretary of Education shall formulate the rules and regulations implementing the
provisions of this Act.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,