SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
SENATE 
S.B. No. 1 4 8 1
■‘Ssi 
of llir 
fiflu i^
■17 
HAY 30 r»2 57
RECcluLU d\
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
MANDATING THE CONSERVATION OF GABALDON SCHOOL BUILDINGS 
NATIONWIDE, 
PROVIDING 
PENALTIES 
FOR 
VIOLATIONS, 
AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Explanatory Note
Year 1902 marked the establishment of the American Insular Government1 
over what was then known as the Philippine Islands. This civilian authority 
superseded the military regime created immediately after the Philippine-American 
war. Strides toward nation building were made during this time, as Dr. Maximo M. 
Kalaw2 credited how raw materials in the Philippines including the Filipino’s inherent 
capabilities contributed to the country’s progress.
One of the hallmarks of American rule in the country during the early 1900s 
was the introduction of free public schools that taught Filipinos the duties of 
citizenship, among others.3 A vital addition to this reformed education system was a 
measure4 authored by the late assemblyman Isauro Gabaldon of Nueva Ecija that 
sought to allocate PI million for the construction of schoolhouses in every 
municipality in the country.
As a result, about 3,000 school buildings made out of local hardwood were 
built between 1907 and 1946, serving as the birthplace of Philippine public education 
system.5 These one to two-storey structures are H or U shaped buildings that 
distinctly featured elevated flooring, Capiz-shelled windows with wooden frames, and 
classrooms connected by corridors, among other unique characteristics.
1 Philippine Organic Act of 1902
2 The Foundations of the Modern Philippine State Imperial Rule and the American Constitutionai Tradition. 1898- 
1935 Anastacio, L. Cambridge University Press (2016)
3 Historicai 
Perspective 
of 
the 
Phiiippine 
Educational 
System 
Department 
of 
Education 
(DepEd). 
http;//www deped gov.ph/history
4 Act No. 1801, otherwise known as the Gabaidon Act (1907)
5 Restoring the glory of Gabaldon buildings Ramon Aboitiz Foundation.


The schools, later to be known as Gabaldon schoolhouses in honor of 
Assemblyman Gabaldon, are undoubtedly part of Filipino heritage. However, the 
remaining 1,400 Gabaldons6 are imminently facing demolition and decay.
Initiatives by the Department of Education and certain private foundations 
have been vital to prolonging the integrity of these structures. But there is also the 
need for a legislation that would institutionalize such conservation efforts.
This measure, which is in line with the Constitutional mandate to “conserve, 
promote, and popularize the nation’s historical and cultural heritage and resources”7, 
directs the conservation of all Gabaldon school buildings nationwide not only to 
preserve these structures, but also to reinforce the Filipino heritage as it advances 
towards the future. This bill serves as the counterpart measure authored by Rep. 
Victoria Isabel G. Noel of An Waray party-list in the House of Representatives.
In view of the immense need to protect cultural heritage for the next Filipino 
generations, the urgent passage of the foregoing measure is sought.
SONNY ANGARA
8 DepEd estimated 1,446 existing Gabaldon heritage school buildings nationwide last 2015
7 Art. XII, Sec. 15, 1987 Philippine Constitution


a
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
F/rst Regular Session 
)
i-- r>ttnvp
*17 
MAY 30 P2 57
SENATE
S.B. No. 1481
RECEiv’LJ n:
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
MANDATING THE CONSERVATION OF GABALDON SCHOOL BUILDINGS 
NATIONWIDE, 
PROVIDING 
PENALTIES 
FOR 
VIOLATIONS, 
AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1 
Title -  This Act shall be known as the “Gabaldon School 
Buildings Conservation Act'.
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. -  It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
to conserve and promote the country’s historical and cultural heritage and resources. 
Towards this end, it shall strengthen its efforts and pursue a more proactive role in 
the conservation and restoration of built heritage, such as the Gabaldon school 
buildings, to preserve their architectural, historical, and social significance.
SEC. 3 Definition of Terms -  As used in this Act:
a. Conservation refers to all processes and measures of maintaining the 
cultural 
significance 
of 
Gabaldon 
school 
buildings 
including 
preservation, restoration, reconstruction, protection, adaptation or any 
combination thereof; and
b. Gabaldon school buildings refer to school buildings designed by 
American Architect William Parsons and funded through Act No. 1801, 
authored by Assemblyman Isauro Gabaldon
SEC. 4 Conservation of Gabaldon School Buildings. — The Department of 
Education (DepED), in consultation with the National Commission for Culture and the 
Arts (NCCA), National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), and the 
National Museum (NM), shall implement a program for the identification and 
conservation of all Gabaldon school buildings nationwide.


1 
For this purpose, an inventory of all Gabaldon school buildings, whether fully
2 
functional or condemned, in all public elementary and secondary schools shall be
3 
jointly undertaken by the DepED and the NCCA to determine the physical status of
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each structure. 
School heads shall submit to their respective Schools Division
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Superintendents, for appropriate action, a report indicating the existence of or any
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structural damage to any Gabaldon school buildings in schools under their
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respective supervisions.
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Local government units that have Gabaldon school buildings under their
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jurisdiction shall likewise adopt measures for the protection and conservation of
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these structures and shall provide the DepED with the necessary assistance in the
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implementation of any conservation project.
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Any modification, alteration, destruction, demolition, or relocation of Gabaldon
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school buildings shall be strictly prohibited. In cases where conservation measures
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are necessary, the DepED, in coordination with the NCCA, NHCP, and the NM, shall
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provide proper technical assistance to school heads to ensure that the original
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architectural design of the school building is maintained: Provided, however, That,
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subject to the issuance of a permit from the NCCA, any modification or alteration of
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the original architectural design of Gabaldon school buildings may be allowed in
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public elementary and secondary schools where the exigency of constructing new
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school buildings is a priority in anticipation of the increase in student population by
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virtue of the implementation of Republic Act No. 10533, or the “Enhanced Basic
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Education Act of 2013”: 
Provided, further. That the facade and other distinct
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features of the original Gabaldon school buildings shall, as much as possible, be
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preserved
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SEC. 5. Penalties -  Any person who shall abet or cause the unauthorized
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modification, alteration, destruction, demolition, or relocation of the Gabaldon school
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building shall be subject to a fine of not less than two hundred thousand pesos
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(P200,000.00) or imprisonment for a term of not less than ten (10) years, or both,
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upon the discretion of the Court, and shall likewise pay for the conservation of the
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structure: 
Provided, That if the violation is committed by a juridical person, its
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license to operate shall be revoked, and its president, manager, representative,
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director, agent, or employee shall also be liable for the penalties prescribed herein:
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Provided, further. That if the offender is an alien, the offender shall be placed under
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the custody of the Bureau of Immigration for appropriate proceedings and shall be
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summarily deported after serving the applicable sentence.
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School heads who fail to submit a report to their respective Schools Division
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Superintendents on the existence of or any structural damage to any Gabaldon
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school buildings in schools under their respective supervisions, shall be held
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administratively liable for simple neglect of duty and shall be suspended without pay
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for a period of six (6) months.
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SEC. 6 . Appropriations 
-
 The Secretary of Education shall immediately
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include in the Department’s program the implementation of this Act, the initial funding
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of which shall be charged to the current year’s appropriation of the DepED.
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Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall
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be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.


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SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations -  Within ninety (90) days
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from the approval of this Act, the DepED, in consultation with the NCCA, NHCP, and
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the NM, shall formulate the rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this
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Act.
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SEC. 8 
Separability Clause -  If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
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unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in force and effect.
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SEC. 9. 
Repealing Clause -  All laws, decrees, orders and rules and
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regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
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repealed or amended accordingly.
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SEC. 10 
Effectivity -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,