Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

nouse Bit No.__3140

Introduced by Representative Jesus N. Sacdalan

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Education is one of the most important social services, as a poverty reduction strategy. To
enable citizens to participate meaningfully in societal activities, they must possess the
minimum competencies and basic skills.

‘One of the principles under the 1987 Constitution, particularly Section 17, provides that “the
State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to
foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human
liberation and development”. Further, Section 1, Article XIV also provides that “the State
shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to qualify education at all levels and shall
take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.

The Department of Education is mandated to formulate, implement and coordinate policies,
plans programs and projects in the areas of formal and non-formal basic education. It
supervises all elementary and secondary education institutions, including alternative learning
system, both public and private, and provides for the establishment and maintenance of a
complete, adequate, and integrated system of basic education relevant to the goals of national
development. Its mandate is facing a bigger challenge with the implementation of the K-12
Education Program which aims to enhance the education curriculum, making the
student/graduate globally competitive.

The North Cotabato Schools Division covers 17 municipalities and the City of Kidapawan
comprising of 1,226,508 population as of 2010 Census Data. The schools division is doing
supervision and monitoring over 636 public and 80 private elementary schools, 164 public
and 44 private secondary schools. Likewise, there are 4,367 public elementary school
teachers and 1,699 public secondary school teachers under its supervision and control..
Further, the Division oversee to 205,160 enrollees in the public elementary schools, 8,762


enrollees in the private elementary schools , 64,982 enrollees in the public secondary schools
and 11,355 enrollees in the private secondary schools.

‘The P-PALMA comprising of the municipalities of Pikit, Pigkawayan, Alamada, Libungan,
Midsayap and Aleosan has 365 elementary schools and 78 public secondary schools, which
represent 57% and 47% respectively of the total public schools under the Division. Asi
from the large number of educational institutions under its supervision and oversight
function, the Schools Division covers wide area that travel from the Division Office to the
various districts and municipalities takes several hours, thus, more resources and time were
spent in order to perform its supervisory and coordination functions.

With this as the premise, this bill would like to propose for the separation of North Cotabato
Schools Division into two, providing a separate DepEd Schools Division for P-PALMA
Alliance Municipalities composed of Pikit, Pigkawayan, Alamada, Libungan, Midsayap and
Aleosan. It is envisioned that the establishment of a separate Schools Division for the P-
PALMA will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the Department of Education, and
ultimately, will improve the quality of education services.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is highly recommended.

pee

CDALAN

JS



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

3140

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Jesus N. Sacdalan

AN ACT DIVIDING THE COTABATO SCHOOLS DIVISION , PROVINCE OF NORTH
COTABATO AND ESTABLISHING SEPARATE SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE IN THE
P-PALMA ALLIANCE MUNICIPALITIES , PROVINCE OF NORTH COTABATO TO
BE LOCATED IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MIDSAYAP, PROVINCE OF NORTH
COTABATO AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

Section 1. — There shall be established under the supervision of the Department of
Education, a Schools Division Office which shall have jurisdiction over the schools districts
in the P-PALMA Alliance Municipalities, Province of North Cotabato to be headed by a
schools division superintendent to be located in the Municipality of Midsayap, Province of
North Cotabato, to be known as P-PALMA Schools Division Office.

Section 2. - The said Schools Division Office shall comprise the municipalities of
Pikit, Pigkawayan, Alamada, Libungan, Midsayap and Aleosan, all in the First Congressional
District of the Province of North Cotabato.

Section 3. - The Secretary of Education shall immediately include in the Department's
programs the operationalization of the P-PALMA Schools Division Office in the
Municipality of Midsayap, Province of North Cotabato, the initial funding of which shall be
charged against the current appropriations of the Cotabato Schools Division Office.
‘Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued operation of the said Schools Division
Office shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.


Section 4. The Secretary of Education shall issue the rules and regulations that may be
necessary to carry out the purpose of this Act.

Section 5. All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules and regulations
and issuance or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or amended accordingly.

Section 6. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the completion of its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national papers of general circulation.

Approved.