Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 10584 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
 EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1987 Constitution mandates the state to support the governance of basic 
education through appropriate technology and research, with adequate 
financial and other support services. 
The education system refocused mandate to basic education governance which 
covers elementary, secondary and nonformal education, including culture and 
sports. TESDA now administers the post-secondary, middle-level manpower 
training and development while CHED is responsible for higher education. 
In August 2001, Republic Act 9155, otherwise called the Governance of Basic 
Education Act, was passed transforming the name of the Department of 
Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) to the Department of Education (DEPED) 
and redefining the role of field offices (regional offices, division offices, district 
offices and schools). 
it is hereby a declared policy of the state that every graduate of basic education 
shall be an empowered individual who has learned, through a program that is 
rooted on sound educational principles and geared towards excellence, the 
foundations for learning throughout life, the competence to engage in work and 
be productive, the ability to coexist in fruitful harmony with local and global 
communities, the capability to engage in autonomous, creative, and critical 
thinking, and the capacity and willingness to transform others and one’s self. 
The state shall create a comprehensive basic education governance program 
that will develop productive and responsible citizens equipped with the essential 
competencies, skills and values for both life-long learning and employment. 
July 8, 2024
8:30 am


. 
This House Bill sets a manifestation to the freedom of education to be accorded 
due respect and be allowed to flourish. Thus, the creation of a Comprehensive 
Basic Education Governance Program is therefore imperative. 
 
Thus, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested.  
 
MICHAEL L. ROMERO Ph.D.    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
 
19TH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
 
HOUSE BILL NO. 10584 
 
 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero  
 
 
    AN ACT 
 PROVIDING FOR A COMPREHENSIVE BASIC EDUCATION 
GOVERNANCE PROGRAM, ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY AND 
ACCOUNTABILITY, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 
1. 
SHORT TITLE — This Act shall be known as the Basic 
Education Governance Act of 2024. 
SECTION 
2. 
DECLARATION OF POLICY — It is a declared policy of 
the state in conformity with the mandate of the Constitution, to promote a 
comprehensive Basic Education Governance program for the republic. The 
state hereby recognizes the complementary roles of DEPED and its contributions 
to the entire country. 
The school shall be the heart of the formal education system. It is where 
children learn. Schools shall have a single aim of providing the best possible 
basic education for all learners. 


Governance of basic education shall begin at the national level. It is in the 
regions, divisions, schools and learning centers. 
The state shall instill the policy and principle for the governance of basic 
education to be translated into programs, projects and services developed, 
adapted and offered to fit local needs. 
The state shall encourage local initiatives for improving the quality of basic 
education.  
The state shall ensure that the values, needs and aspirations of a school 
community are reflected in the program of basic education for the children, out-
of-school youth and adult learners. Schools and learning centers shall be 
empowered to make decisions on what is best for the learners they serve. 
The state shall protect basic, advance and post graduate education of citizens in 
the Philippines. Based on the Philippine Constitution. 
It is hereby a declared policy of the state to protect and promote the right of all 
citizens to quality basic education and to make such education accessible to all 
by providing all Filipino children a free and compulsory education in the 
elementary level and free education in the high school level. Such education shall 
also include alternative learning systems for out-of-school youth and adult 
learners. 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. 
The state shall provide the mechanisms to improve awareness and unity 
by maximizing the use of all existing resources. recognizing in the process the 
government’s responsibility to instill education as having priority over its other 
functions. 


SECTION 3. 
BASIC EDUCATION GOVERNANCE — it is hereby a 
declared the policy of the state that every graduate of basic education program 
shall be an empowered individual who has learned, through a program that is 
rooted on sound educational principles and geared towards excellence, the 
foundations for learning throughout life, the competence to engage in work and 
be productive, the ability to coexist in fruitful harmony with local and global 
communities, the capability to engage in autonomous, creative, and critical 
thinking, and the capacity and willingness to transform others and one’s self. 
SECTION 
4. 
BASIC EDUCATION FRAMEWORK – the state shall 
create a functional basic education system that will develop productive and 
responsible citizens equipped with the essential competencies, skills and values 
for both life-long learning and employment. In order to achieve this, the state 
shall: 
(a) Give every student an opportunity to receive quality 
education 
that 
is 
globally 
competitive 
based 
on 
a 
pedagogically sound curriculum that is at par with 
international standards; 
(b) Broaden the goals of high school education for college 
preparation, vocational and technical career opportunities as 
well as creative arts, sports and entrepreneurial employment 
in 
a 
rapidly 
changing 
and 
increasingly 
globalized 
environment; and 
(c) Make education learner-oriented and responsive to the 
needs, cognitive and cultural capacity, the circumstances and 
diversity of learners, schools and communities through the 
appropriate languages of teaching and learning, including 
mother tongue as a learning resource. 


SECTION 
5. 
BASIC EDUCATION ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE: 
A. To carry out its mandates and objectives, DEPED is 
organized into two major structural components.  
B. The Central Office maintains the overall administration of 
basic education at the national level.  
The Field Offices are responsible for the regional and local coordination 
and administration of the Department’s mandate. RA 9155 provides that the 
Department should have no more than four (4) Undersecretaries and 
four (4) Assistant Secretaries with at least one Undersecretary and one Assistant 
Secretary who are career service officers chosen among the staff of the 
Department. 
SECTION 
6. 
BASIC EDUCATION ADVISORY - derived from 
monitoring government's compliance with the prevailing obligations that the 
Republic of the Philippines has acceded to. 
SECTION 7. 
BASIC EDUCATION GOVERNANCE — The DEPED shall 
formulate the design and details of the comprehensive basic education 
governance program. It shall work with the Commission on Higher Education 
(CHED) to craft harmonized basic and tertiary curricula for the global 
competitiveness of Filipino graduates. To ensure college readiness and to avoid 
remedial and duplication of basic education subjects, DEPED shall coordinate 
with the CHED and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority 
(TESDA). 
SECTION 8.  
BASIC EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT - To achieve an effective 
basic education governance program, the DEPED shall undertake consultations 
with other national government agencies and other stakeholders including, but 
not limited to, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the 
Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), the private and public schools 


associations, the national student organizations, the national teacher 
organizations, the parents-teachers associations and the chambers of commerce 
on matters affecting the concerned stakeholders. 
SECTION 
9. 
COMPREHENSIVE 
BASIC 
EDUCATION 
GOVERNANCE PROGRAM – The amount of Two Billion Pesos (Php 2, 
000,000,000.00) for the operation and administration of the program shall be 
chargeable against funds for the purpose and other sources recommended by 
the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).  
Thereafter, appropriations for the program, shall be included in the 
DEPED budget proposals under the annual General Appropriations Act 
(GAA) 
 
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall rationalize the 
existing organizational structure and staffing pattern of the (DEPED) in 
accordance with the prevailing provisions and relevant compensation and 
position classification laws, rules and regulations. 
Thereafter, the amount needed for the continued implementation of the 
program shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA). 
The DEPED Secretary shall include in the Department’s program the 
operationalization of the comprehensive basic education governance program, 
the initial funding of which shall be charged against the current appropriations 
of DEPED.  
Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued implementation of the 
basic education governance program shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act (GAA). 


SECTION 
10. 
EXCLUSIVE FUND – There is hereby created the 
exclusive fund to be used exclusively for the comprehensive Basic Education 
Governance Program. 
The Fund shall be administered by the DEPED Secretary in accordance with 
existing government budgeting, accounting, and auditing rules and regulations. 
SECTION 
11. 
PROGRESS REPORT – The Secretary of (DEPED) shall 
prepare an annual report on the status of the implementation of the Program 
which shall be submitted, to the Office of the President. 
SECTION 
12. 
INCREASE OF PERSONNEL. – The (DEPED) shall 
maintain a sufficient staffing pattern.  
Hence, it is authorized to increase its manpower to meet such required 
and may continue to increase personnel per percentage rate increase of 
committed mandates annually or as the need arises. 
SECTION 
13. 
PERIOD OF IMPLEMENTATION – The modernization 
program under this Act shall be implemented for an initial period of three (3) 
years:  
Provided, that payments for multi-year contract obligations incurred 
under this Act may extend beyond this period:  
Provided, further, That the (DEPED) shall continue to develop, modernize and 
constantly update its operational capabilities to keep pace with best global 
practices. 
SECTION 
14. 
SUPERVISING AND ASSESSMENT CONCERNS. — 
the DEPED, shall provide the necessary technical and financial assistance to 
ensure effective operations and build-up. 


SECTION 
15. 
GOVERNANCE 
OF 
THE 
BASIC 
EDUCATION 
SYSTEM. - It is the duty of every citizen to preserve and conserve the Filipino 
basic education system and all its resources. The retrieval and conservation of 
Filipino education and its history shall be vigorously pursued. 
SECTION 
16. 
TRANSITORY 
PROVISION – 
Existing 
industries, 
businesses and offices affected by the implementation of this Act shall be given 
six (6) months transitory period from the effectivity of the IRR or such other 
period as may be determined, to comply with the requirements of this Act. 
The DEPED, the CHED and the TESDA shall formulate the appropriate 
strategies and mechanisms needed to ensure smooth transition from the existing 
basic education cycle to the comprehensive basic education governance system.  
The strategies may cover changes in physical infrastructure, manpower, 
organizational and structural concerns, bridging models, competencies and the 
entry requirements of new tertiary curricula, and partnerships between the 
government and other entities. Modeling for senior high school may be 
implemented in selected schools to simulate the transition process and provide 
concrete data for the transition plan. 
SECTION 17. 
PERIODIC REPORTS - The Secretary of (DEPED) shall 
submit periodic reports on its findings and make recommendations on actions 
to be taken by the Office of the President and other appropriate departments, 
in order to carry out the objectives and mandates of this Act. 
SECTION 
18. 
AUTOMATIC REVIEW - Every three (3) years after the 
effectivity of this Act, an independent review panel composed of experts to be 
appointed by the President of the Republic shall review the policies and 
programs in the education sector and shall make recommendations, based on 
its findings. 


SECTION 
19. 
PENAL CLAUSE. – Any person, whether natural or 
juridical, violating any section of this Act shall, upon conviction, therefore, be 
liable to a fine of not less than five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) or 
imprisonment for a term not less than six (6) years, or both, at the discretion of 
the court for each and every violation.  
In case the violation is committed by a corporation or an association, the 
penalty shall devolve upon the president, director, or any other officer 
responsible for such violation. 
SECTION 
20. 
IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. – The 
departments and agencies charged with carrying out the provisions of this Act 
shall, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, formulate the 
necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation. 
after the effectivity of this Act, the DEPED Secretary, the CHED 
Chairperson and the TESDA Director-General shall promulgate the rules and 
regulations needed for the implementation of this Act. 
SECTION 
21. 
REPEALING CLAUSE. – All laws, decrees, executive 
orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions 
of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
Pertinent provisions of, Republic Act No. 9155 or the “Governance of Basic 
Education. 
Republic Act No. 10533, and all other laws, decrees, executive orders and rules 
and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 
22. 
SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. – If, for any reason, any 
section or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other 
sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby. 


SECTION 
23. 
EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. – This Act shall take effect 
after fifteen (15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two 
(2) national newspapers of general circulation whichever comes earlier. 
Approved,