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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S, No, 1801 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Establishing computer literacy programs for students will help censure that the nation's 
children are receiving the skills needed for advanced education and for securing employment in 
the 21 century, 
Computer literacy skills, such as information gathering, critical analysis, and 
communication with the latest teclmology, build upon the necessary basics of reading, writing, 
mathematics; and other core subject areas, 
Although an ever increasing amount of schools are obtaining the latest computer 
hardware, schools will not be able to take advantage of the benefits of computer-based learning 
unless teachers are effectively trained in the latest educational software applications, 
Studies show that students whose teachers. received training in computers performed 
better than other students, The study also found that schools that provide teachers with 
professional development in computers enjoyed higher staff morale and lower absenteeism rates, 
The purpose of this Act is to enable Philippine schools to use computer hardware to 
increase student achievement and prepare students for the 21" century workplace, I 
I This bill was originally filed in the Thirteenth Congress, Third Regular Sessiou, 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 1801 
m::r;Flv .~, J f\V : .J .. ::::' ____ _ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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TO ENABLE PHILIPPINE SCHOOLS TO USE COMPUTER HARDWARE TO INCREASE 
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STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY 
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WORKPLACE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as (he "Education for the 21 st Century 
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Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to give priority to 
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education and science and technology to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social 
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progress, and promote total human liberation and development. Pursuant to this policy, this Act 
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shall enable Philippine schools to use computer hardware to increase student achievement and 
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prepare students for the 21" century workplace. 
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SECTION 3. Computer Literacy Challenge. -
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(A) Grants Authorized -
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(1) In General - The Secretary of Education is authorized to award grants to 
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public and private schools that integrate into their curriculum (he goal of making all 
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elementary school graduates technologically literate. 
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(2) Priority - The Secretary shall give preference in awarding grants under this 
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Section (0 public schools. 
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(B) Uses of Funds - Grants awarded under this section shall be used for teacher training 
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III technology, with an emphasis on programs that prepare one or more (eachers in each 
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elementary and secondary school to become technology leaders and then serve as experts and 
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train other teachers. 
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(C) Matching Funds - Each city or municipality is encouraged to provide matching funds 
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for the schools that receive assistance under this section, with respect to the cost of teacher 
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training in technology to be assisted under this section, in order to enhance the impact of the 
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teacher training and to help ensure that all elementary school graduates in the city or 
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municipality are technologically literate. 
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SECTION 4. High-Quality Educational Software for All Schools. 
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(A) Competitive Grants Authorized - The Secretary of Education is authorized to award 
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grants, oli a competitive basis, to students in secondary schools and institutions of higher 
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education, working with faculty of an institution of higher education, software developers, and 
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experts in educational technology, for the development of high-quality educational software and 
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Internet websites by such students, faculty, developers, and experts. 
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(B) Recognition -
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(1) In General - The Secretary of Education shall recogmze Outstanding 
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educational software and Internet websites developed with assistance provided under this 
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section .. 
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(2) Certificates - The President is requested to, and the Secretary shall, issue an 
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official certificate signed by the President or the Secretary (or both), to each student and 
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faculty member who develops outstanding educational software or an Internet website 
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recognized under this section. 
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(3) Focus - The educational software or Internet websites that are recognized 
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under this section shaH focus on core curriculum areas. 
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(4) Judges - The Secretary shall designate official judges to recognize outstanding 
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educational software or Internet websites assisted under this section. 
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(C) Priority -
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(1) First Year - For the first year that the Secretary awards grants under this 
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secti0n, the Secretary shall give priority to awarding grants for the development of 
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educational software or Internet websites in the areas of mathematics, science, and 
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reading. 
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(2) Second and Third Years - For the second and third years that the Secretary 
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awards grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to awarding grants for 
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the development of educational software or Internet websites in the areas described in 
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paragraph (l) and in social studies, the humanities, and the arts. 
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(D) Downloading - Educational software recognized under this section shall be made 
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available to local educational agencies for free downloading from the Department of Education's 
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Internet website. Internet websites recognized under this section shall be accessible to any user 
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of the World Wide Web. 
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SECTION 5. Appropriations. -- Such sums as may be necessary for the initial 
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implementation of this Act shall be taken from the current appropriations of the Department of 
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Education. Thereafter, the fund necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be included 
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in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
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SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - In any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and.subsisting. 
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SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions ofthis Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
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in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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