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Republic of the Philippines Ga RECEINED ET
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Z DATE August 18, 2022 (|
* TIME 2:56pm

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 3832

Introduced by Honorable Rex Gatchalian

AN ACT
PROMOTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC MATH AND SCIENCE HIGH
SCHOOLS IN PREVIOUSLY UNDERSERVED AREAS, AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The economic development of the Philippines is highly dependent on a
formidable army of scientific minds consisting of scientists, mathematicians,
engineers, and other skilled professionals. Without them, the country will continue
with an economy perennially on the brink yet never achieving full industrialization

and prosperity.

The UNESCO Institute of Statistics shows that there are only 186 researchers
per million inhabitants in the Philippines, one of the lowest among ASEAN
countries.! The Programme for International Student Assessment shows that our
learners ranked second to last in Mathematics and Science among the other learners
in 79 countries.? The Philippines also came in last, out of 58 countries, in
Mathematics and Science in the 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and
Science Study. In the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics 2019, only 17% of
Grade 5 learners met the minimum standards in Mathematics expected for ‘end of

primary’. The results of these international assessments also confirm prior insights

1 UNESCO Institute of Statistics. 2020. Research __and_—_ Development (Data). (See
fesearch-and-development-

2 OECD. 2019, Programme for International Student Assessment 2018 Results. (See
https:/ /www.ceed.org/pisa/publications/pisa-2018-results htm)

® Mullis, I. V. S., Martin, M. O., Foy, P., Kelly, D. L., & Fishbein, B. 2020. TIMSS 2019 International Results in
Mathematics and Science. " Boston’ College, ‘TIMSS & "PIRLS international Study Center. (See
hitps:/ /timssandpirl

‘UNICEF & SEAMEO. 2020. SEA-PLM 2019 Main Regional Report, Children’s learning in 6 Southeast Asian
countries. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF & Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization



from the National Achievement Test, the latest being in Academic Year 2017-2018,
where the average performance of learners was 37% in Mathematics and 29% in
Science, both falling within the low proficiency level.

‘A universal tenet of quality education is ensuring equitable access to
education including specialized Mathematics and Science curricula. However, this
type of high-valued and essential education is only available to the few qualified
learners that are admitted to either one of the 15 Philippine Science High School
campuses, 17 Regional Science High Schools, or those who are fortunate enough to
live near one of the other science high schools scattered across the country.

To fulfill our collective goal to be the next Asian tiger economy, we must
address this skills shortage through strategic human capital investments focused on
the fields of Mathematics and Science. This bill seeks to reduce the gap in access to
specialized education in the aforementioned subject areas. The establishment of a
new structure of accessible math and science high schools across the Philippines,
particularly in all provinces that do not have at least one public math and science
high school currently operating within their respective geographical boundaries, will
allow capable and willing students who have been hindered by geographic and
economic barriers to pursue specialized education.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

for. cl
Representative
** District of Valenzuela

(SEAMEO) ~ SEA-PLM Secretariat. (See https: //wew.seaplm.org/index php?option=com k2éview=iteméid=28:sea-
m-20 19-main-regional-report-children-s-learning-in-6- ase



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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL No. 3832
——

Introduced by Honorable Rex Gatchalian

_——

AN ACT
PROMOTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC MATH AND SCIENCE HIGH
SCHOOLS IN PREVIOUSLY UNDERSERVED AREAS, AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Equitable
‘Access to Math and Science Education Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared a policy of the
State to provide equitable access to quality education in the pure and applied
sciences, mathematics, and technology for all Filipinos as a means to nurture
future generations of scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and other
professionals who will serve the nation as catalysts for scientific, technological, and
industrial progress.

Pursuant to this declaration, the State shall collaborate with local government
units (LGUs) to eliminate economic and geographical barriers that restrict the access
of otherwise willing and qualified students to said education.

SEC. 3. Coverage. - All provinces which do not have at least one (1) public
math and science high school operating within their respective geographical
boundaries at the time this Act takes effect shall be required to fulfill the
establishment requirements under Section 4 of this Act.

For purposes of this Act, the term public math and science high school shall
refer to a school principally financed through national or local government funds that


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implements an advanced curriculum focused on science, mathematics, and

technology subjects, for students from grades 7 to 12.

SEC. 4. Establishment of Schools. - All provinces covered by the immediately
preceding section are hereby mandated to work with the Department of Education
(DepEd) to establish at least one (1) public math and science high school within their
respective provincial capitals.

Schools may be established pursuant to this Act through construction of new
school facilities, conversion and/or reorganization of an existing school, or
renovation and re-opening of currently non-operational school facilities or other idle
government-owned properties: Provided, That these schools must be fully
operational by Academic Year 2023-2024: Provided, further, That any utilization of
idle government-owned assets shall follow pertinent procedures as prescribed by
law: Provided, finally, That schools which have been designated by the DepEd as
fully compliant under this Act may start operations earlier than the prescribed
deadline.

SEC. 5. School Operations. - Schools established in compliance with this Act
shall be operated by the DepEd, with the proper participation of the applicable LGUs
and other community shareholders as prescribed by law. Said schools shall be
funded in full under the budget of the DepEd and shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act (GAA).

SEC. 6. Admissions. - Schools established in compliance with this Act shall
accept applicants based on the results of a competitive entrance examination. A
student may be eligible to apply for admission to said school only if he or she has
established continuous residence within the establishing province for at least one
(1) year upon the date of examination.

SEC. 7. Curriculum. - Schools established in compliance with this Act shall
implement a six-year integrated junior-senior high school curriculum that focuses
on advanced science, mathematics, and technology subjects under the guidance of
the DepEd and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). The revised
curriculum of the Philippine Science High School System for Grades 7 to 12 shall be
used as basis for the formulation of said curriculum.


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SEC. 8. Higher Education Bond. - A graduate of a school established in
compliance with this Act shall be required to enroll in a four- or five- year
Bachelor's Degree in Science program at an accredited college or university.
Said graduate must enroll in one of the following _ fields:
pure and applied sciences, mathematics, engineering, technology, or any other field
deemed appropriate by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). A graduate
who shifts or transfers to a course in any unrelated field prior to completion of the
degree program shall pay a fine equivalent to the total full cost incurred by the
government in subsidizing the secondary education program of said graduate, as
calculated by the DepEd.

Any fine collected under the terms of this provision shall be allocated to any
government program that promotes the advancement of science, mathematics, and

technological education in the Philippines.

SEC. 9. Appropriations. - The amount of Five Hundred Million Pesos
(P500,000,000.00) is hereby initially appropriated to implement the provisions of this
Act. Thereafter, such amount necessary to effectively carry out these provisions shall
be included in the annual GAA.

SEC. 10. Implementing Agencies. - Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity
of this Act, the DepEd, in coordination with the DOST and the CHED, shall issue the
rules and regulations implementing its provisions. The Implementing Rules and
Regulations (IRR) issued pursuant to this section shall take effect thirty (30) days
after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

SEC. 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in force and
effect.

SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. ~ All other laws, executive orders, presidential
decrees, administrative orders, rules and regulations, issuances, or parts thereof
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
amended accordingly.


x SEC. 13. Effectivity. - Notwithstanding the non-issuance of the IRR, this Act
2 shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a

3. newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,