Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BIL No. _°88°

Introduced by Representative Roman T, Romulo

Explanatory Note

We are living in a-unique and peculiar time in history where our actions will dictate the tenor
of the lives of our people moving forward. The times indeed call for wisdom and prudence
from all sectors of our society, including the legislative which possesses a unique capacity to
heavily influence the public sector response to such a crisis.

Although the Department of Education (DepEd) has reportedly recalibrated and reprioritized
its programs and budget for Fiscal Year 2020-2021. Despite these courses of action, the de-
partment finds it necessary to request additional funding for the proper implementation of
the preemptive and responsive measures that they have crafted to address the exigencies of
the COVID-19 crisis. This representation sees that it is necessary to supplement the budget of
DepEd for the continuity of the educational programs for our learners, all while ensuring their
safety. Some of these programs are the Learning Continuity Program and the Feeding Pro-
grams for our nutritionally deprived learners.

In this light, this bill seeks to amend the salient provisions of the Local Government Code on
the Special Education Fund (SEF), amending for the purpose RA7160 or the Local Government
Code of 1991 (LGC), as amended. Particularly, we are amending Sections 100.

The amendment to Section 100 of RA7160 will provide the DepEd the power to levy funds
from the SEF in times of national emergencies or when the executive deems it necessary.
Through this amendment, the salaries, allowances, and other benefits of our teaching, teach-


ing-related, and non-teaching personnel will be addressed and secured. The hiring of neces-
sary personnel, teaching or otherwise will not be hindered. Most importantly, we will ensure
that the responsive programs for our learners will be implemented and thoroughly executed.

The proposed amendments will undoubtedly improve our ability to respond to the current
paradigm at the manner of speed which it calls for. The responsiveness that this bill will pro-
vide will not only be applicable to the current national emergency, but to our adaptability to
future emergencies of this magnitude.

It cannot be gainsaid that the welfare of our learners is of paramount importance. Although
we are keen on continuing the education of our learners within a paradigm of the COVID-19
crisis, we are intent on making sure that the quality of education that we deliver is competent
even under normal circumstances. As always, let us ensure that we do not simply provide
mere access to education but quality education.

‘The educational sector and our learners require our support and we shall provide it.

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

Bee

ROMAN T. ROMULO
Lone District, Pasig City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _6689

Introduced by Representative Roman T. Romulo

AN ACT ALLOWING THE DEPED TO LEVY FUNDS FROM THE SPECIAL
EDUCATION FUND (SEF) FOR PREEMPTIVE AND RESPONSIVE MEASURES IN
TIMES OF NATIONAL EMERGENCIES OR WHEN THE EXECUTIVE DEPART-
MENT DEEMS IT NECESSARY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE R4 7160 OR
THE LOCALGOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991, AS AMENDED.

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 “Special Education Fund Amendments of
2020",

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy ~ It is the policy of the State to protect and promote the
right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make
such education accessible to all. Furthermore, it is the policy of the state to provide a safe and
healthy environment for students, more so in times of national emergencies.

SECTION 3. Emergency Levy of the SEF - Section 100 of RA 7160 or the Local Government
‘Code of 1991, as amended is hereby amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 100 Meeting and Quorum; Budget. -
(a) The local school board shall meet at least once a month or as often as necessary.
(b) Any of the co-chairmen may call a meeting. A majority of all its members shall

constitute a quorum. However, when both co-chairmen are present in the meeting, the
local chief executive concerned, as a matter of protocol, shall be given preference to


preside over the meeting. The division superintendent, city superintendent, or district
supervisor, as the case may be, shall prepare the budget of the school board concerned.
Such budget shall be supported by programs, projects, and activities of the school
board for the ensuing fiscal year. The affirmative vote of all the members shall be
necessary to approve the budget.

(c) The annual school board budget shall give priority to the following:

(1) Construction, repair, and maintenance of school buildings and other facilities of
public elementary and secondary schools;

(2) Establishment and maintenance of extension classes where necessary; and
(3) Sports activities at the division, district, municipal, and barangay levels.

{d) IN THE EVENT OF A NATIONWIDE DECLARED EMERGENCY OR
WHEN THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT DEEMS IT NECESSARY, THE
DEPARTMENT OF EI N_(DEPED), IN COORDINATION WITH
THE RESPECTIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs), UPON SHOW-
ING THE NECESSITY AND UPON APPROVAL OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL
BOARD (LSB), MAY LEVY FUNDS FROM THE SPECIAL EDUCATION
FUND (SEF) FOR THE PREEMPTIVE AND/OR RESPONSIVE MEASURES
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE PAYMENT OF SALARIES, AL-
LOWANCES, AND OTHER BENEFITS OF TEACHING AND NON-TEACH-
ING PERSONNEL; CREATION OF TEMPORARY TEACHER ITEMS ON
CONTRACTUAL EMPLOYMENT, AS WELL THE HIRING OF ADMINIS-
TRATIVE AND NON-TEACHING PERSONNEL: PROVIDED, THAT THE
HIRING OF TEACHERS THEREFOR SHALL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE SELECTION AND PROMOTION SYSTEM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION SUCH AS RANKING AND LOCALIZATION: PROVIDED,
FURTHER, THAT THE TEACHER HIRED SHALL BE PAID A SALARY
EQUIVALENT TO THAT RECEIVED BY A NATIONALLY PAID SCHOOL
TEACHER, PROVIDED FURTHERMORE, THAT THE SAID TEACHER
SHALL _BE_ENTITLED, WHENEVER POSSIBLE, TO THE SAME
ALLOWANCES RECEIVED BY THE LATTER; REMUNERATION OR
HONORARIA_OF VOLUNTEER SCHOOL TEACHERS; RESEARCH
STUDIES; TRAINING OF TEACHERS; AND ALL OTHER PURPOSES
NECESSARY FOR THE PROPER IMPLEMENTATION OF __THE
PREEMPTIVE AND RESPONSIVE PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION FOR THE DURATION OF THE PUBLICLY DECLARED

EMERGENCY OR UNTIL THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT AND DEPED
DEEM NECESSARY.



DEP! SHALL_REPORT TO THE LSB AS TO THE USE AND DI:
BURSMENT OF THE LEVIED FUNDS, AS OFTEN AS MAY BE REQUIRED
BY THE LSB.”

SECTION 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG) and the Department of Education (DepEd) shall promulgate the necessary
rules and regulations to implement this Act not later than TEN (10) days after its effectivity.

SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - Should any part of this Act be declared
unconstitutional, the rest of the provisions of this Act shall continue to be in
effect and subsisting.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause.- All other laws, decrees, executive orders, and other adminis-
trative issuances and parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are

hereby modified, amended, superseded or repealed accordingly.

SECTION 8. Effectivity.- This Act shall take effect TEN (10) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette and/or in at least ONE (1) national newspapers in general circulation.

Approved,