EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
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S E N A T E
s. No. 
3 2 0
y<B\Utr o( UK' - ‘ 
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*19 JULIO A 9 -46
RLCfci'i't
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
AN ACT
TO MODERNIZE ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND STATE COLLEGES AND 
UNIVERSITIES IN  THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Explanatory Note
In recent years, the national government has gradually embraced information 
and communications technology (ICT) as a tool for good governance and inclusive 
growth. So far, the pinnacle of these efforts was the establishment of the 
Department of Information and Communications Technology as established under 
Republic Act No. 10844.
However, ICT may still be further integrated throughout all levels of 
government. The present measure proposes to integrate ICT in education, 
specifically in the modernization of public schools and state universities and colleges 
(SUCs) in the country. If enacted, this measure shall provide all public schools and 
SUCs with the foliowing:
a) Ten (10) computers with open source software;
b) A well-equipped library with an additional two (2) computers;
c) A multimedia classroom with one (1) interactive whiteboard and one (1) 
LCD projector and screen;
d) One iaptop for each teacher;
e) Internet connectivity.


f) A steady supply o f electricity;
The measure also seeks to create a coordinating committee which will 
implement the Act over a twenty (20) year period. The Act shall be operationalized 
in a twenty (20) year "Public School and SUC Modernization Plan" the standards for 
all hardware and software to be procured and maintained and the operational plans 
and budgetary requirements of the member agencies in implementing the Act.
Speedy approval of this measure is eagerly sought.
CE POE


L-V
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
S E N A T E  
5. No.
\ . L ^»■. i 
• ■■■ 'if. crptnrp
10 A9 ^6
Introduced by Senator Grace Poe
r
AN ACT
TO MODERNIZE ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND STATE COLLEGES AND 
UNIVERSITIES IN  THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled.
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CHAPTER I
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GENERAL PROVISIONS
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Section 1. Short Title. -  This act shall be known as the "Public School and
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State University and College Modernization Act of 2019".
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Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  The State shall protect and promote the right
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of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and shall take appropriate steps to
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make such education accessible to all. As such, the State embraces the role of
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information and communications technology in improving the learning process and
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shall strive to mainstream its provision and use in all public schools and state
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universities and colleges.
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Sec. 3. Definition o f Terms. -  For purposes of this act:
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a) Committee refers to the Coordinating Committee established under this
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Act;
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b) Inform ation and Communications Technology or IC T  refers to the totality
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of electronic means to access, create, collect, store, process, receive,
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transmit, present and disseminate information;


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c) Modernization Program refers to the Public School and SUC Modernization
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Program created under this Act;
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d) Public Schoois refers to all public elementary and secondary schools in the
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country; and
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e) 
refers to all State Universities and Colleges in the country.
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Sec. 4. Public School and SUC Modernization Program. -  There is hereby
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created a "Public School and State University and College Modernization Program",
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hereafter referred to as "the Program". The Program shall have the following
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objectives:
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a) To provide up to date ICT hardware and software to all public schools and
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state universities;
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b) To ensure that the provision of ICT hardware and software is cost
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effective;
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c) To mainstream the use of ICT as a tool in the delivery of basic and higher
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education;
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d) To set standards for the introduction, utilization and maintenance of ICT in
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public schools and state universities and colleges;
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e) To ensure that public school teachers are adequately trained in using ICT
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in the learning process;
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f) To ensure that students of public schools and state universities and
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colleges are aware of and capable of using ICT.
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Chapter II
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Program Components
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Sec. 5. Computerization Program. -  At least one computer laboratory with a
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minimum of ten (10) computers shall be established in all public schools and SUCs
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nationwide. The software need for the operation of this system shall be open source
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and shall be developed by the Department of Information and Communications
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Technology (DICT). The DICT shall also ensure that all hardware procured under
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this Act are well-maintained
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Sec. 6. One Teacher One Laptop. -  Each teacher shall be provided with one
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(1) laptop which shall have access to the central server of each school. Teachers


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using their laptops shall be encouraged to use the available educational software
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and to develop and share their own educational modules.
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Sec. 7. Educational Software. -  The concerned members of the Committee
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shall develop educational software for the use of students and teachers alike. The
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DICT shall ensure that all educational software shall is open source.
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Sec. 8. Upgrading o f Libraries. -  A well-equipped library shall be established
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in every public elementary and secondary high school. It shall contain at least 5
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computers which shall be connected to the central server in each school
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Sec. 9. Multimedia Classroom. -  Each public school and SUC shall be provided
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with a multimedia classroom package composed of one (1) interactive whiteboard
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and one (1) LCD projector and screen.
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Sec. 10. School Electrification Program. -  within one (1) year from the
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effectivity of this Act, Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher
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Education (CHED) and Department of Energy (DOE) shall conduct a comprehensive
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inventory of public schools and SUCs which do not have access to electricity.
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Thereafter, the DOE shall ensure that all public schools and SUCs have access to
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electricity. 
Provided, that public schools and SUCs which are far from the
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transmission grid shall be included under the missionary electrification program of
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the National Power Corporation as established under Republic Act No. 9136,
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otherwise known as the 'Electric Power Industry Reform A ct o f 2001".
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Sec. 11. Internet Connectivity. -  The DepEd, CHED and DICT, in coordination
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with private internet providers, shall ensure that all public schools and SUCs shall be
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connected to the internet. In cities and municipalities in which there is no access to
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internet services, the DICT shall explore and provide alternative means of internet
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connectivity.
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Sec. 12. Donations. -  Private investment in this program shall be encouraged.
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However, all public schools and SUCs shall coordinate with the Committee before
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accepting any donations of hardware or software to ensure their compatibility with
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those installed under this Act.
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Sec. 13. Training Program. -  the DepEd and CHED shall develop a training
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program for teachers in public schools and SUCs to ensure their capacity to utilize
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ICT in the learning process.


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CHAPTER III
PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION
Sec. 14. Coordinating Committee. -  A coordinating committee to implement 
the provisions of this Act shall be established. It shall be composed of the following:
a) The DepEd Secretary or his permanent representative;
b) The CHED Chairperson or his permanent representative;
c) The DICT Secretary or his permanent representative;
d) The DOE Secretary or his permanent representative; and
e) The DBM Secretary or his permanent representative.
The Committee shall be attached, for administrative and budgetary purposes, 
to the DICT. The Council shall meet at least once (1) every quarter. The presence 
of at least three (3) members shall constitute a quorum to business. The Secretary 
of the DICT or his permanent representative shall be the permanent chairperson of 
the Committee.
Sec. 15. Powers and Functions. -  The Committee shall have the following 
powers and functions:
a) Formulate and regularly update the twenty (20) year Public School and 
su e  Modernization Plan for the implementation of this Act;
b) Coordinate, monitor and ensure timely implementation of the Public 
School and SUC Modernization Plan;
c) Submit quarterly and annual reports to Congress and the Office of the 
President;
Sec. 16. Pubiic School and SUC Modernization Pian. -  The committee shall 
formulate the twenty (20) year Public School and SUC Modernization Plan. The Plan 
shall include the following:
a) The standards for all hardware and software to be procured and 
maintained; and
b) The operational plans and budgetary requirements of the member 
agencies in implementing the Act over the twenty (20) year period.


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Sec. 17. Integration o f Existing PPAs. -  the implementation of existing
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computerization and internet connectivity programs of the DepEd and the Free Wi-Fi
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Internet Access in Public Places project of the DICT and other relevant programs,
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projects, and activities (PPAs) shall be integrated in the Public School and SUC
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Modernization Plan.
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Sec. 18. Program Roii Out and Phasing. -  The program shall be implemented
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over a span of twenty (20) years. The first six (6) years of this program shall be
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dedicated to the implementation of this program among State Universities and
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Colleges. The next six (6) years shall be dedicated to the implementation of this
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program in all public secondary schools. The final eight (8) years shall be dedicated
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to the implementation of this program in all public elementary schools. After such
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period, the Committee shall be functus officio unless extended by Congress through
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a Joint Resolution.
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The DICT shall assume the coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of all
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PPAs previously under the Committee and ensure the full and continuing
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implementation of this Act. All concerned government agencies shall extend their
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cooperation and support to effectively transfer the functions of Committee and wind-
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down its affairs, which shall include, among others, the proper inventory and
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transfer of its assets, equipment, and relevant documents, and the termination or
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return to the mother units of the Committee officers and personnel.
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The DICT shall be authorized to call on the agencies formerly part of the
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Committee as well as any other government agency, including government owned or
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controlled corporations, and government financial institutions, for assistance as they
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may deem necessary to ensure the timely and cost-effective implementation of the
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priority projects.
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CHAPTER IV
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TRANSITORY AND FINAL PROVISIONS
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Sec. 19. Exemption from Repubiic A ct No. 7880. -  The implementation of this
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Act shall be exempted from the provisions of Republic Act 7880, otherwise known as
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the "Fair and Equitabie Access to Education Act".


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Sec. 20. Appropriations. -  The funds necessary to implement this Act shall be
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charged against the individual appropriations of the member agencies under the
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annual General Appropriations Act and shall be sourced from the following:
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a) The funds allocated for the DepEd Computerization Program and DepEd's
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Internet Connectivity Project;
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b) The funds allocated to the Free Wi-Fi Internet Access in Public Places
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project of the DICT;
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c) The equivalent of twenty percent (20% ) of the annual gross earnings of
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the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR);
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d) The equivalent of ten percent (10% ) annual share on the total gross
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collections of the travel tax; and
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e) The equivalent of ten percent (10%) of the sales of the lotto operations of
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the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Offices
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The appropriations for the implementation of this Act shall be indicated as a
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separate line-item under the annual budget of the DICT.
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Sec. 21. Im piem enting Ruies and Reguiations. -  the members of the
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Committee shall promulgate the Implementing rules and regulations of this Act
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within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act.
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Sec. 22. Separabiiity Ciause. -  If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
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unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other
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provisions hereof.
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Sec. 23. 
Repeaiing Ciause. -  All 
laws, decrees, executive orders and rules
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and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
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repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 24. Effectivity Ciause. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
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its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,