FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B, Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 1978

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The ideal international classroom-to-student ratio is 1:35. To achieve
this, the Department of Education (DepEd) stated that more than 50,000
additional classrooms are still needed. And to construct these additional
classrooms, a bigger budget is required. The proposed 2010 budget that
DepEd asked for is P370 billion, but instead, their 2010 budget is only
P172.84 billion. This is not enough to solve all the problems of education
sector, let alone the construction of additional classrooms.

In order to remedy the situation, the DepEd has to look for other ways
to solve their problem on classroom shortage.

With this in mind, Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) secretary Ramon Paje proposed to donate to the DepEd confiscated
wood products for the construction of classrooms instead of auctioning it off
where in some instances, the wood products are bought by the illegal loggers
themselves.

The DENR said that they have on hand some 1.37 million board feet of
confiscated wood products. These wood products would go a long way in
helping solve the problem of classroom shortage in the country.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly
requested,

RUFYS B. R¢ IGUEZ

My

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No._ 1978
AN ACT
MANDATING THAT ALL ILLEGAL WOOD PRODUCTS CONFISCATED BY
THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES BE
DONATED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO BE USED FOR
THE CONSTRUCTION OF CLASSROOM, TABLES, CHAIRS AND OTHER
SCHOOL FACILITIES.

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to ensure that
all its citizens received quality education in an atmosphere which is conducive
to learning

SEC. 2. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is
hereby mandated to donate all illegal wood products confiscated to the
Department of Education.

SEC. 3. The Department of Education (DepEd) is, in turn, mandated to use all
the wood products donated by the DENR for the construction of classrooms,
tables, chairs and other schoo! facilities.

SEC. 4. The DENR and the DepEd shall promulgate the rules and
regulations necessary for the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 5. Separability Clause — if any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not affected by such
declaration shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause — All laws, decrees, ordinances, rules and
regulations, executive or administrative orders or parts thereof inconsistent
with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 7. Effectivity — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
Publication in al least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved