REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. __________ 
Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative 
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Access to education is a right of all.1 It helps in inequality and poverty reduction as 
well as in women empowerment. It increases the social mobility of everyone more 
opportunities are presented. While the government is firm on its commitment to 
provide free education of children in public schools, it largely remains overlooked. The 
quality of education still faces a lot of challenges such as lack in teaching resources 
and overcrowding classes. Problems derived from the lack of public classrooms and 
other facilities are expected due also to the growing number of Filipino enrollees each 
year.  
Public school classrooms are designed to hold an ideal class size of 45 students for 
high school and 35 students for elementary. However, with the increasing number of 
students and lack of adequate facilities, class size had ballooned to between 75 and 
80 students and often divided classrooms into two sections with both different class 
subjects.2 
1 Article 26, Section 1 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights 
2 Inquirer. Students swamp ‘congested’ Metro Manila schools. Information retrieved from 
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/607755/school-heads-cede-offices-to-classes-626-metro-public-schools-have-2-shifts. Dated June 
3, 2014 
January 13, 2022
12:19 pm
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In 2014, public schools in Metro Manila alone had to cope with many enrollees that 
they had to improvise makeshift classrooms by using corridors, libraries, and 
laboratories.3 Overcrowded classroom conditions can make it difficult for students to 
focus on their lessons. Likewise, teachers are also unable to supervise every student 
and respond to their academic needs. 
This measure, therefore, seeks to address the overcrowding in classrooms by 
regulating the class size of public schools. It shall set the minimum standard size of no 
more than 35 students per class, to a maximum class size of 50 as a large class. 
Education is a significant component in human development as well as in the economic 
progress of a country. Thus, it is our responsibility to ensure that the students are in 
the best conditions for learning.  
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought. 
MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III 
Representative 
Magdalo Para Sa Pilipino Party-List 
3 Ibid. 


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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
House Bill No. __________ 
Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative 
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III 
AN ACT 
REGULATING CLASS SIZE IN ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title.– This Act shall be known as the “Public School Size 
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Law”. 
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Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy.– It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
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protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education. It is likewise declared 
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that the State shall provide just compensation and human working conditions for public 
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school teachers. It shall address the congested environment of the country’s public 
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schools setting which adversely affect the learning experience provided to Filipino 
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school children. Towards this end, the State shall ensure the necessary standard and 
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establish standards for class size. Further, it shall guarantee that teachers are entitled 
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to protection from unregulated increases in class size as well as to adequately 
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compensate their actual workload. 
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Sec. 3. Coverage.– This Act shall apply to all classes in public schools, both in 
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the elementary and high school levels, as defined by the Department of Education, 
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and to all public school teachers therein, whether paid by the national or local 
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government. 
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Sec. 4. Standard Class Size.– Each class to be handled by a single teacher shall 
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have a standard size of 35 students. For purposes of this Act, any class with not more 
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than 35 students shall be considered a standard class. 
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Sec. 5. Large Class Size.– Any class exceeding 35 students up to a maximum of 
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50 students shall be considered a large class. In no case shall a class size more than 
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or in excess of 50 students shall be permitted. 
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Sec. 6. Large Class Honorarium.– A teacher handling a large class shall be 
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entitled to a large class honorarium equivalent to one percent (1%) of her daily rate 
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for every student in excess of the standard class size of 35. The formula shall apply to 
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all classes assigned to the teacher during the school year. 
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Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations.– The Department of Education 
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shall within a period of thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate the 
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rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act. 
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Sec. 8. Appropriations.– The amount of Five Billion Pesos (P5,000,000,000.00) 
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is hereby appropriated for the initial implementation of this Act. Thereafter, such sums 
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as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the in the 
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annual General Appropriations Act. 
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Sec. 9. Separability Clause.– If any portion or provision of this Act is declared 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall 
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remain in force and effect.  
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Sec. 10. Repealing Clause.– Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
1 
order, letter of instruction, rules or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this 
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Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.  
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Sec. 11. Effectivity.– This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following 
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its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.  
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Approved,