Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
 INSTITUTIONALIZING THE OPEN ELECTRONIC LEARNING SCHOOL SYSTEM IN 
THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This Bill seeks to deliver educational advancement to the Filipino studentry through the use 
of alternative means of instruction such as print, radio, television, and other multimedia 
learning and teaching technologies that allow students to study on their own without having 
to regularly attend class in the conventional classroom setup. 
This alternative learning system adheres with the constitutional mandate of providing access 
to relevant quality education through the employment of an alternative learning system that 
would enable the youth including adults to overcome geographical, socioeconomic, and/or 
physical constraints to their completion of secondary and tertiary education including 
advanced studies.  
The prevalence of computers or the so-called artificial intelligence, the rapidly changing 
society, and the demand for globally competitive cannot be ignored. It has to be addressed 
by keeping at par with the high-tech genre. 
This legislation gives birth to ELearning as an alternative mode of learning. This Cyber 
Education Bill aims to institutionalize the Open ELearning School System, thereby defying 
hindrances in computer education's effective, systematic, and advanced means. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
September 8, 2022
10:25 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
 INSTITUTIONALIZING THE OPEN ELECTRONIC LEARNING SCHOOL SYSTEM IN 
THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress as 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Open ELearning School System 
Act of 2022." 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared that the policy of the State to 
access relevant quality education through the employment of an alternative learning system 
that would enable the youth including adults to overcome geographical, socioeconomic, 
and/or physical constraints to their completion of secondary education and tertiary education 
including advanced studies. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – For this Act, the following terms are hereby defined: 
a) Open Electronic Learning School or ELearning - a system of delivering educational
services to high school, college, and advanced studies students utilizing print, radio,
television, 
and 
computer-based 
communications, 
satellite 
broadcasting,
teleconferencing, and other multimedia learning and teaching technologies that allow
students to study on their own without having to regularly attend class in conventional
classrooms.
b) Distance Learning Program - an educational program whereby the teaching and
learning processes are accomplished through self-instructional materials that allow
independent study, multi-channel learning, and school-family-community partnership.
c) Cyber Ed / Cyber Education – a computer-based instructional system using active
online modules and materials accessible through the internet.
d) Diploma / Non-diploma - certification of academic achievement acquired through
ELearning.
e) Conduit Schools/universities and other Learning Institutions - partner schools locally
or internationally located.
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f) Accreditation Certificate - MOA between the Open System and the Conduit 
Schools/university and other Learning institutions. 
 
g) ELearning Centers - Distance learning centers shall be established in pilot areas. The 
Center is a room or building where distance learners can conduct research or gather 
additional information on topics under study. 
 
SECTION 4. Institutionalization of the Open School System. – To carry out the above-
declared policy, the Open School hereinafter referred to as the system is hereby 
institutionalized in the Philippines by the provisions of the Act. 
 
SECTION 5. Coverage. – This Act shall apply to public secondary and tertiary educational 
institutions with existing distance learning programs and all other such institutions that shall 
later be authorized as qualified to implement the system. 
 
All existing programs and projects of the Department of Education regarding dropout 
intervention and poverty alleviation through education shall be part of the Open ELearning 
School System. 
 
SECTION 6. Coverage. – The System shall be open to all youth and adults who have finished 
elementary education and high school qualifiers of the Philippine Educational Placement Test 
(PEPT).  
 
SECTION 7. Administration and Supervision. – The Department of Education (DepEd) 
shall administer and supervise the System. The DepEd shall create a program attached to the 
Office of the Secretary under the Office for the Cyber Ed Program with the following duties 
and functions: 
 
1) Formulate the objectives and basic policies of the System; 
 
2) Formulate, adopt and supplement programs that will make the System effective and 
productive; 
 
3) Monitor and evaluate existing distance learning programs for integration with the 
system; 
 
4) Develop and validate prototype instructional distance learning materials; 
 
5) Shall modify the adopted curriculum, devise a rating system, instructional strategies, 
and materials; 
6) Consult and collaborate with other DepEd divisions, local government units, non-
government organizations (NGOs), and other private agencies for the effective 
operation of the system; 
 
7) promulgate the necessary guidelines, rules, and regulations for the effective 
implementation of the System; 
 
8) Recommend to the DepEd the annual budget of the System for inclusion in the General 
Appropriations Act for the year; 
 
9) Linkage with conduit schools, universities, and other learning institutions; and 
 


10) Perform other tasks that may be necessary to attain the System's objectives. 
 
SECTION 8. Collaboration Between the Department of Education (DepEd) and 
Private Learning Institutions Whether Local or Abroad. – The DepEd shall sign a 
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) defining the role of the government vis conduit schools, 
universities, or other learning institutions in the operation of the system to ensure maximum 
success. 
 
SECTION 9. Copyright Protection. The protection for artistic, literary, and derivative works 
which is used in the Open ELearning School System shall be protected during the lifetime of 
the author plus 50 years after the author’s death. This term of protection also applies to 
posthumous works. In the case of joint authorship, the economic rights shall be protected 
during the lifetime of the last surviving author plus 50 years after such author’s death. 
 
SECTION 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Department of Education 
(DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Science and Technology 
(DOST), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), 
and other related agencies shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 
implementation of this Act within a period of ninety (90) days after its approval.  
 
SECTION 11. Oversight Committee. – Upon prior consultation with the Committees on 
Education of the Senate and the House of Representatives, an Oversight Committee shall be 
formed and shall evaluate annual reports submitted by the Program. 
 
SECTION 12. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the initial implementation of 
this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriation of the Distance Learning 
Program of the DepEd. Thereafter, such as may be necessary for its continued implementation 
shall be included in the annual General Appropriation Act. 
 
SECTION 13. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 14. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or parts 
thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
SECTION 15. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect immediately after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or any newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,