Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

Rage,

Date.

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4210

HOUSE BILL NO.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 1, Article XIV of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that:

The State shall 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

In the National Achievement Test for $.Y. 2016-2017, national performance in math

has worsened, with the grade 10 students posting an average score of about 37% and

therefore exhibiting Low Proficiency with respect to the subject matter.

However, despite the increasing government commitment to improving the state of
Philippine education, recent editions of the Global Competitiveness Survey have Consistently
ranked the Philippines in the bottom 50% of participating countries in terms of the quality

of math and science education at the tertiary level.

A universal tenet of quality education, consistently reported by reputable education
experts and enshrined in the 1987 Philippine Constitution, is ensuring equitable access to

education. This entails ensuring a

to all forms of education, including specialized math

and science curricula.

Nevertheless, this type of valuable, oft-sought-after education is only available to the

lucky few that are admitted to the Philippine Science High School system, one of the Regional


Science High Schools, or those who are fortunate enough to live near one of the other science

high schools scattered across the country

This bill seeks to provide equitable access to quality education in the pure and applied
Sciences, Mathematics, and Technology for all Filipinos as a means to nurture future
generations of scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and other professionals who will serve

the nation as a catalyst for scientific, technological, and industrial progress.

Thus, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought.

FRED VARGAS


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City, Philippines

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4210

_ INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED VARGAS:

AN ACT
PROMOTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC MATH AND SCIENCE HIGH
SCHOOLS IN PREVIOUSLY UNDERSERVED AREAS, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE

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

SECECTION. 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Equitable Access
to Math and Science Education Act of 2019”.

SECTION. 2. Declaration of Policy. - itis hereby declared a policy of the
State to provide equitable access to quality education in the pure and applied Sciences,
mathematics, and technology for all Filipinos as a means to nurture future generations of
scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and other professionals who will serve the nation as
catalyst for scientific, technological, and industrial progress.

Pursuant to this declaration, the State shall work hand-in-hand with local government units
(LGUs) to eliminate economic and geographical barriers that restrict the access of otherwise
willing and qualified students to said education.

SECTION. 3. Coverage. - All provinces of the Republic of the Philippines
which do not have at least one (1) public math and science high school currently operating
within their respective geographical boundaries at the time this Act takes effect shall be
required to fulfill the establishment requirements prescribed by Section 4 of this Act


For the purposes of this Act, the term public math and science high school shall refer to a
school principally financed through national or local government funds that implements an
advanced curriculum focused on science, mathematics, and technology subjects, for grade 7-

12 students.

SECTION. 4. Establishment of Schools. - All provinces covered by the
preceding Section of this Act are hereby mandated to work with the Department of Education
(Dep!

ed) to establish at least one (1) public math and science high school within their
respective provincial capitals,

Schools established in compliance with this Act may be established through the construction
of new school facilities, the conversion and/or reorganization of an existing school or the
renovation and re-opening of currently non-operational school facilities or other idle
government-owned property: Provided, That these school must be fully operational by
Academic Year 2020-2021: Provides, further, That any utilization of idle government-owned
assets shall follow pertinent procedures as prescribed by law: Provided, finally, That schools
which have been designated by the DepEd as fully compliant under this Act may start
operations earlier than the prescribed deadline.

SECTION. 5. School Operations. - Schools established in compliance with
this Act shall be operated by the DepEd, with the proper participation of the applicable LGUs

and other community shareholders as prescribed by law. Said schools shall be funded in full
under the budget of the DepEd and shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
Act.

SECTION. 6. Admissions. - Schools established in compliance with this Act
shall accept applicants based on the results of a competitive entrance examination. A student
may be eligible to apply for admission to said school only if he or she has established
continuous residence within the establishing province for at least one (1) year by the date of
examination.

SECTION. 7. — Curriculum - Schools established in compliance with this Act
shall implement a six-year integrated junior-senior high school curriculum that focuses on
advanced science, mathematics, and technology subjects under the guidance of the DepEd
and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), The revised curriculum of the
Philippine Science High School system tor Grades 7-12 shall be used as a basis for the
formulation of said curriculum

SECTION. 8. Higher Education Bond - A graduate of a school established
in compliance with this Act shall be required to enroll in a four or five-year Bachelor's Degree
in Science program at an accredited college or university. Said graduate must enroll in a


course-of-study in one of the following fields; pure and applied sciences, mathematics,
engineering, technology, or any other field deemed appropriate by the commission on Higher
Education (CHED). A graduate who shifts or transfers to a course in any unrelated field prior
to completion of the degree program shall pay a fine equivalent to the total full cost incurred
by the government in subsiding the secondary education program of said graduate, as
calculated by the DepEd. Any fine collected under the terms of this provision shall be
allocated to any government program that promotes the advancement of science,
mathematics, and technological education in the Philippines.

SECTION. 9. Appropriations. - ‘The amount of Five Hundred Million Pesos
(P500,000,000.00) is hereby initially appropriated to implement the previsions of this Act.
Thereafter, such amount necessary to effectively carry out the provisions of this Act shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act

SECTION. 10. implementing Agencies. - ‘The DepEd, in coordination with
the DOST and the CHED, shall be responsible for implementing the previsions of this Act.
Within (60) days from the effectively of this Act, the implementing agencies shall promulgate
the implementing rules and regulations as may be necessary to ensure the efficient and
effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION. 11. 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. 12. Repealing Clause. - ‘The provisions of other laws, decrees,
executive orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed,
amended, or modified accordingly

SECTION. 13. Effectivity. - ‘This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette and/or in at least two (2) national newspapers in
general circulation.

Approved,