FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 2206 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
A local public school teacher often serves as a center for the delivery of education and 
human resources for all members of a certain community. In line with this, there is a need for 
the public schools, primarily in rural and urban city commodities, to collaborate with other 
public and non-profit agencies and organizations, local business, educational entities, 
recreational, cultural and other community and human service entities, for the purpose of 
meeting the needs of, and expanding the opportunities available to, the residents of the 
communities served by such schools. 
By using school facilities, equipment, and resources, communities can promote a more 
efficient use of public education facilities, especially in rural and inner city areas where limited 
financial resources have enhanced the necessity for local public schools to become social service 
centers. 
A high technology, global economy of the 2 I st Century will require lifelong learning to 
keep our workforce competitive and successful, and local public schools should provided centers 
for lifelong learning and educational opportunities for individuals of all ages. 
This bill seeks the establishment of 2 I st Century Learning Centers to enable the entire 
community to develop an educational strategy that addresses the educational needs of all 
members of local communities.' 
• This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
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. S,EN1!206 
S. No. _--,-c.-.::-=-
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
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TO DEVELOP AN EDUCATIONAL STRATEGY THAT ADDRESSES THE 
EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF ALL MEMBERS OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION I. Short Title. - This Act may be cited as the "21st Century Community 
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Learning Center's Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State to 
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develop an education strategy that addresses the educational needs of all members of local 
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communities. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Community Learning Center. - For purposes of this Act, the 
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term "community learning center" means an entity within a public elementary or secondary 
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school building that-
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(A) Provides educational, recreational, health, and social service programs for residents 
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of all ages within a local community; and 
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(B) . Is operated by a local edvcational agency in conjunction with local government 
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agencies, business, vocational educational programs, institutions of higher 
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education, community colleges, and cultural recreational, and other community and 
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human service entities. 
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SECTION 4. Program Authorization.-
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(A) Grant by the Secretary of Education. - The Secretary is authorized, in accordance 
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with the provisions of this Act, to award grants to public elementary or secondary schools, or 
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consortia of such schools, to enable such schools or consortia to plan, implement, or to expand 
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projects that benefit the educational, health, social service, cultural, and recreational needs of 
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rural or inner city community. 
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(8) Equitable Distribution. - In awarding grants under this Act, the Secretary shall assure 
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an equitable distribution of assistance among the local government units and among urban and 
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rural areas. 
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(C) Grant Period. - The Secretary shall award grants for a period not to exceed three (3) 
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years. 
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SECTION 5. Application Period. - To be eligible to receive a grant under this Act, an 
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elementary or secondary school or consortia shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
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time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may reasonably 
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prescribe. Each application shall include-
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(A) A comprehensive local plan that enables the school or consortium to serve as a 
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center for the delivery of education and human resources for members of a 
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community; 
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(8) An evaluation of the needs, available resources, and goals and objectives for the 
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proposed project in order to determine which activities will be undertaken to 
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address such needs; and 
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(C) A description of the proposed projects, including 
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(1) A description of the mechanism that will be used to disseminate information 
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in a manner that is understandable and accessible to the community; 
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(2) Identification of natio'nal and local programs to be merged or coordinated so 
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that public resources may be maximized; 
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(3) A description of the collaborative efforts to be undertaken by community-
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based organizations, related public agencies, business, or other appropriate 
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organizations; 
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(4) A description of how the school or consortium will serve as a delivery center 
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for existing and new services, especially for interactive telecommunications 
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used for education and professional training; and 
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(5) An assurance that the school or consortium will establish a facility utilization 
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policy that specifically states the rules and regulations applicable to building 
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an equipment use and supervision guidelines. 
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SECTION 6. Priority. - The Secretary shall give priority to applications describing 
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projects that offer broad selection of services which address the needs of the community. 
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SECTION 7. Use of Funds. - Grants awarded under this Act may be used to plan, 
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implement, or expand community learning centers which include not less than four (4) of the 
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following activities: 
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(A) Literacy education programs; 
(B) Senior Citizen programs and services for individuals with disabilities; 
(C) 
Children's day care services; 
(D) Integrated education, health, social service, recreational or cultural programs; 
(E) 
Summer and weekend school programs in conjunction with recreational programs; 
(F) 
Nutrition and health programs; 
(G) Expanded library service hours to serve community needs; 
(H) Telecommunications and technology education programs for individuals of all ages; 
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Parenting skills education programs; 
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Support and training for child day are providers; 
(K) Employment counseling, training and placement; and 
(L) 
Services for out-of-school youth. 
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SECTION 8. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provision of this 
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Act is hereby authorized to be appropriated for every fiscal year. 
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SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the reminder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree, or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation not contrary to, or inconsistent 
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with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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pUblication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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