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.
For 2019,  the  DepEd  was  allocated  P527.714  billion  or 72.1%  of its  P732.28  billion
proposed  budget.  The  2019  allocation  is  8.92°/o  lower  than  its  2018  budget  of  P579.419
billion
ln order to remedy the situation, the DepEd  has to look for other ways to solve their
problem on classroom shortage.
With  this  in  mind,  there  has  been  a  proposal  from  the  Department of  Environment
and  Natural  Resources (DENR) 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.


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NINETEENTH CONGRESS   )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES    )
First Regular session                            )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Introduced by Representative Ru_fus a. Rodrig±±Sz
HOuse Bill NO. rm
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. Dec/araft.on of Po/t.cy. - lt is the poliey of the Sfate to ensure that all its citizens
received quality education in an atmosphere which is conducive to leaming.
SEC.   2.   The   Department   of   Environment   and   Natural   Resources   (DENR)   is   hereby
mandated to donate all illegal woed preducts confiscated to the Department Of Education.
SEC.  3.  The  Department of  Education  (DepEd)  is,  in  turn,  mandated  to  use  all  the  woed
products donated  by the  DENR for the construction of classrooms, tables,  chairs and other
school facilities.
SEC. 4. The DENR and the DepEd shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for
the implementation of this Act.
SEC.  5.   Separab;/ffy C/ause -  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.     Repea/ing  C/ause  -  AII   laws,   decrees,   ordinances,   rules  and   regulations,
exeoutive  or  administrative  orders  or  parfe  thereof  inconsistent  with  this  Act  are  hereby
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
SEC. 7.   Eifectivft]/-This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in al
least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,