, . 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 984 
) 
) 
) 
10 
JUL -8 P 1 :1 ~ 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In the information age that we live in, the leaps and bounds achieved 
by industries associated with information technology have made possible 
the rapid 
dissemination of advancements in 
science, technology, 
agriculture, engineering, and many other fields of knowledge. 
If the Philippine labor force is to catch up with the rest of the world, 
Philippine policy makers should be cognizant of the fact that today, 
computer literacy is a skill that is as basic to a student as mathematics, 
language or reading literacy. 
This bill seeks to establish the Board on Computer Education as the 
government agency that will be tasked to promote the development of 
computer literacy among 
Filipino students. 
It also proposes the 
establishment of enabling measures and incentives such as tax-free 
importation of computer hardware by accredited entities in order to facilitate 
the implementation of a computer literacy program in nineteen of the 
country's poorest provinces. 
Our abundant supply of labor will turn out to be a liability unless our 
workers are adequately equipped with the skills needed to compete in the 
global arena. This measure proposes to achieve the goal of a competitive 
Philippine labor force through computer education. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly 
requested. 
"LITO" M. LAPID 
Senator 


, . 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 984 
) 
) 
) 
1 0 
JIJL -8 Pi :19 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
TO INTEGRATE A COMPUTER EDUCATION PROGRAM INTO THE 
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND F'OR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION. 1. 
Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to 
promote functional computer literacy in all schools, at the earliest possible stage, and in 
a manner that is most efficient and effective in producing a population that is highly 
skilled in the creation, use and manipulation of computer software, In this regard, private 
sector initiative and participation shall always be encouraged to achieve this policy 
objective. 
SEC. 2. 
Board 
on 
Computer Education; 
Creation, 
Power and 
Functions. - A Board on Computer Education, hereafter referred to as Board, is hereby 
created to implement the provision of this Act and for this purpose shall have the 
following powers and shall exercise the following functions: 
a) 
supervise the accreditation of the computer schools which will participate 
in the program; 
b) 
assess and provide for the necessary training of the personnel of 
computer schools on methods of teaching; 
c) 
prepare the curriculum for computer-aided logic, math and science 
education in the elementary level; 
d) 
monitor the performance of the computer schools; 
e) 
evaluate the abilities of the students enrolled in the program; 
f) 
issue and implement all rules and regulations provided for in this Act; and 
g) 
exercise all other powers and functions which may be necessary to carry 
out the provision of this,Act. 
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.. 
SEC. 3. 
Board Composition. - The Board shall be composed of the 
following Members: 
a) 
One (1) representative from the Department of Education (DepEd) to be 
nominated by the Secretary of Education; 
b) 
One (1) representative from the CommisSion on Higher Education (CHED) 
to be nominated by the CHED Chairman; 
c) 
One (1) representative from the Department of SCience and Technology 
• 
. (DOST) to be nominated by the Secretary and Technology to be 
nominated by the Secretary of the Department of Science and 
Technology; 
d) 
One (1) representative from the duly accredited professional organizations 
of computer programmers and system analysts to be nominated by the 
recognized leadership of these organizations; 
e) 
One representative from the National Economic Development Authority, to 
be nominated by the Secretary-General of the National Economic 
Development Authority (NEDA). 
The representative from the DepEd shall serve as Chairman of the Board. The 
Chairman and the Members shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of the 
Philippines for a term of five (5) years and shall have the rank and compensation of a 
Bureau of Director. 
SEC. 4. 
Promotion of the Build-Operate- Transfer (BOP) Scheme and 
other similar arrangements. - The provision of Republic Act No. 6957, as amended, 
shall be applied to the construction, operation and servicing of computer education and 
its facilities: Provided, That any contractual arrangement that will be utilized for this 
purpose shall additionally provide for the following: 
a) 
A training program for teachers not only on computer literacy but also on 
the maintenance and servicing of computer education facilities; and 
b) 
An apprenticeship program for interested students of the public school 
being serviced whereby they may be employed as apprentices for the education 
component or for the facilities maintenance component of computer education. 
The build-operate-transfer arrangement or any other similar arrangements 
provided for in Republic Act No. 69q7, as amended, may be bidded out and awarded at 
the school district level or at the school level, in accordance with the implementing rules 
and regulations to be issued by the Board. 
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SEC. 5. 
Institutionalization of the Voucher System for Specialized 
Computer Education in the Nineteen (19) Poorest Provinces. - In addition to 
whatever contractual arrangements which may be utilized under the provisions of 
Section 4 hereof, there shall be created a voucher system for specialized computer 
education in the country's nineteen (19) poorest provinces whereby each of these 
provinces shall be given the amount of Five Million Pesos (Php 5,000,000.00) each year 
from the annual budget allocated for the implementation of the specialized computer 
education program, or such amount as may be latter on provided by law. 
Students in these provinces who have completed secondary education shall be 
allowed to take competitive aptitude examinations in specialized computer education. 
Students who have passed such qualifying examinations, or as many of those 
who may be provided funds from the annual budget, shall be given a voucher worth 
Five Thousand Pesos (Php 5,000.00) each, or such amount as may be later on 
provided by law, to enroll in a computer school of his or her choice, to finish advanced 
and specialized computer courses such as, but not limited to, advanced programming, 
computer-aided design, hardware design, networking, or such other courses that may 
be identified by the Board. 
Each student shall be entitled to only one voucher. The Board shall issue the 
implementing rules and regulations to ensure that students do not enroll in more than 
• 
one school, or that enrollment figures reflect actual enrollment. Student found guilty of 
violating this one-voucher-per-student rule shall be subject to the penalties provided 
hereunder. 
SEC. 6. 
Accreditation of Computer Education Service Providers. - All 
entities participating the activities described in Section 4 and 5 hereof must be 
accredited by the Board as bona fide participants. The accreditation must be renewed 
for every period of not less than one year but not more than five years. Accreditation 
shall be based on the following criteria: 
a) 
The curriculum meet the standards provided for by the Board; 
b) 
The quality of the computers and other peripherals to be provided and the 
other peripherals to be provided and the other physical infrastructures to 
be built, operated or used which must ensure quality of education and 
minimum health and safety standards; 
c) 
The capability of the service provider's instructors. The Board will issue 
, 
minimum standard for evaluating teaching ability; and 
d) 
With respect to renewal of applications, the performance of the students 
on performance measures to be designed by the Board. 
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SEC. 7. 
Curriculum of Publicly-funded Computer Education. -
The 
computer literacY program acknowledges the vital participation of the private sector in 
the scheme, but the curriculum shall be prepared by the Board. 
The curriculum should make use of computer-assisted education to teach 
elementary students the basic courses of math, science and logic. These courses will 
prepare the student for the demands of computer programming and system analysis, as 
well as strengthen the learning the stUdent receives from the formal educational system. 
The Board will also prepare the curriculum for computer programming and 
popular software utilization, which will be taught at the high school level. 
SEC. 8.' 
Monitoring and Incentives on Performance. - Monitoring of the 
program shall be done to maintain the quality of education being given to the students. 
Performance measures shall include, but not be limited to, the following: 
a) 
Periodic renewal of accreditation or license to operate; 
b) 
Testing; 
c) 
National competitions; and 
d) 
Unannounced visits to participating schools. 
The Board shall formulate or commission the formulation of a performance index 
which will be used in assessing the performance of the participating schools. The latest 
results of the evaluation of all schools shall be published before the start of every school 
year. 
The Board shall formulate a system of rewards and incentives to promote 
excellence among the service providers. 
SEC. 9. 
Tax-free Importation of Computer Hardware and Software. - All 
entities who have been accredited, or who have obtained contracts as participants in 
the activities provided for in Sections 4 and 5 hereof shall be given fiscal incentives. 
These incentives shall include the tax-free importation of all computer hardware, 
software, peripherals and documentary materials. However, these incentives shall be 
limited to imports that are intended for the schools. These incentives shall last for a 
• 
period of not more than ten years from the effectivity of this Act. 
The Board shall issue the implementing rules and regulations for the availment of 
the incentives described herein. 
SEC. 10. 
Phased Implementation. - The computer education program shall 
be implemented in phases to ensure that program and infrastructure requirement shall 
be met, to prepare the private sector for the demand for computer schools and 
equipment, and to prime-up the local demand for computer-literate workers. 
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The implementation shall be done in accordance with the following objectives: 
(a) 
the graduation, one year from the effectivity of this Act, of a corps of high-
school students who can manipulate the most popular computer application programs in 
the areas of word processing, database encoding and spreadsheets; 
(b) 
the graduation, three years from the effectivity of this Act, of a corps of 
high school stUdents who are not only literate in the applications described in paragraph 
(a) herein, but also in basic programming and system analysis; and 
(c) 
the immediate use of computer-aided education which will complement 
the academic instructions in math, science and logic. 
SEC. 11. 
Community 
Linkages. 
Other 
software 
and 
computer 
programming may be taught by the schools and service providers under a community 
link-up system whereby additional training on the use of special software can be paid for 
by interested business or manufacturing firms in the community. The business 
community will also be encouraged to expand and update their manufacturing 
procedures to achieve efficiency' through computerization or computer-controlled 
processes. 
SEC. 12. 
Budget and Funding. - An initial budget of One Hundred Million 
Pesos (Php 100,000,000.00) to be disbursed from the earnings of the lotteries 
conducted by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office is hereby appropriated for the 
payment of the services to be provided under Sections 4 and 5 of this Act as well as for 
the expenses related to the establishment and operation of the Board. Thereafter, the 
funds necessary for the continuous implementation of this Act shall be included in the 
yearly General Appropriations Act. 
The administrative expenses related to the implementation of this Act shall not be 
more than three percent (3%) of the annual appropriations for this Computer Education 
Program. 
SEC. 13. 
Penalties. - Any person found guilty of violating the provisions of 
Section 5 hereof shall be meted the following penalties: 
a) 
The student shall pay the full cost of tuition, with interest thereon. The 
payment may be in cash, or in its equivalent in terms of community service. 
b) 
The accreditation of the service providers found guilty of padding their 
enrollment figures, or for knowingly permitting a student to violate the provisions of 
Section 5 hereof shall be suspended, for the first offense; and cancelled for the second 
offense, without prejudice to the payment of twice the amount of reimbursement 
resulting from the padded enrollment as fine. 
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SEC. 14. 
Rules and Regulations. - Within forty five (45) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Board shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for 
the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 15. 
Separability Clause. - In the event that any provisions of this Act is 
declared unconstitutional, the validity of the other provisions shall not be affected by 
such declaration. 
SEC. 16. 
Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders regulations, or 
portions thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby rules and repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
SEC. 17. 
Effectivity Clause. - This law shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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