Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon, City

FIFTEENTH (15) CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BillNo.__ 2307.

‘onald V. Singson

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘This bill seeks to change the start of the school year from June to September
amending for the purpose Republic Act 7797 entitled “An act to lengthen the school
calendar from Two Hundred (200) Days to not more than Two Hundred Twenty (220)
Class Days.

Section 17 Article of the Constitution provides that “The State shall give priority
to education, science and technology, arts, culture and sports to foster patriotism and
nationalism, accelerate social progress and promote total human liberation and
development.” Corollary to this, the State shall ensure that students should develop the
basic competencies amid a safe learning environment.

The existing school year Calendar begins from June through March of each year,
falling within the rainy season. During this time strong typhoon hits the country bringing
in catastrophic floods, heavy traffic and highly communicable diseases. Students are
exposed to all kinds of risks and danger that most decide to miss classes to avoid
exposure to such elements. This leads to poor academic performance and subsequently
low achievement rate. Moreso, classes are usually suspended due to typhoons, thus the
required number of school days are not maximized for learning.


Previously, the outbreak of the Influenza A(HIN1) virus has severely affected the
opening of the school days, as most disease outbreaks occurs during the summer months
of March and April, until beginning of the rainy season in June.

Changing the school opening from June to September will definitely improve the
learning conditions for the students and ultimately lead to more productivity.

In view of the forgoing, approval of this bill is eamestly sought.

y, Ze

RONALD V. SINGSON


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon, City

FIFTEENTH (15) CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 2357

Introduced by: Ronald V. Singson

AN ACT
CHANGING THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR FROM JUNE TO SEPTEMBER,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED SEVENTY-
SEVEN HUNDRED AND NINETY-SEVED

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

SECTION 1. Section 3 of Republic Act no. 7797 entitled “An act to strengthen the
School Calendar from Two Hundred days to not more than Two Hundred Twenty Class
Days” is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 3. Start of School Year — The school year shall start on the first Monday of
[June] SEPTEMBER but not later than the last day of August NOVEMBER”.

SEC. 2. The total number of school days prescribed under RA 7797 shall be observed.

SEC. 3. The Department of Education jointly with the Commission on Higher Education
shall submit copies of the implementing rules and regulations to the Committees on
Education, Arts and Culture of both Senate and House of Representatives within thirty
(30) days after its promulgation.


SEC. 4. All laws, presidential decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days afier its publication in two (2) national
newspapers of general regulation.

Approved,