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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S. No. 
486 
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JUL -4 All :14 
Introduced by Sen. Autonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
Explanatory Note 
Computers playa vital role in education and the movement and flow of information.1lnformation, 
when harnessed, brings about exchange of ideas and innovation, trade and commerce, and 
ultimately, development. 
Computer education is no longer just a lUXury which only first world countries can afford; it is in 
fact now a necessity which would define the ability of a nation to join developed countries in this 
information age or be forever be banished in the dustbin of underdevelopment. 
It is, therefore, imperative to equip our students at least with basic skills in computer operation. 
Hence, this proposed bill for mandatory computer education for all high school students. 
It is hoped that with this critical training and with knowledge and expertise gained from the use 
of computers, together with our language skills, our workers and professionals would be able to 
maintain their competitive edge in the global marketplace and serve as the catalyst which would 
ultimately propel our country to first world status. 
Hence, the approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
SONNY" 
TRILLANES IV 
Senator 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
486 
S.No. __ _ 
Introduced by Sen. Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
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REQUIRING MANDATORY COMPUTER EDUCATION IN ALL PUBLIC AND 
PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOLS AND FOR OTHER RELATED PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title.- This act shall be known as the "Mandatory Computer Education Act 
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of 2013 ". 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy.- It shall be the policy of the State to foster and promote 
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education utilizing adv~cements in science and technology that will ensure adequ~te computer 
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education among all high school students. 
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SEC. 3. Mandatory Computer Education. - All public and private high schools shall 
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establish and maintain a computer facility system that will provide and ensure the access of all 
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students to computers. For the purpose of this Act, "computer education" shall refer to the basic 
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training in computer operations as wen as in the use of basic computer programs such as word 
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processing, database encoding aud spreadsheets programs. 
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SEC. 4. Curriculum.- The Department of Education (DepEd), in consultation with the 
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Commission on Information and Communication Technology (CICT) shall develop the 
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appropriate computer education modules which shall be included as part of the regular 
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curriculum of secondary public aud private schools all over the country. 
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SEC. 5. Training. - If and when necessary, the National Computer Center (NCC) shall 
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train qualified DepEd personnel in every public and private high school to enable them to serve 
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as instructors and/or facilitators for computer education classes. 
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SEC. 6. - Iinplementing Rules and Regulations. - The DepEd in coordination with the 
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CICT and the NCe shall formulate the necessary guidelines and promulgate rules and 
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regulations implementing the provisions ofthis Act. 
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SEC. 7. Allocations for Computers. - The DepEd, in consultation with the CICT and the 
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Nee, shall determine the total capital outlay necessary to provide computers for all public high 
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schools in the country (which still do not have computers) over a period of three (3) years. The 
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same shall be proportionally distributed per legislative district in accordance with their share of 
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student enrollment relative to the total population. 
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SEC. 8. Computers for Private High Schools. -The DepEd shall henceforth make it a 
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mandatory requirement for all persons and/or entities applying for registration and/or 
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accreditation to establish private high schools to set-up the appropriate computer laboratory 
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and/or computer system which will adequately meet the computer education needs of their 
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students. Likewise, the DepEd shall ensure that all existing Private High Schools will set-up their 
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own computer system and/or computer laboratory within a period of three (3) years from the 
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issuance of the implementing rules and regulations of this Act as a precondition for their 
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continued operation. 
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SEC. 9. Appropriation. - Such sum as may be necessary for 
th~ immediate 
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implementation of the provisions of this act is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any 
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funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated. Thereafter, funds for its 
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implementation shall be included in the regular appropriations of the DepEd, the CITC and the 
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Nee. 
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SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders or parts thereof 
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified 
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accordingly. 
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SEC. 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, other provisions not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect 15 days after its complete publication in 
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at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation, 
Approved, 
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