Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3717

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Bill seeks to deliver educational advancement to the Filipino studentry through the
use of alternative means of instruction such as print, radio, television, and other multi-
media learning and teaching technologies that allow students to study on their own
without having to regularly attend class in the conventional classroom setup.

This alternative learning system adheres with the constitutional mandate of providing
access to relevant quality education through the employment of an alternative learning
system that would enable the youth including adults to overcome geographical,
socioeconomic and/or physical constraints to their completion of secondary and tertiary
education including advance studies.

The prevalence of computers or the so called artificial intelligence and the rapidly changing
society and the demand to the globally competitive cannot be ignored. It has to be
addressed by keeping at par with the high tech genre.

This legislation gives birth to ELearning as an alternative mode of learning. This Cyber

Education Bill aims to institutionalize the Open ELearning School System thereby defying
hindrances in the effective, systematic and advance means of computer education.

«Lal

RA S. TAMBUNTING <

Hence, immediate passage of this legislation is urgently sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3717

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE OPEN ELECTRONIC LEARNING SCHOOL SYSTEM
IN THE PHILIPPINES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Open ELearning Schoo!
System Act of 2019."

SECTION 2. Dec/aration of Policy. — It is hereby declared that the policy of the State
‘to access relevant quality education through the employment of an alternative learning
system that would enable the youth including adults to overcome geographical,
socioeconomic and/or physical constraints to their completion of secondary education and
tertiary education including advance studies.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — For the purposes of this Act, the following terms
are hereby defined:

a) Open Electronic Learning School or ELearning - a system of delivering educational
services to high school, college and advance studies students utilizing print, radio,
television and computer-based communications, satellite broadcasting,
teleconferencing, and other multimedia learning and teaching technologies that
allow students to study on their own without having to regularly attend class in
conventional classrooms.

b)

Distance Learning Program - an educational program whereby the teaching and
learning processes are accomplished through self-instructional materials that allow
independent study, multi-channel learning and school-family community
partnership. ‘

9

Cyber Ed / Cyber Education - computer based instructional system using active
online modules and materials accessible through the internet.


d) Diploma / Non dipioma - certification of academic achievement acquired through
ELearning.

e) Conduit Schools / University and other Learning Institutions - partner schools
locally or internationally located.

f) Accreditation Certificate - MOA between the Open System and the Conduit
Schools/university and other Learning institutions.

g) ELearning Centers - Distance learning centers shall be established in pilot areas.
The Center is a room of building where the distance learners can conduct
researches or gather additional information on topics under study.

SECTION 4. Institutionalization of the Open School System. - To carry out the
above-declared policy, the Open School hereinafter referred to as the system is hereby
institutionalized in the Philippines in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

SECTION 5. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to public Secondary and tertiary
educational institutions with existing distance learning programs and all other such
institutions that shall later be authorized as qualified to implement the system.

All existing programs and projects of the Department of Education regarding dropout
intervention and poverty alleviation through education shall be part of the Open ELearning
School System.

SECTION 6. Coverage. — The System shall be open to all youth and adults who have
finished elementary education and high school qualifiers of the Philippine Educational
Placement Test (PEPT).

SECTION 7. Administration and Supervision. - The Department of Education
(DepEd) shall administer and supervise the System. The DepEd shall create a program
attached to the Office of the Secretary under the Office for the Cyber Ed Program with
following duties and functions:

1) Formulate the objectives and basic policies of the System;

2) Formulate, adopt and supplement programs that will make the System effective
and productive;

3) Monitor and evaluate existing distance learning programs for the integration with
the system;

4) Develop and validate prototype instructional distance learning materials;

5) Shall modify the adopted curriculum, devise a rating system, instructional
strategies and materials;

6) Consult and collaborate with other DepEd divisions, local government units, non-
government organizations (NGOs) and other private agencies for the effective
operation of the system;


7) promulgate the necessary guidelines, rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of the System;

8) Recommend to the DepEd the annual budget of the System for inclusion in the
General Appropriations Act for the year;

9) Linkage with conduit schools, university and other learning institution; and

10)Perform such other tasks as may be necessary to attain the objectives of the
System. :

SECTION 8. Collaboration Between the Department of Education (DepEd) and
Private Learning Institutions Whether Local or Abroad. - The DepEd shall sign a
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) defining the role of the government vis conduit
schools, university or other learning institutions in the operation of the system in order to
ensure maximum success.

SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Department of Education
(DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Science and
Technology (DOST), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Department of Budget and
Management (DBM) and other related agencies shall issue the necessary rules and
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within a period of ninety (90) days
after its approval.

SECTION 10. Oversight Committee. — Upon prior consultation with the Committees
‘on Education of the Senate and the House of Representatives, an Oversight Committee
shall be formed and shall evaluate annual reports submitted by the Program.

SECTION 11. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the initial implementation
of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriation of the Distance
Learning Program of the DepEd. Thereafter, such as may be necessary for its continued
implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriation Act.

SECTION 12. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 14. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect immediately after its publication in
the Official Gazette or any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,