Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City
18™ CONGRESS.

First Regular Session

6723

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representative EVELINA G. ESCUDERO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The outbreak of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID 19) has compelled our
government to resort to the drastic measure of enforcing community quarantine so as to
contain the spread of the said highly infectious disease. Consequently, schools all over
the country are closed.

As the world is still grappling to find the cure, the shutdown of our education
system will most likely be extended. Just recently, the Department of Education (DepEd)
has announced that the new school year, which usually starts in June, will start in the last
week of August this year.

During the hearing of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education
(CHTE) on April 30, 2020, the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations
(COCOPEA) reported that in School Year (SY) 2018-2019, there are 30.7M learners in the
country, of which 27.8M are enrolled in elementary and high schools and 29M are
enrolled in colleges and universities. The report further indicated that 16% of the students
in elementary and high school are in private schools, and 54% of the students in college
are in private colleges and universities.

The extended closure of schools and the delayed opening of classes will adversely
affect private schools as they incur huge losses due to uncollected tuition whilst
continuing to pay for the salaries of their teachers and personnel. In addition to the
unrealized tuition due to the delayed opening of the school year, private schools will
most likely see significant decrease in their enrollment. Teachers and personnel in public
schools are no exemption as well, particularly those who serve under contract, job order
or under a “no work, no pay” arrangement.

Thus, in recognition of the significant role of education workers, both teaching and
non-teaching, play in the development of our nation’s human capital, this bill seeks to


offer special assistance to teachers and staff of private schools and public schools who are
so greatly affected by school closure due to public health emergencies and other crises.

Needless to state, human capital is the primary force that drives national
development. Hence, measures to safeguard the well-being of our educators must be
adopted.

In view of the foregoing, consideration of this bill to address the intended purpose
is respectfully requested.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City
18™ CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.__8723

Introduced by Representative EVELINA G. ESCUDERO

AN ACT
PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO WORKERS IN THE
EDUCATION SECTOR AFFECTED BY SCHOOL CLOSURE DURING
PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY AND OTHER ANALOGOUS CASES

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

Section. 1. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared as a policy of the State,
consistent with the constitutional provisions on education and national development, to
protect and sustain the workforce in the education sector even in times of public health
emergencies and other similar crises. As such, school teachers and personnel who work
for education and ultimately national development must be accorded the necessary
support for their livelihood.

Sec. 2. Definition of Terms.

a.) “Public health emergency” is as an occurrence or imminent threat of an illness
or health condition, caused by bio terrorism, epidemic or pandemic disease, or (a) novel
and highly fatal infectious agent or biological toxin, that poses a substantial risk of a
significant number of human facilities or incidents or permanent or long-term disability!
resulting in a prolong closure of school facilities and other learning institutions.

b.) “Other analogous cases” means any occurrence or imminent threat of any

calamity or disaster, natural or man-made, having the same effect of prolonged closure
of schools and other learning institutions.

1 WHO/DCD, 2001


c) “Prolonged closure” refers to the closure of schools and other learning
institutions with a minimum period of at least one (1) month.

Sec. 3. Financial Assistance to Private School Teachers and Non-Teaching
Personnel. Teachers and non-teaching personnel of private schools and other learning
institutions which have prolonged closure due to public health emergency or other
analogous cases shall receive financial assistance in an amount equivalent to the
prevailing applicable wage rate promulgated by the respective Regional Tripartite Wages
and Productivity Boards or as may be determined by the Department of Education
(DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) taking into consideration the
individual financial standings of the affected schools and other learning institutions,
whichever is higher.

The DepEd and the CHED, as the case may be, shall formulate and establish the
policies and mechanisms for the identification of qualified grantees.

Sec. 4. Financial Assistance to Job Order or Contract of Service Teachers and
Non-Teaching Personnel in Public Schools.- In the case of teachers and non-teaching
personnel in public schools employed under a job order or contract of service under a
“no work, no pay” arrangement shall continue to receive their monthly or daily
compensation, as the case may be, as a form of financial assistance from the government.

Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The DepEd and the CHED shall
promulgate the corresponding implementing rules and regulations of this Act within
sixty (60) days from the date of its effectivity.

Sec. 6. Appropriations. - The funds necessary to implement the provisions of this
‘Act shall be sourced from the respective budgets of the CHED and the DepEd, as the case
may be, in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, and rules and regulations
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified

accordingly.

Sec. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Actis held invalid or
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and
subsisting.

Sect. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette.

Approved,

 Gaudiel