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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 3834

Introduced by Representative Rex Gatchalian

AN ACT
MANDATING THE PROVISION OF ONE LAPTOP FOR EVERY LEARNER
ENROLLED UNDER THE K TO 12 PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION, ESCALATING THE PROVISION OF RELIABLE AND SECURE
INTERNET CONNECTION FOR THE USE OF SUCH LAPTOPS,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The goal has always been the same ~ “Quality Education for All’. This is
enshrined in the 1987 Constitution which provides that the State shall protect
and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at alll levels, and shall

take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.!

In pursuit of this goal, the Philippine Congress passed thousands of laws to
make quality education more accessible to all - from highest budget
allocations to education in the General Appropriations Act, free college
education, alternative learning system, and up to numerous bills establishing

schools in rural areas.

In this age, technology has impacted almost every aspect of life, and education
is no exception.? The goal is still the same, but new problems that cause
educational inequalities must be addressed.

» Section 1, Article XIV, The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines
2 Purdue University, How Has Technology Changed Education? See
https: //online.purdue.edu /blog/education /how-has-technology-changed-education,

a

DATE August 18, 2022


In the Philippines, there were few universities that offered online classes even
before the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Best example is the University
of the Philippines - Open System. The OPOU was established on 1995, it
pioneered in online teaching and learning and continues to play a leading role
in the study and practice of open learning and distance education in the
country. However, the COVID-19 crisis now has forced education systems
worldwide to find alternatives to face-to-face instruction. As a result, online
teaching and learning have been used by teachers and students on an

unprecedented scale. Online learning became the norm.

The unprecedented shift to online learning increased the educational
inequalities in the country. This is primarily due to two reasons: (1) lack of
access to online learning materials and instruction, and (2) lack of access to
reliable and safe Internet connection.

A Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed that around 42% percent of
school-age Filipinos do not have any distance learning device. Another SWS
survey showed that 31% of Filipino families with members studying through
online learning have weak internet connection, 21% percent have ‘somewhat’
weak internet connection, and another 9% percent have ‘very’ week

connection.®

The objectives of this bill are therefore straightforward. To enable all learners
in the public schools, their homes, and other remote locations to receive
quality digital and distance learning at all times and under all circumstances,
the DepEd shall provide a laptop for every learner enrolled under the K to 12

Program in public schools, and the Department of Information and

* OPOU, About UPOU. See https: / /www.upou.edu.ph/home/.

* OECD, Strengthening online learning when schools are closed: The role of families and teachers in supporting.
students during the COVID-19 crisis. See https: / /www.oecd.org/coronavirus/policy-responses/strengthening.
online-learning-when-schools-are-closed-the-role-of-families-and-teachers-in-supporting-students-during.-the-
covid-19-crisis-ctecbabe/.

5 PhilStar, Four of 10 Filipino students lack distance learning tech. See

bttps://wow philstar.com /headlines/ 2021/03/03 /208 1545 four-10-flipino-students-lack-distance-learning-

t

© inquirer.Net, SWS: 31% of families with distance learners have weak internet connection. See

https: / /newsinfo.inquirer.net/ 1403566 / sws-31-of-families-with-distance-learners-have-weak-internet-connection.



Communications Technology shall escalate the provision of a reliable and
secure Internet access suitable to the needs of learners for digital and distance
learning by:
(1) accelerating the installation, deployment and activation of the free
public wi-fi in all public basic education institutions as mandated
under Republic Act No. 10929 or the “Free Internet Access in Public
Places Act”, and
(2) escalating the building of the national infrastructure for information
and communications technology by mandating the National
Telecommunications Commission to identify the locations for the
construction of telecommunications tower sites, giving due priority to
the missionary areas, and require Public Telecommunications Entities
(PTEs) to complete the building of the targeted number of towers within
ity of this Act.

two years from the effecti

PTEs are also mandated under this bill to provide free access to DepEd’s
online educational platforms, digital libraries, and other online knowledge
hubs and sites. No data charges shall be incurred in the download of data
from these sites and applications. They shall also create systems and
establish procedures to make available special sim cards, plans, and services
for digital and distance education at minimal cost and with no data caps. For
learners whose parents are listed as beneficiaries under the “Listahanan” of
the Department of Social Welfare and Development, they shall be provided
subsidized data plans by the DepEd for the use of the prescribed laptops.

In view of the foregoing, I earnestly seek t#@yupport of this Congress

for the approval of this bill.

|. REX GATCHALIAN
Representative

1% District, Valenzuela City


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 3834

————

Introduced by Representative Rex Gatchalian

———_————————————————————————

AN ACT
MANDATING THE PROVISION OF ONE LAPTOP FOR EVERY LEARNER
ENROLLED UNDER THE K TO 12 PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION, ESCALATING THE PROVISION OF RELIABLE AND SECURE
INTERNET CONNECTION FOR THE USE OF SUCH LAPTOPS,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “One Learner,
One Laptop Act”.

Sec. 2. Declaration of Principles. - It is the policy of the State to promote
the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, take appropriate
steps to make such education accessible to all, and assign the highest
budgetary priority to education. The State also recognizes the vital role of
communication and information in nation-building, and shall provide the
policy environment for the full development of Filipino capability and the
emergence of communication structures suitable to the needs and
aspirations of the nation - including the aspiration for the uninterrupted
delivery of quality basic education in locations both inside and outside the
physical premises of public schools. Towards this end, the State shall ensure
that learning will continue leaving no learner behind and with minimal or no
disruption by providing the resources and capability for digital and distance
learning.


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Sec. 3. Objectives. - This Act aims to enable all learners in the public
schools, their homes, and other remote locations to receive quality digital and
distance learning at all times and under all circumstances by:
(a) providing a laptop for every learner enrolled under the K to 12 Program
in public schools under the Department of Education (DepEd); and
(b) escalating the provision of a reliable and secure Internet access suitable
to the needs of learners for digital and distance learning.

Sec. 4. Provision of Laptops; Department of Education. - The Secretary
of Education, through the Bureau of Learning Resources, shall formulate the
policies, standards, and guidelines for the implementation and management
of providing one laptop for every learner enrolled under the K to 12 Program
in public schools. It shall establish an efficient and sustainable system for the
provision of this learning resource to ensure equitable access to quality digital
learning resources online and offline.

Sec. 5. Provision of Reliable and Secure Internet Connection; Escalation
of the Building of the National Information and Telecommunications Technology
Infrastructure. ~ To ensure the availability of a reliable and secure Internet
connection suitable to the needs of learners for digital and distance learning,
the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) shall
implement measures to accelerate the installation, deployment and activation
of the free public wi-fi in all public basic education institutions as mandated
under Republic Act No. 10929 or the “Free Internet Access in Public Places
Act”.

The DICT shall likewise escalate the building of the national
infrastructure for information and communications technology (ICT) by
mandating the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to identify
the locations for the construction of telecommunications tower sites, giving
due priority to the missionary areas which remain unconnected and unserved
or underserved by the Public Telecommunications Entities (PTEs), and require
the PTEs to complete the building of the targeted number of towers within two


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years from the effectivity of this Act.

The government, through the DICT, shall formulate and implement a
system to provide financing or incentives to PTEs in the construction of
telecommunications towers in the missionary areas.

PTEs refer to entities that are duly authorized to offer voice, short
messaging system or text, mobile data, value added services, or any other
mobile telecommunications services to the public for a fee.

For purposes of this section and pursuant to Republic Act No. 11032
or the “Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act
of 2018”, all relevant government agencies and local government units are
required to process, approve, and issue permits and clearances for the
construction of telecommunications towers within seven working days.

Sec. 6. Free Access to DepEd’s Online Platforms; Special Services for
Learners. - PTEs shall provide free access to the DepEd’s online educational
platforms, digital libraries, and other online knowledge hubs and sites
without any additional financial burden on all subscribers. No data charges
shall also be incurred in the download of data from these sites and
applications.

Further, the NTC and the PTEs, in consultation with the DepEd, are
hereby mandated to create systems and establish procedures in making
available special sim cards, plans, and services for digital and distance
education at minimal cost and with no data caps, including their expedited
sale and availment.

Learners whose parents are listed as beneficiaries under the National
Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction, otherwise known as
“Listahanan”, under the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD), shall be provided subsidized data plans by the DepEd for the use of
the prescribed laptops under this Act.

Sec. 7. Implementing Agencies. - The DICT and the DSWD shall
coordinate with the DepEd and provide the necessary services, assistance,

and intervention in accordance with their respective mandates and functions


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under existing laws, rules and regulations to develop and enhance the
capacity of the DepEd to implement the provisions of this Act and
continuously deliver quality digital basic education services.

Sec. 8. Tax Incentives. - Any donation, contribution, or grant, in cash
or in kind, made by individuals or organizations for the implementation of
this Act, public or private, local or foreign, shall be exempt from the donor's
tax and the cost of which shall be considered as an allowable deduction from
the gross income of the donor in accordance with the provisions of the
National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.

Sec. 9. Mandatory Review and Impact Assessment. - The DepEd, DICT,
and DSWD shall conduct a mandatory review of the implementation of this
Act, and submit an assessment report to Congress on its impact and
effectiveness, not later than two (2) years from its effectivity and every two (2)
years thereafter.

Sec. 10. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. - There is hereby
created a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee to oversee, monitor and
evaluate the implementation of this Act. The Oversight Committee shall be
composed of five (5) members each from the Senate and from the House of
Representatives, including the Chairs of the Committees on Education and
Culture, and Finance of both Houses. The membership of the Committee for
every chamber shall have at least one (1) minority member.

Sec. 11. Appropriations. ~The amount necessary for the implementation
of this Act shall be charged against those authorized in the current
appropriations of the DepEd. Thereafter, the amount necessary for its
continued implementation shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

Sec. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ Within ninety (90) days
from the effectivity of this Act, the DepEd, in consultation with the other


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implementing agencies, shall issue the rules and regulations implementing
its provisions. The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) issued
pursuant to this section shall take effect thirty (30) days after its publication

in a newspaper of general circulation.

Sec. 13. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid
or unconstitutional, the other provisions not so declared shall remain in force

and effect.

Sec. 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, and rules and regulations
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed
or amended accordingly.

Sec. 15. Effectivity. — Notwithstanding the non-issuance of the IRR, this
Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette

or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,