Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
1° Regular Session

House Bill No. 2096

Introduced by Honorable Danilo E. Suarez

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines, to be globally competitive, needs to modernize its
information technology and comprehensively implement a computer literacy
education program in both the elementary and high school levels. The private
education sector has long been introducing its student population to computers,
but the public schools, which educate the majority of our young people, remain
lagging behind

Almost always, the culprit is lack of funds to pursue and implement
modernization measures in the educational system. Every year, general
appropriations for the Department of Education increase, but still lack, in funds
for the basics — construction of school buildings, increase in the number of
teachers, trainings, printing and/or purchase of new textbooks, among others.
Computer literacy education is not a top priority. With the country and the rest of
the world reeling to Information Age, a concrete and decisive step should be
done to uplift the quality of our public education to international standards.

This bill proposes to make it mandatory for all public schools in the country
to have a comprehensive education program, in all levels. This bill likewise
mandates sufficient funding for the program, as the same shall be included in the
General Appropriations Act. With this, it is expected that our public schools will
produce quality and computer-literate graduates. It is the call of the times. Our
youth need not lag behind their counterparts in the private schools, even more
those from other countries and give them the opportunity to possess a high
literacy level in this era of information technology.

In view thereof, approval of this bill is earnestly and urgently sought.

Ce ey

DANILO E. SUAREZ
Representative
3 District, Province of Quezon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2096

House Bill No.

Introduced by the Honorable Danilo E. Suarez

AN ACT CREATING A SPECIAL COMPUTER LITERACY EDUCATION
PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND FOR OTHE PURPOSES

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

Section 1, Creation of Special Computer Literacy Education Program
for Public Schools. — There is hereby created a Special Computer Literacy
Education Program for Public Schools, including state colleges and universities
hereafter referred to as the Special Program, to promote a comprehensive
computer literacy education in public schools, and utilize this knowledge as an
effective instrument for the advancement of a globally competitive citizenry
through computer technology.

Section 2, Mandatory in Primary and Secondary School Curricula. - It
shall be mandatory for all primary and secondary schools to integrate computer
education in their curricula.

Section 3. Computer Laboratory in State Colleges and Universities. —
There shall be a computer laboratory in each state college and university under
the Special Program.

Section 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of
Education, Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Science and
Technology, in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management
shall issue guidelines, rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the
purpose of this Act within one hundred twenty (120) days upon effectivity.

Section 5. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to cary out: the
Special Program shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year
following its enactment into law arid thereafter.

Section 6. Annual Report. - The Secretary of Education shall submit
within fifteen (15) days from the opening of the regular session of Congress to
the President of the Philippines, to the Senate President and the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, and to the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and
Means of both Houses of Congress, an annual report which shall include an
account of the programs, projects and detailed expenses undertaken pursuant to
this Act.


Section 7. Separability Clause. — In the event any portion or provision of
this Act is declared unconstitutional, the remainder or any provisions not affected
thereby shalll remain in force and effect

Section8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

APPROVED.