Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS.
‘Third Regular Session

8638

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Manila Teachers Representative
VIRGILIO S. LACSON

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

Article II, Section 17 of the 1987 Constitution provides:
“The State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture, and
sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total
liberation and development.”

In the same tenor, Article XIV, Section 1 of the Constitution further states:
“The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all
levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.”

From these State Principles enshrined in the Constitution, the State recognizes the vital role of
quality education in nation-building and development through the creation of a more responsible
and literate citizenry. To achieve such ends, the State must ensure and promote quality education
for all by ensuring that education policies, strategies and programs in all levels are well-defined
and structured in conformity with the national objectives of promulgated qualification
frameworks and standards.

However, lapses in governance in the education system of our country persist because of the
absence or lack thereof of inter-agency cooperation among key education agencies and offices in
streamlining educational policies, guidelines and standards to ensure the delivery of quality
education in all schools at all levels.

This bill aims to bridge the governance and policy-making frameworks of basic education,
higher education and technical-vocational education which shall set the general directions for
educational policies, quality standards, guidelines and supervision of learning outcomes of the
entire education system. By defining the roles and responsibilities of different education
agencies and offices, the goals and objectives set forth in the national qualifications framework
will be better achieved.

Similarly, the bill also aims to services to develop a comprehensive educational policy based on
extensive research on education and industry trends to ensure the professional and career
suitability of the students both in local and international professions and seeks to further
‘empower educational institutions to be effective partners in the delivery of educational reforms.

With the aim to continously develop the country’s human capital especially in the field of
education, the immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested.

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 8638

Introduced by Manila Teachers Representative
VIRGILIO S. LACSON

AN ACT
CREATING AN INDEPENDENT POLICY-MAKING, QUALITY ASSESSING,
RESEARCH AND REGULATORY BODY FOR THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE
PHILIPPINES TO BE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE EDUCATION RESEARCH AND
REGULATORY COMMISSION, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Philippine Education Research and
Regulatory Commission Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State shall promote the right of all citizens to affordable
quality education at all levels and shall take steps to ensure that quality education shall be
accessible to all. The State shall promote the continuing intellectual growth and development of
students in schools and professionals in industries, the advancement of research and
development, and the enrichment of responsible and effective leadership in the academe.

Towards this end, Basic Education, Undergraduate, Graduate, Post-Graduate, Technical and
Vocational Institutions shall gear their education programs in conformity with national
qualifications framework plans to achieve total human development.

SEC. 3. Purposes and Objectives. — The purposes and objectives of this Act are:

To bridge the governance and policy-making frameworks of basic education, higher
education and technical-vocational education which shall set the general directions for
educational policies, quality standards, guidelines and supervision of learning outcomes
of the entire education system;

b)

To define the roles and responsibilities of different education agencies and offices at
various levels in implementing programs, projects and services to realize the goals and
objectives set forth in the national qualifications framework;

©)

To empower educational institutions as effective partners in the delivery of educational
services at all levels in the attainment of greater access to educational opportunities;

d

To develop a comprehensive educational policy based on extensive research on education
and industry trends to ensure the professional and career suitability of the students both in
local and international professions;

G)

To guide future professionals and skilled workers in choosing appropriate professions in
key industries that are vital in nation-building and will further spur economic growth and
development;


SEC. 4. Creation of the Philippine Education Research and Regulatory Commission. ~ The
Philippine Education Regulatory Commission, which is created pursuant to this Act and
hereinafter referred to as the Commission, shall be vested with authority, accountability and
responsibility for ensuring accessibility and improving the delivery of quality basic, collegiate,
technical-vocational and higher education.

‘The Commission shall be headed by a Commissioner with five (5) Deputy Commissioners which
shall have jurisdiction on (1) public basic educational schools, (2) private basic educational
schools, (3) private higher educational institutions, (4) State Universities and Colleges (SUCs),
and (5) technical-vocational schools.

SEC. 5. Philippine Education Advisory Council. — There shall be constituted a Philippine
Education Advisory Council which shall meet with the Commission at least once a year to assist
the Commission in aligning its policies and plans with the cultural, political and socioeconomic
development needs of the country.

The Council shall be composed of the following:

(a) The Commissioner of the Philippine Education Regulatory Commission, as Presiding
Officer,

(b) The Director-General of the National Economic Development Authority, as Co-Presiding
Officer;

(c) The Secretary of Education;

(d) The Commissioner of Higher Education;

(e) The Director-General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority;
(f) The Secretary of Labor and Employment;

(g) The Chief of Philippine National Police;

(h) Two (2) Representatives from College and Universities Accrediting Associations, as
members;

(i) One (1) Representative from a recognized Student Organization from Public Educational
Institutions, as member; and,

(j) One (1) Representative from a recognized Student Organization from Private Educational
Institutions, as member

SEC. 6. Powers and Functions of the Commission. - The Commission shall exercise the
following powers and functions:

(a) Formulate develop plans, policies, priorities and programs on the entire educational
system;

(b) Set minimum standards for programs/courses of studies at all levels and to approve
standards and tests established and conducted by private industries including
registrations of educational institutions and certifications;

(c) Set standards for safety and security protocols for all academic institutions to ensure
that all-over environment including physical facilities and learning spaces in schools
and learning institutions remain conducive for learning and responsive to the safety
needs of the academic stakeholders;



(d) Establish and develop testing and evaluation programs that will assess the over-all
performance of the education system in the country and research on the data gathered
from such tests and evaluation programs to better improve education service delivery
in the country;

(e) Guide students toward the most appropriate profession by formulating a
comprehensive profession test that is programmed to gauge the capability and
intellectual acuity of students and match it to appropriate industries to ensure better
work opportunities for students in both domestic and foreign job markets while being
relevant to current and future employment needs;

(£) Regulate and supervise the admission of students on courses and programs offered by
schools and educational institutions by requiring the results of the comprehensive
profession test in order to ensure adequate student population on courses and
programs that are deemed vital to the economic direction of the country;

(g) Require schools to provide the Commission their admission policies, results of
admission exams, scores of admitted students and equivalent passing rates.

(h) Monitor, evaluate, classify, rate and rank the performance of programs and
educational institutions, schools and training centers by undertaking standardized
national competency tests to be able to appropriate incentives and/or sanctions such
as but not limited to, diminution or withdrawal of subsidy, downgrading or
withdrawal of permits or status conferred by the Commission, non-recognition of
accreditation, termination of program or certificate or closure of the school or training
center;

(i

Inspect, evaluate and review the textbooks and instructional materials used in schools
to ensure that knowledge being taught remain factual, relevant and consistent with
current existing paradigms and void of errors and inconsistencies;

G

Monitor, supervise and regulate the administration of scholarship grants and
academic financial assistance offered to qualified students in order to ensure an
equitable academic support delivery anchored on national economic development
goals and professional qualification frameworks;

(k) Publish performance ratings and ranking of schools and educational institutions
nationwide based on national competency test and other parameters with the aim to
set a national standard of measurement for school competency;

(1) Identify, support and develop potential centers of excellence in different levels and
program areas;

(m)Rationalize educational institutions and their educational offerings and set standards,
policies and guidelines for the creation, conversion and elevation of schools to
institutions of higher learning subject to budgetary limitations and the number of
institutions of higher learning in the province or region where creation, conversion or
elevation is sought to be made;

(n) Institutionalize a research development program that will monitor educational
innovations and changes in the industry to ensure the professional and career
suitability of the students both in local and international industries;

(0) To receive, collect and appropriate all sums as may be provided for the support of the
Commission in the manner it may determine in its discretion, in order to carry out the
purposes and functions of the Commission;

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(p) To receive in trust legacies, gifts and donations of real and personal properties of all
kinds, and to administer and dispose of the same when necessary for the benefit of the
Commission, and subject, if any, to the donor’s limitations, directions and
instructions.

(q) Promulgate such rules and regulations and exercise such other powers and functions
as may be necessary to carry out effectively the purposes and objectives of this Act;
and,

(®) Perform such other functions as may be necessary for its effective operations and for
the continued enhancement, growth or development of the education system.

SEC. 7. Congressional Oversight Committee on Education. To monitor and ensure the proper
implementation of all laws, implementing rules and regulations, and executive issuances relating
to education, a Congressional Oversight Committee on Education shall be constituted in
accordance with the provisions of this Act.

The Committee shall be composed of the Chairpersons of the Committee on Basic Education and
Culture and Committee on Higher and Technical Education of the Senate and the House of
Representatives and three (3) additional members from each chamber to be designated by the
Senate President and the House Speaker, respectively. One (1) of the said three (3) additional
members shall come from the minority members of each chamber.

SEC. 8. Authority to Use Generated Revenues. The Commission shall have the authority to use
generated revenues from the collection of fees from the issuance of permits, certifications and
research documents to ensure the optimal operations of the Commission. Such authority shall
however be subject to applicable budgeting and auditing laws, rules and regulation to ensure
accountability.

SEC. 8. Retention of Mandates of Other Education Agencies. The operations of the
Commission shall not be construed prejudicial to the current functions and mandates of other
existing education agencies. The mandates of other education agencies shall remain in force and
such agencies shall continue to exercise their powers and functions within their jurisdiction,

SEC. 9. Appropriations. ~ The amount necessary to implement the provisions of this Act shall
be included in the annual appropriations under the General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
superseded, repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 11. Separability Clause. — If any part of provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional
or invalid, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full
force and effect.

SEC. 12. Effectivity. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

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