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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

517

House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable CARMELO B. LAZATIN II

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The origins of international schools can be traced to 1924 when its creation was for the purpose of ensuring
that expatriates and diplomats could get a "western" education for their children, while they are working in the
foreign country they were assigned to. This purpose, however, changed over time such that at present, student
enrollment at intemational schools in South East Asia, including in the Philippines, is no longer dominated by
children of expatriates. An increasing demand for international schools is coming from local families who want a
globally-recognized and competitive quality of education for their children. According to The International School
‘Consultancy (ISC) Research for South East Asia, the demand for international schools in our region is increasingly
coming from local families and not from expairites.

In Pampanga, the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in June 29, 1991, facilitated the United States to move up
the scheduled closing of its military installation at the Clark Air Base. This is in addition to the voting by the
Senate of the Philippines in 1991 to no longer extend the Laurel-Langley Act, which permitted the U.S. military
to own bases in the Philippines, thus ending the chapter of Filipino-American co-operation in Angeles City. With
that, enrollment in local private schools and international schools we filled up by local families eager to fill the
places vacated by the children of departing America servicemen.

‘The creation of Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) in 2001 has helped to offset the huge loss of income
and jobs previously generated by the Angeles City due to the presence of the U.S. base there. At present, Clark
has become a hub for business, industry, aviation, tourism, and entertainment in Central Luzon.

These developments translated into a demographic change and a demand for an international education
that is globally-competitive. These then paved way to the establishment of Westfields International School in
1998 to cater to the educational needs of both local and foreign children living in Angeles City and its neighboring
cities and towns.

Presently, Westfields Intemational School has a total enrollment of 558 students, thirty (30%) of which are
either foreigners or half-Filipino, including Koreans, Japanese, Chinese, British, American, Korean-Russian,
Korean-Australian, Filipino-American, Filipino-British, Filipino-Australian, Filipino-Chinese, Filipino-Japanese,
and Filipino-Korean. The majority of the enrollees, comprising 70% of the total school population, remains to be
Filipinos.



Since its founding, it has been the vision of the Westfields International School to prepare its students to
become global citizens. It is known for its highest level of education, following the DepEd curriculum and
enhanced by adapting the Singapore Math and the U.S. Common Core curriculum from Kinder to 8" grade
designed to develop 21* century learning. Its relevant and flexible curriculum develops and prepares its students
for International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) for 9 and 10" grades and the Cambridge
International Examination (CIE) AS/A for 11" and 12 grades.

For these purpose, the bill aims to recognize Westfields International School as an educational institution
of international character and to grant it certain prerogatives conducive to its growth.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this Bll is eamestly sought

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1st District, Pampanga


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5517

House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable CARMELO B. LAZATIN II

AN ACT RECOGNIZING WESTFIELDS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, INC., AS AN
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION OF INTERNATIONAL CHARACTER, GRANTING CERTAIN
PREROGATIVES CONDUCIVE TO ITS GROWTH AS SUCH, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

SECTION 1. WESTFIELDS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, INC., herein referred to as the School, is
hereby declared an educational institution of intemational character authorized to operate educational programs
that primarily and principally adhere to universally accepted and recognized educational policies.

SECTION 2. WESTFIELDS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, INC., shall be the registered name of the
School and shall have as its members the schoo! management and the parents or guardians, whether of Philippine
or foreign nationality, of the children who have enrolled and attended the School for at least one school year:
Provided, That the school year shall be determined in accordance with the School's own calendar of studies and
‘work schedule: Provided, further, That the School shall be governed by a Board of Trustees, herein referred to as
the "Board," elected at large from among the corporation's members of good standing.

SECTION 3. To enable WESTFIELDS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, INC., to continue carrying out
its educational program, improve its standard of instruction and meet the special needs of the foreign temporary
resident community for quality education, it shall:

(@) accept applicants for admission, regardless of nationality, in accordance
with its own eligibility standards, and rules for admission and grade placement:
Provided, that no single alien nationality shall consist more than thirty percent
(30%) of the entire student population in a given school year, as stated in the
records of the School;

(b) be managed and administered by a School Head, who shall possess the
qualifications prescribed by the Board;

(©) upon consultation with the Secretary of Education, determine its own
curriculum and teach whatever language or languages it may deem proper and
determine the amount of fees and assessments which may be reasonably imposed
upon its students, to maintain or conform to the School's standard of education:

(d) maintain standards of education compatible with those obtained in similar
schools of generally recognized standing;


(©) employ its own teaching and management personnel selected by the Board
either locally or abroad, from the Philippines or other countries, such foreign
personnel being exempt from laws that impose nationality restrictions on control
and administration of educational institutions, except laws that have been or will
be enacted for the protection of employees: Provided, That such exemption shall
‘not extend to their liability for income taxes;

(D promote international friendship, goodwill and understanding among the
‘members of the foreign community and the citizens of the Philippines; and

(g) not teach anything derogatory to the prestige and well-being of the
Philippines and its people, nor those which will subvert its institutions and
government.

SECTION 4, The Secretary of Education shall issue such rules as may be necessary to carry out the
provisions of this Act.

SECTION 5. If any clause, sentence, paragraph or part of this Act is subsequently declared
‘unconstitutional, the validity of the remaining provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least.
two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.