FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 14, Section 1 provides that: 
“Section I. That State shall protect and promote the right of all 
citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriafe steps 
to make such education accessible to all.” 
As our nation progresses further into globalization, we have continuously 
been challenged to improve ours kills. Our students, instead of rising to the 
challenge, seem to be left behind, as evidenced by the poor national 
achievement test scores. As we take on the great information superhighway, or 
the Internet we need to develop not only our skill to read, but also our skill to 
write in order to better communicate with the rest of the world. 
Good writing skills are essential to employment, both locally and 
internationally. Furthermore, it is also important in the performance of civic duty 
and participation in the national development. 
The Department of Education, for all their effort, at times has struggled to 
increase the quality of education due to lack of personnel and expertise. 
However, the Philippines have been blessed with numerous non-profit 
organizations that aim to develop the writing skills of our youth. 
This bill seeks to encourage the cooperation between the government and 
the private sector in developing a program that will develop the writing skills of 
the youth. 
MANNY v 
V LLAR 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE} 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
} 
Second Regular Session 
S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
AN ACT 
TO CREATE A NATIONAL WRITING PROGRAM 
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 "National 
Writing Program Act of 2009." 
SEC. 2. Purposes. -This Act aims - 
A. to support and promote the expansion of a network of sites so that 
teachers in every region of the country will have access to a national 
writing program; 
B. to ensure the consistent high quality of the sites through ongoing 
review, evaluation, and technical assistance; 
C. to support and promote the establishment of programs to disseminate 
effective practices and research findings about the teaching of writing; 
and 
D. to coordinate activities assisted under this subpart with activities 
assisted under this Act. 
SEC. 3. Authorization. - The Secretary of Education, hereater referred 
to as "Secretary," is authorized to award a grant to a nonprofit educational 
organization that has as its primary purpose the improvement of the quality of 
student writing and learning hereafter referred to as the "Grantee," to improve the 
teaching of writing and the use of writing as a part of the learning process in our 
country's classrooms. 
SEC. 4. Grant Requirements. -The grant shall provide that- 
A. the Grantee will enter into contracts with institutions of higher 
education or other nonprofit educational providers, hereafter in this 
section referred to as "Contractors," under which the contractors will 
agree to establish, operate, and provide the non-government share of 
the cost of teacher training programs in effective approaches and 
processes for the teaching of writing. 
B. funds made available by the Secretary to the Grantee pursuant to any 
contract entered into under this section will be used to pay the 
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government share of the cost of establishing and operating teacher 
training programs as provided in this Act; and 
C. the Grantee will meet such other conditions and standards as the 
Secretary determines to be necessary to assure compliance with the 
provisions of this Act and will provide such technical assistance as may 
be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 5. Teacher Training Program. - The teacher training programs 
described in the previous section shall: 
A. be conducted during the school year and during the summer months; 
B. train teachers who teach from grades kindergarten through college; 
C. select teachers to become members of a writing project teacher 
network whose members will conduct writing workshops for other 
teachers in the area served by each writing project site; and 
D. encourage teachers from all disciplines to participate in such teacher 
training programs. 
SEC. 6. Government Share. - Except as provided in paragraph A or B, 
the term “government share” means 50 percent of such costs to the contractor. 
A. WAIVER -The Secretary may waive the provisions of this section on a 
case-by-case basis if the National Advisory Board described in Section 
7 determines, on the basis of financial need, that such waiver is 
necessary. 
B. MAXIMUM - The National Advisory Board shall determine the 
maximum amount of the government share of the costs of teacher 
training programs conducted pursuant to this Act. 
SEC. 7. National Advisory Board. - The National Writing Project shall 
establish and operate a National Advisory Board. 
A. COMPOSITION -The National Advisory Board shall consist of - 
1. national educational leaders; 
2. leaders in the field of writing; and 
3. such other individuals as the Grantee deems necessary 
B. DUTIES - The National Advisory Board established pursuant to this 
section shall - 
1. advise the Grantee on national issues related to student writing and 
the teaching of writing; 
2. review the activities and programs of the Grantee; and 
3. support the continued development of the Grantee. 
SEC. 8. Evaluation. - The Secretary shall conduct an independent 
evaluation by grant or contract of the teacher training programs administered 
pursuant to this subpart . such evaluation shall specify the amount of funds 
expended by the Grantee and each contractor receiving assistance under this 
section for administrative costs. The results of such evaluation shall be made 
available to the appropriate committees of Congress. 
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SEC. 9. Application Review. - 
A. REVIEW BOARD -The Grantee shall establish and operate a National 
Review Board that shall consists of - 
1, leaders in the field of research in writing; and 
2. such other individuals as the Grantee determines necessary. 
B. The National Review Board shall - 
1, review all applicants for assistance under this subsection; and 
2. recommend applications for assistance under this subsection for 
funding by the Grantee. 
SEC. I O .  Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, such 
amount as hereby necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the 
National Treasury. 
SEC. 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise 
affected shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SEC. 12. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
following its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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