Reseble of he Philepines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Queso City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 8582

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE SAFE SCHOOL
ENVIRONMENTS

The Constitution, Article Il, provides:

Section 13. The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and
shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual and social well-being. It
shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their
involvement in public and civic affairs.

Section 17. 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 human liberation and development.

ity education is necessary not only for the future of our children and our families, but for the
future of our country. A better educated citizenry and workforce are essential to compete in the
global economy and to maintain a strong democracy.

A safe school environment is a prerequisite towards achieving that goal. If the government is to
effectively provide quality education, it must provide students an environment conducive to
The continued presence in schools of vi 10 are a threat to both
teachers and other students, is incompatible with a safe learning environment. Unsafe school
environments discourage students to go to school and place those who are already at risk of
school failure for other reasons in further jeopardy.

Greater cooperation between schools, parents, law enforcement, the courts, and the community
is essential to making our schoois safe from drugs and violence. The purpose of this bilf/is to
establish innovative programs to provide safe school environments.

LUIS RAYMUND “1



; PV ren
Ruble of the Philjpsines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
G
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 8582

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE SAFE SCHOOL
ENVIRONMENTS

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 “Safe Schools Act.”

SECTION 2. Purpose. — It is the purpose of this Act to urge the Department of
Education, Culture and Sports and other educational agencies —

(A) To provide comprehensive services to victims and witnesses of school violence;
(B) To remove violent and drug selling student offenders from school premises;

(C) To report violent crimes and drug dealing on school grounds to appropriate law
enforcement authorities;

(D) To involve parents, former armed forces personnel, and community volunteers in
efforts to improve school safety; and

(E) To develop innovative programs to improve the safety of our Nation's schools and to
better serve at-risk students.

SECTION 3. Authorization of Appropriations. - There are authorized to be appropriated
such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.


SECTION 4. Program Authorized. —

(A) In General. - The Secretary of Education shall develop, establish, or conduct as may
be necessary to carry out this Act.

(B) NATURE. - The Secretary shall, for school imp!
that—
(1) Provide parent and teacher notification of crimes or drug activity occurring at
school;
(2) Provide for the suspension, delay, or restriction of driving privileges of students
who have a conviction, an adjudication in a juvenile proceeding, or a finding in a
school disciplinary proceeding, involving illegal drugs;
(3) Link educational institutions with community-based mentoring programs in order
to link individual at-risk youth with responsible, individual adults who serve as
mentors for the purpose of —
(a) Discouraging at-risk youth from using illegal drugs and dangerous weapons,
and from violence, criminal activity, and involvement in gangs;
(b) Increasing youth participation in, and enhancing the ability of such youth to
benefit from, elementary and secondary education;
(c) Promoting personai and social responsibility;
(a) Encouraging at-risk youth participation in community service and
community activities; and
(e) Providing general guidance to at-risk youth;
(4) Include cooperative efforts between the Secretary of Education and the
Secretary of National Defense to share the training and salary costs of former
members of the Armed Forces, who shall be hired as teachers and assigned to
teach in public elementary schools and secondary schools;
(5) Enhance school security measures that may include —
(a) Equipping schools with metal detectors, fences, closed circuit cameras, and
other physical security measures;
(b) Providing increased police patrols in and around elementary schools and
secondary schools;
(c) Mailing to parents at the beginning of the school year stating that the
possession of a gun or other weapon, or the sale of drugs in schools, will not be
tolerated by school authorities; and
(d) Gun hotlines.
(6) Provide protections for victims and witnesses to school crime, including
protection for attendance at schoo! disciplinary proceedings;
(7) Expel students who, on school grounds, sell drugs, or who commit a violent
offense that causes serious bodily injury of another student or teacher; and
(8) Require referral to law enforcement authorities or juvenile authorities of any
student who on school grounds—
(a) Commits a violent offense resulting in serious bodily injury; or
(b) Sells drugs.

entation, focus on programs



SECTION 5. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the reminder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall
remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of ative order, rule or regulation contrary to, of
inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended
accordingly.

SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,