Republic of the Philippines
House Or REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5820

Introduced by Honorable Evelina G. Escudero

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish a National High School in Barangay San Antonio
(Sapa), Municipality of Pilar, Sorsogon.

In the Philippines, basic education is a right, not a privilege. Section 1,
Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution clearly provides for this:

“The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to
quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make
ible to all.”

such education a

During the past decade, the world has evolved into a knowledge-driven,
integrated society that countries all over the world have instituted various
mechanisms to cope with the changes, including a well-skilled, well-informed
citizenry. The Philippines, for example, had recently committed itself to help the
country respond to this new wave of development by reforming its system of
education. Republic Act (RA) No. 10533, also known as the “Enhanced Basic
Education Act of 2013,” provides that the State “shall create a functional basic
education system that will develop productive and responsible citizens equipped
with the essential competencies, skills and values for both life-long learning and
employment.”

To implement RA 10533, the country needs more schools to accommodate
all the students. There is still a massive shortage in classrooms and school facilities
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which hampers the implementation of the government’s efforts to promote
functional literacy. In rural areas like the Municipality of Pilar, there are only
eight public high schools serving 49 barangays, most of which are situated in the
town proper or “poblacions.” This poses a problem to the growing number of
graduating elementary students in Barangay San Antonio (Sapa) who will proceed
to high school in the years to come. The existing public high schools are far from
San Antonio and sending the children to these schools would mean additional
expenses for the residents in the form of transportation and food allowance.
Establishing the San Antonio National High School will not only benefit the
residents of the barangay but children from nearby areas as well.

Nation-building rests solely on the capabilities of our youth. Suffice it to
say, the country needs well-educated masses.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

Maal as

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Republic of the Philippines
House Or REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5820

Introduced by Honorable Evelina G. Escudero

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN BARANGAY SAN
ANTONIO (SAPA), MUNICIPALITY OF PILAR, PROVINCE OF
SORSOGON, TO BE KNOWN AS SAN ANTONIO NATIONAL HIGH
SCHOOL AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. There is hereby established under the supervision of the
Department of Education, a national high school in Barangay San Antonio (Sapa),
Municipality of Pilar, Province of Sorsogon to be known as San Antonio National
High School.

SEC. 2. The Secretary of Education shall immediately include in the
Department’s program the operationalization of the San Antonio National High
School, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SEC. 3. The Secretary of Education shall issue such rules and regulations
as may be necessary to carry out the purpose of this Act.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette.

Approved,

Bill Drafting Service