Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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‘Quezon City, Metro Manila RECEIVED
Twentieth Congress SATE 4 275.
First Regular Session nT

House Bill No.__ 1262

Introduced by Honorable Roy M. Loyola

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Science and technology has always been the bedrock of our modern civilization
and holds the key to the progress and development of any nation.
Unfortunately, records show that there is a decline in science and math
education in the Philippines as evidenced by the poor performance of Filipino
students in international assessments for Science and Mathematics.

In 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), the
Philippines took the second-lowest spot in Science and Mathematics from 79
countries that participated. In another international test, the 2019 report of the
Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS), our Grade 4
students obtained the lowest scores in Mathematics and Science among the 58
countries involved in the study. In Mathematics, only 19% of Filipino students
were on the Low benchmark, which means that they had “some basic
mathematical knowledge,” while 81% did not even reach this level. As for
Science, 13% of Filipino students were also on the Low benchmark, which
means they had “limited understanding of scientific concepts and limited
knowledge of foundational science facts,” while 87% did not even reach this
level. The Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) 2019 also
showed that only 17 percent of Grade 5 learners met the minimum standards
in mathematics expected for the end of primary.

In the PISA 2022, Philippines remain among the world’s weakest in math,
reading and science, new findings by the Program for International Student

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Assessment (PISA) showed, with recent test scores showing no significant
improvement from the country's performance in 2018.

There is a seemingly unanimous observation from Filipino scientists that the
state of the country's Science and Technology remains weak. The Philippines
ranks low in terms of technological capacity as seen in the shortage of scientists
and engineers doing R&D (Research and Development).

Clearly, there is a need to strengthen the quality of Science and Technology
education in the country and support the country's demand for scientists,
technical researchers, technologists, engineers, and policy leaders. This bill is
filed to support the government's efforts and commitment to address the issues
and gaps in attaining quality basic education through the establishment of
national science high schools in the country.

The creation of Carmona City National Science High School in the City of
Carmona, Province of Cavite, aims to provide equitable access to quality
education in the pure and applied sciences and technology for all Filipino
students to nurture future generations of scientists and other professionals who
will serve the nation as catalysts for scientific, technological, and industrial
progress. It shall serve as a specialized school at the secondary level that shall
harness the science and technology prowess of the Filipino youth, not only in
Carmona but the entire country as well.

Thus, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

Fifth District, Cavite


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

Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No._ 1262
Introduced by Honorable Roy M. Loyola

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL IN THE CITY OF
CARMONA, PROVINCE OF CAVITE, TO BE KNOWN AS THE
CARMONA CITY NATIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and 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 science high school in the City of
Carmona, Province of Cavite, to be known as the “Carmona City National
Science High Schoo!”

SEC. 2. The Secretary of Education shall immediately include in the
Department's program the operationalization of the Carmona City National
Science High School, the funding of which shall be included in the General
Appropriations Act.

SEC. 3. Within ninety (90) days from the approval of this Act, the
Secretary of Education shall formulate the rules and regulations implementing
the provisions of this Act. Such implementing rules and regulations shall provide
for the school’s organization, administration, operations and management, in
accordance with Republic Act No. 9155, or the “Governance of Basic Education
Act of 2001", Republic Act No. 10533, or the “Enhanced Basic Education Act of
2013”, and other basic education-related laws.

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SEC. 4. All laws, decrees, executive orders and proclamations, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed, or
amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 6. If any provision of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, the
remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,