THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILLIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
S .  No. E890 
Introduced by Senate Edgardo J. Angara 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The world has shrunk into a single global village. 
Advances in 
science 
and 
technology 
have 
made 
this 
possible. 
Modern 
telecommunications and modes of transportation have facilitated 
simultaneous and fast exchanges of ideas, information and resources 
among nations. 
This is the global technological and scientific setting 
which confronts the Philippines today. 
In our country's strides to regain lost economic grounds, our 
people need to be attuned to the latest developments in science and 
technology. 
The Filipino youth must be scientifically and technically 
prepared so that their innate talents may be fully harnessed for national 
development. 
The proposed bill, the basics of computer applications and 
programming will be integrated in the school curriculum. A Board on 
Computer Education is created. Private sectors' participation is enlisted 
through the grant of fiscal incentives to private sector participants. A 
voucher system is institutionalised with respect to the country's nineteen 
(19) poorest provinces to make these provinces at par with the rest of the 
country in terms of computer literacy. 
Community linkages among the 
participants are likewise enjoined to hasten the nationwide upgrading of 
computer skills. 
In short, this bill is intended to prepare the Filipino youth to meet 
the technological challenges of this new country. 
Approval of this bill is, thus, earnestly requested. 
EDGARDO J. ANGARA 


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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 1 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
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S E N A T E  
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IO9 
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator Edgardo J. Angara 
AN ACT 
TO INTEGRATE COMPUTER EDUCATION PROGRAM INTO THE 
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
Sec. 1. DecZaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State 
to promote functional computer literacy in all schools, at the earliest 
possible stage, and in a manner that is most efficient and effective in 
producing a population that is highly skilled in the creation, use and 
manipulation of computer software. 
In this regard, private sector 
initiative and participation shall always be encouraged to achieve this 
policy objective. 
Sec. 2. Board on Computer Education; Creation, Power and 
Functions. - A Board on Computer Education, hereafter referred to as 
Board, is hereby created to implement the provision of this Act and for 
this purpose shall have the following powers and shall have the following 
powers and shall exercise the following functions: 
a) 
Supervise the accreditation of the computer schools which 
will participate in the program; 
b) 
Assess and provide for the necessary training of the 
personnel of computer schools of methods of teaching; 
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Prepare the curriculum for compu ter-aided logic, math 
and science education in the elementay level; 
Monitor the performance of the computer schools; 
Evaluate the abilities of the students enrolled in the 
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program; 
Issue and implement all rules and regulations 
provided for in this Act; and 
Exercise all other powers and functions which may be 
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
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Sec. 3. Board Composition. - The Board shall be composed of the 
following Members: 
a) 
One (1) representative 
from the Department of 
Education, Culture and Sports to be nominated by the 
Secretaiy of Education, Culture and Sports; 3 
a 
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One (1) representative from the Commission on Higher 
Education (CHED) to be nominated by the CHED 
Chairman; 
One (1) representative from the Department of Science 
and Technology to be nominated by the Secretary of 
Department of Science and Technology; 
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d) 
. One (1) representative from the duly accredited 
professional organizations of computer programmers 
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and system analysts to be nominated by the recognized 
leadership of these organizations; 
One (1) representative from the National Economic 
Development Authority, to be nominated by the 


Secretary-General 
of 
the 
National 
Economic 
Development Authority; 
,d 
The representative from the Department of Education, Culture and 
Sports shall serve as Chairman of the Board. 
The Chairman and the Members shall be appointed by the 
President of the Republic of the Philippines for the term of five (5) years 
and shall have the rank and compensation of a Bureau Director. 
Sec. 4. Promotion of the Build-Operate-Transf~r 
$KYI') 
scheme 
and other similar arrangements. - The provision of Republic Act No. 
6957, as amended, shall be applied to the construction, operation and 
servicing of computer education and its facilities, Provided that any 
contractual arrangement that will be utilized for this purpose shall 
additionally provide for the following: 
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a) A training prograin for teachers not only on computer literacy but 
also on the maintenance and servicing of computer education 
facilities; and 
b) An apprenticeship prograin for interested students of the public 
'. school being serviced whereby they may be employed as 
apprentices for the education component or for the facilities 
maintenance component of computer education. 
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The build-operate-transfer arrangement or any other similar 
arrangements'provided for in Republic Act No. 6957, as amended, inay 
be bidded out and awarded at the school district level or at the school 
level, in accordance with the implementing rules and regulations to be 
issued by the Board. 


Sec. 5. Institutionalization of the Voucher System for 
Specialized Computer Education in the Nineteen ( 19) Poorest 
Provinces. - In addition to whatever contractual arrangements which 
may be utilized under the provisions of Section 4 hereof, there shall be 
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created a voucher system for specialized computer education in the 
country% nineteen (19) poorest provinces whereby each of these 
provinces shall be given the amount of Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000.00) 
each year from the annual budget allocated for the implementation of the 
specialized computer education program, 01- such amount as may be 
Y 
latter on provided by law. 
Students in these provinces who have completed secondary 
education shall be allowed to take competitive aptitude examinations in 
specialized computer education. 
Students who have passed such qualifying examinations, or as 
many of those who may provided funds from the annual budset, shall be 
given a voucher worth Five Thousand Pesos (P5,OOO.OO) each, or such 
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amount as may be later on provided law, to enroll in a computer school 
of his or her choice, to finish advanced and specialized computer courses 
such as, but not limited to, advanced programming, computer-aided 
design, hardware design, networking, or such other courses that may be 
identified by the Board. 
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Each student shall be entitled to only one voucher. The Board shall 
issue the implementing rules and regulations to ensure that students do 
not enroll in more than one school, or that enrollment figures reflect 
actual enrollment. Student found guilty of violating this one-voucher-per- 
student rule shall be subject to the penalties provided hereunder. 


SEC. 6. 
Accreditation of Computer Education Service 
Providers. - All entities participating in the activities described in 
Sections 4 and 5 hereof must be accredited by the Board as bona fide 
participants. The Accreditation shall be based on the following criteria: 
.) 
(a) The curriculum meets the standards provided for by the 
Board; 
(b) The quality of the computers and other peripherals to be 
provided and the other physical infrastructures to be 
built, operated or used which must ensure quality of 
education and minimum health and safety-standards; 
(c) The capability of the service provider's instructors. The 
Board will issue minimum standards for evaluating 
teaching ability; and 
(d) With respect to renewal of applications, the performance 
of the students on performance measures to,be designed 
by the Board. 
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Sec. 7. Curriculum of Publicly-funded Computer Education. -- 
The computer literacy program acknowledges the vital participation of 
the private sector in the scheme, but the curriculum shall be prepared by 
the Board. The curriculum should inalte use of computer-assisted 
education to teach elementary students the basic courses of math, 
science and logic. These courses will prepare the student for the 
demands of computer programming and system analysis, as well as 
strengthen the learning the student receives from the formal educational 
'? 
system. The Board will also prepare the curriculum for computer 
programming and popular software utilization, which will be taught at 
the high school level. 


Sec. 8. 
Monitoring and Incentives on Performance. -- 
Monitoring of the program shall be done to maintain the quality of 
education being given to the students. Performance measures shall 
include, but not be limitedto, the following: 
a) Periodic renewal of accreditation or license to operate; 
b) Testing; 
c) National competitions; and 
d) Unannounced visits to participating schools. 
The Board shall formulate or commission the formulation of Q 
performance index which will be used in assessing the Ferformance of 
the participating schools. The latest results of the evaluation of all 
schools shall be published before the start of every school year. The 
Board shall formulate a system of rewards and incentives to promote 
excellence among the service providers. 
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See. 9. 
Tax- free Importation sf Computer Hardware and 
Software. -- All entities who have been accredited, or who have obtained 
contracts as participants in the activities provided for in Sections 4 and 5 
hereof shall be given fiscal incentives. 
" These incentives shall include the tax- free importation of all 
computer hardware, software, peripherals and documentary materials. 
However, these incentives shall be limited to imports that are intended 
for the schools. These incentives shall last for a period of not more than 
ten years foqn the effectivity of this Act. 
! 
The Board shall issue the implementing rules and regulations for 
the availment of the incentives described herein. 


Sec. 10. Phased Implementation -- The computer education 
program shall be implemented in phases to ensure that program and 
infrastructure requirement shall be met, to prepare the private sector for 
the demand for computer schools and equipment, and to prime-up the 
local demand for computer-literate workers. 
i 
The implementation shall be done in accordance with the following 
’ 
objectives: 
(a) 
The graduation, one year from the effectivity of this Act, 
of a corps of high-school students who c”an manipulate 
the most popular computer application programs in the 
areas of word processing, database encoding and 
spreadsheets; 
The graduation, three years from the effectivity of this 
Act, of a corps of high schools students who are not only 
literate in the applications described in paragraph (a) 
herein, but also in basic programming and system 
analysis; and 
The immediate use of computer-aided education which 
complement the academic instructions in math, science 
and logic. 
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See. 11. Community Linkages. -- Other software and computer 
programming may be taught by the schools and service providers under 
a community link-up system whereby additional training on the use of 
special software can be paid for by interested business or manufacturing 
firms in the community. 
The business community will also be 
encouraged to expand and update their manufacturing procedures to 


achieve efficiency' through computerization or computer-controlled 
processes. 
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See. 12. Budget and Funding. -- 
An initial budget of One 
Hundred Million Pesos (P100,000,000.00) to be disbursed from the 
earnings of 
the lotteries conducted 
by the Philippine Charity 
Sweepstakes Office is hereby appropriated for the payment of the 
services to be provided under Sections 4 and 5 of this Act as well as for 
the expenses related to the establishment and operation of the Board. 
Thereafter, the funds necessary for the continuous impreinentation of 
this Act shall be included in the yearly General Appropriations Act. 
The administrative expenses related to the implenientation of this 
Act shall not be more than three percent (3%) of the annual 
appropriations for this Computer Educations Program. 
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See. 13, Penalties. -- Any person found guilty of violating the 
provisions of Section 5 hereof shall be meted the following penalties: 
" (a) 
The student shall pay the full cost of tuition, with 
interest thereon. The payment may be in cash, or in its 
I 
equivalent in terms of community service. 
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(b) 
The accreditation of the service providers found guilty of 
, 
padding their enrollment figures, or for knowingly 
permitting a student to violate the provisions of Section 5 
hereof shall be suspended, for the first offense, without 
prejudice to the payment of twice the amount of 


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reimbursement resulting froin the padded enrollment as 
fine. 
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Sec. 14. Rules and Regulations. - Within forty five (45) days 
from the effectivity of this Act, the Board shall promulgate the necessary 
rules and regulations for the effective implementation of the provisions of 
this Act. 
Sec. 15, Separability Clause. -- In the event that any provision of 
this Act is declared unconstitutional, the validity of the o s e r  provisions 
shall not be affected by such declaration. 
Sec. 16. Repealing Clause. -- All laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
regulations, or portions thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
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See. 17. Effectivity. -- This law shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in two (2) national newspaper of general circulation. 
" Approved, 
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