Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

298

House Bill No.

Introduced by Rep. Eulogio “Amang” R. Magsaysay

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Philippine Constitution, in Section 1 of Article 14 provides that: “The State shall
protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take
appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all”. Further, Section 2(1) of the same
article provides that the State shall establish and maintain a system of free public education in the
elementary and high school levels.

Our education system claims of providing “free education” to students enrolled in all public
elementary and secondary schools, free from payment of tuition and other school fees. Aside
from the Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) fee, there are, however, other contributions that
public schools are authorized to collect from the students. These include fees considered not
covered by “tuition fee” and “other school fees” provided for by the “free public basic education’

The Department of Education (DepEd) orders the collection of such contributions “only on
voluntary basis”, and that “non-payment to these fees shall not in any case be a bar to the
enrollment or graduation of any student’. In many instances, the non-payment of such collection
by a big number of students gives certain troubles on the part of the school administration forcing
them to limit the implementation of some initiatives, or not at all, that may significantly affect the
academic advancement of the students. On the other hand, the students, realizing that their non-
payment is the cause of such trouble, find themselves uncomfortable going or staying in school,
thus resulting to absences, worse, to drop-out.

For parents who opted to send their children in public schools due to financial constraints
or difficulties of their families, the collection of such school contributions has definitely caused
them worries. Imposed upon them, and realizing the consequences of its non-payment, especially
to their children, the parents more than anybody else carry such compelling reasons to pay it or to
have it paid. At many times every school year they are being bothered how to pay their children’s
contributions such as school publication fee and student organizations’ fee. Adding to these is the
fee due for PTA where they themselves are members.

Such predicament weakens our battle for EFA -- Education for All. How can we achieve
that ultimate aim of improving the quality of basic education for every Filipino if there are such
obstacles for his/her enrolment or continued schooling? Something has to be done.

This bill reconsiders the present provision of our free public basic education. It seeks to
prescribe certain guidelines that will apply on such collection of contributions in public elementary
and secondary schools, delineating which fees are free and which are not, specifying conditions
for collection and/or payment of the latter.

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

2tm/

EULOGIO “AMANG” R. MAGSAYSAY



SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
First Regular Session )

House of Representatives
: 992
House Bill No. pe

Introduced by Rep. Eulogio “Amang” R. Magsaysay

AN ACT
PRESCRIBING CERTAIN GUIDELINES ON COLLECTION OF SCHOOL
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS,
EXPANDING THE PROVISION OF FREE PUBLIC BASIC EDUCATION THEREOF,
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared policy of the State to establish
and maintain a system of free public education in the elementary and high school levels

SECTION 2. Inclusion of Certain School Contributions Under the Provision of Free

Public Education. The following contributions which are currently authorized to be collected by
the Department of Education (DepEd) are hereby included under the provision of free education
in all public elementary and secondary schools nationwide:

a) Computer fee, test paper fee, and other similar fees representing direct costs of
instruction, training and other related activities, and for the students’ use of the
instruction and other training facilities are classified hereto as “tuition fees",

b)

Fees pertaining to school publication, student organizations, sports development and/
or athletic support, Student Technology and Entrepreneurship of the Philippines
(STEP), membership in the Boy Scout of the Philippines/Girl Scout of the Philippines
(BSP/GSP), and the likes covering the other necessary costs supportive of instruction
are considered hereto as “other school fees”,

c) Identification (ID) Cards shall be provided to students at no cost on their part, as the

school administration shall fund these from its Maintenance and Other Operating
Expenses (MOOE).

SECTION 3. Other Authorized Collections Remain but on Voluntary Basis. For the
ultimate reason of promoting the values of social awareness and involvement among students,
school contributions intended to support national initiatives for charitable or civic cause such as
Red Cross, AntiTB Fund and Alay-Lakad, may be collected by any public elementary or
secondary school. Provided, however, that it shall involve only a very minimal amount, duly
endorsed or authorized by the Department of Education (DepEd), and only on voluntary basis.


SECTION 4. PTA Contribution. Contribution due to the school’s Parents-Teachers
Association (PTA) continues as allowable collection: Provided, that the amount of contribution for
the current school-year shall be: a) caused only after presenting the Financial Report on the
previous school-year's collections; b) determined based on the current financial status of the PTA
Fund vis-2-vis the actual plan of incoming projects and other undertakings; and c) agreed upon in
a general assembly of the PTA where two-third (2/3) of its total members are present during the
meeting. Provided, further, that the collection of such agreed amount shall be purely voluntary,
where payment can be made on installment basis.

SECTION 5. Appropriation. - The President is hereby authorized to realign or transfer
any item of appropriation within the Department of Education, and/or utilize any savings therein to
carry out the purposes of this Act. Whatever additional amount as may be needed for its
implementation shall be included in the General Appropriations Acts for the ensuing fiscal years
Income from income generating assets and resources of government-owned and —controlled
corporations may be utilized for this purpose.

SECTION 6. Implementing Guidelines. — Upon promulgation of this Act, the
Department of Education (DepED) shall issue the necessary guidelines to carry out the provisions
of this Act

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. The provisions of this Act are hereby declared to be
separable, and in the event any part, section or provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, no other part, section or provision thereof shall be affected thereby

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. All laws, parts of laws, executive orders, ordinances,
rules and regulations which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the
completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or in a national newspaper of general

circulation.

Approved,