SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No.1 1$89 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The best safeguard to our democratic political system is an enlightened citizenry who 
cannot be cowed nor dictated upon. These are the citizens who would fight for their right to a 
better life; who would struggle individually and collectively to develop the country's economy 
and make it globally competitive. These are the citizens who would farm and manufacture, 
manage businesses, build and lead organizations, run the government and uphold the country's 
independence. These are the citizens our laws must serve and protect. These are the citizens 
whose right to education the State must guarantee. 
Among these citizens are the underprivileged out-of-school youth and adults who have 
graduated from the elementary but are unable to go to high school because of geographic and 
socio-economic constraints. Many children of high school age are out of school because they 
have to stay at home during school hours to take care of younger siblings and do household 
chores to allow their parents and elders to earn a living. Others are prevented from attending 
classes regularly because they live far from the high school. In the case of youthful offenders, 
they cannot attend conventional classes because they are detained in correctional institutions. 
There arc also the youth whose secondary education is hampered by armed conflict as what 
pl'esentiy besets the students in some areas in Mindanao. 
Recognizing the critical immediacy of addressing the need for secondary education of the 
aforementioned citizens, this measure seeks to institutionalize the open high school system in the 
country. 
The open high school system delivers educational services to high school students 
utilizing print, radio, television and computer-based communications, satellite broadcasting, 


teleconferencing and other multi-media learning and teaching technologies that allow students to 
study on their own without having to regularly attend classes in conventional classrooms. This 
alternative learning system is consistent with the constitutional mandate to democratize access to 
quality education at all levels even as it "recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-
building. ,,' 
Lvv~ 4~ . .4~ l~ 
MIRIAM DEF 
SOR s"ANTI!(J6 
;;# 
• This bill was originally filed in the Fifteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


~-~-
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
•• 
lJ'C~"I' ·,·).···1 
,.. 
. 
IJ 
•. 
1):36 
SENATE 
S. No: 1889 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT 
2 
' INSTITUTIONALIZING THE OPEN HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES 
3 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
4 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Open High School System 
5 
Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
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broaden access to relevant quality education through the employment of an alternative learning 
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system that would enable the youth including adults to overcome geographical, socio-economic 
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and/or physical constraints to their completion of secondary education. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms are 
II 
hereby defined: 
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(A) 
"Open High School System" is a system of delivering educational services to high 
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school students utilizing print, radio, television and computer-based communications, satellite 
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broadcasting, teleconferencing, and other multi-media learning and teaching technologies that 
15 
allow students to study on their own without having to regularly attend classes in conventional 
16 
classrooms. 
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(B) 
"Distance Learning Program" is an educational program whereby the teaching 
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and learning processes are accomplished through self-instructional materials that allow 
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independent study, multi-channel learning and school-family-community partnership. 


(C) 
"Inang Paaralan or Mother High School" is a regular secondary school in the 
2 
regional or division level that functions, among others, as: 
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R 
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(D) 
(1) 
(2) 
(3) 
Headquarters of the distance learners and teachers; 
Center for enrolment, evaluation, direct or face-to-face instruction and 
promotion of distance learners; 
Receiver of donations, instructional materials and reports relative to 
distance learning; and 
(4) 
Coordinator of the different learning c.enters in the community. 
"Gura" is a regular secondary school teacher of the Inang Paaralan who is in 
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charge of direct instruction, evaluation of student progress and keeping of the records of 
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individual learners. 
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(E) 
"Gurang Tagapalnubay" is a regular secondary school teacher of the Inang 
Paaralan who serves as guidance counselor to the distance learners; coordinates with the Gura 
and Para Guro in evaluating the students' progress; and prepares and submits reports to the 
authorities concerned. 
(F) 
"Gurong Kadluan" is a resource person with specialized skills in practical or 
industrial subjects such as farming, handicraft, auto-mechanics, tailoring and other skills. 
(G) 
"Para Gura" is a degree holder or college level citizen/resident in the community 
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who manages a learning center and facilitates the learning process of a group of distance 
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learners. 
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(H) 
"Tagapagpayong Pansamahan" is the adviser of a club in the community who 
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helps learners harmonize study with community service and leisure. 
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SECTION 4. Institutionalization of the Open High School System. - To carry out the 
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above-declared policy, the Open High School hereinafter referred to as the System is hereby 
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institutionalized in the Philippines in accordance with the provisions of the Act. 
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SECTION 5. Coverage. -
This Act shall apply to public secondary educational 
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institutions with existing distance learning programs and all other such institutions that shall later 
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be authorized as qualified implementers of the System. 
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All existing programs and projects of the Bureau of Secondary Education regarding 
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dropout intervention and poverty alleviation through education shall be part of the Open High 
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School System. 
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SECTION 6. Clientele (!f the System. - The System shall be open to all youth and adults 
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who have finished elementary education and secondary school qualifiers of the Philippine 
, 
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Educational Placement Test (PEPT). 
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SECTION 7. Administration and Supervision. - The Department of Education (DepEd) 
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shall administer and supervise the System. An Open High School Unit shall be attached to the 
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Bureau of Secondary Education (BSE) to assist the Bureau in performing the following 
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functions: 
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(A) 
Formulate the objectives and basic policies of the System; 
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(B) 
Formulate, adopt and supplement programs that will make the System effective 
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and productive; 
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(C) 
Monitor and evaluate existing .distance learning programs for integration With 
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the System; 
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(D) 
Develop and validate prototype instructional distance learning materials; 
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(E) 
Consult and collaborate with other DepEd divisions, local government units 
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(LGUs), non-government organizations (NGOs) and other private agencies for the effective 
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operation of the System; 
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(F) 
Promulgate the necessary guidelines, rules and regulations for the effective 
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implementation ofthe System; 
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(G) 
Recommend to the DepEd the annual budget of the System for inclusion in the 
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General Appropriations Act for the year; and 
3 


(I-I) 
Perform such other tasks as may be necessary to attain the objectives of the 
2 
System. 
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SECTION 8. Establishment 0/ Distance Learning Centers. - Distance learning centers 
4 
shall be established in the Inang Paaralan or in the community. The center is a room or building 
5 
where the distance learners can conduct research or gather additional information on topics under 
6 
study. It can also serve as a venue where the Gurong Kadluan can conduct hands-on 
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exercises/activities. 
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SECTION 9. Collaboration between the Department 0/ Education (DepEd) and the 
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Department o/Inferior and Local Govemment (DILG). - The DepEd and the DILG shall sign a 
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Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) defining the role oflocal government units in the operation 
J 1 
of the System in order to ensure maximum collaboration between DepEd and local government 
12 
units toward the success of the System. 
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SECTION 10. Role 0/ Government Broadcast Stations and Telecommunication 
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Networks. - Government broadcast stations. and telecommunication networks shall provide the 
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necessary assistance and support to the System; Provided. That private stations and networks 
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shall also be encouraged to provide the same. 
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SECTION II. Role 0/ Parents. - Parents of distance learners shall be provided with 
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adequate information on the System as well as for sharing experiences to enable them to 
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competently assist their children ill their distance learning. 
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SECTION 12. Personnel Recruitment and Incentives. - All personnel involved ill the 
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System shall have adequate and appropriate education and training to be determined by the BSE-
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DepEd. Teachers or Guros and Gurong Tagapatnubay shall receive incentives and/or monetary 
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compensation as determined by the BSE-DepEd while Para Guro, Gurong Kadluan and 
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Tagapayong Pansamahan shall receive honoraria, to be arranged with the local school board. 
4 


It shall be the duty of the local government units concerned to employ the Para Guro, 
2 
Gurong Kadluan and Tagapayong Pansamahan in accordance with the guidelines on hiring such 
3 
personnel prepared upon prior consultation with the BSE-DepEd and issued by the same LGUs. 
4 
SECTION 13. Training oithe System's Teachers. - The Open High School Unit attached 
5 
to the Bureau of secondary education shall take charge of the training of the Guro, Gurong 
6 
Tagapatnubay, Gu/'ong Kadluan, Para Guro and Tagapayong Pansamahan. 
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The training of the Para Guro, Gurong Kadluan and Tagapayong Pansamahan shall be 
8 
in coordination with the local government units and non-government organizations concerned. 
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SECTION 14. Curriculum Content. - The System shall adopt the National Secondary 
10 
Education Curriculum (NSEC) using the Philippine Secondary Schools Learning Competencies 
II 
(PSSLC). 
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The Open High School System Unit, in collaboration with the Curriculum Development 
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Division of the Bureau of Secondary Education (BSE), shall modifY the herein adopted 
14 
curriculum and devise a rating system, instructional strategies, and materials which will suit the 
IS 
psycho-social needs and physical condition of conduct disordered and antisocial learners who are 
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detained in correctional institutions. In the discharge of this function, the BSE shall consult with 
17 
professional psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and other related experts who manage 
18 
or deal with youth offenders who are undergoing rehabilitation. 
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SECTION IS. Implementing Rules and Regulations . .:.. The Secretary of Education, upon 
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prior consultation with the Committees on Education of the Senate and the House of 
21 
Representatives, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation 
22 
of this Act within a period of ninety (90) days after the approval of this Act. 
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SECTION 16. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of 
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this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriation of the Distance Learning 
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Program of the BSE-DepEd. Thereafter, such snms as may be necessary for its continued 
5 


implementation shall be included in the annual appropriations of the Department of Education in 
2 
the General Appropriations Act. 
3 
SECTION 17. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act or part thereof is 
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declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the provision not otherwise 
5 
affected shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SECTION 18. Repealing Clause. -
All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
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regulations and other issuances 01' parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
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hereby repealed, modified, 01' amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 19. Ef/ectivity. -
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
6