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

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

28

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative Jaime R. Fresnedi

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This proposed measure seeks to improve access to public schools located in
geographically isolated, disadvantaged and conflict-affected areas (GIDCAs) by constructing
the necessary infrastructure, which includes access roads, to ensure that students residing in
remote areas can safely and conveniently reach their respective schools.

‘Access to quality education has been a longstanding issue that continues to ail our
public education system, Despite this being a fundamental right of every Filipino child, those
who reside in remote and conflict-affected areas in the country face significant challenges in
coming to school due to the lack of infrastructure. It was reported by the Second Congressional
Commission on Education (EDCOM II) that as of October 10. 2024, out of the 9,000 identified
Last Mile Schools in the country, 1,500 do not have access to electricity while 1,000 lack the
basic sanitation facilities such as toilets. Despite having made the funds available for the field
offices, EDCOM notes that delays in construction was largely due to the poor road networks
and the persistent security risks in these Last Mile Schools. These conditions continue to hinder
infrastructure development in these areas and contributes to deepening disparities in access to
safe and conducive education.

This piece of legislation aims to address the said disparities by mandating the
Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH) to collaborate in constructing and upgrading school facilities and access roads in these
underserved areas. The bill also provides tax incentives to the private sector to encourage active
participation in advancing education access for learners in Last Mile Schools. As observed by
EDCOM in their Year Two Report, many private entities, who participate in the Adopt-a-
School Act of 1998, rarely utilize the exemptions provided in the law due to the excessive
paperwork and bureaucratic red tape that comes along with its availment. With that, the
proposed bill specifically mandates the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to develop a
streamlined and efficient mechanism for the availment of these incentives. This is to ensure
that private entities are not only motivated but also empowered to contribute meaningfully to
the fulfillment of this commitment to our leamers.

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

JAL FRBSNEDI
Representative
Lone District, Muntinlupa City


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

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

28

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Rep. Jaime R. Fresnedi

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING PUBLIC BASIC EDUCATION SCHOOLS IN GEOGRAPHICALLY
ISOLATED AND DISADVANTAGED AND CONFLICT-AFFECTED AREAS,
PROVIDING ACCESS ROADS LEADING TO LAST MILE SCHOOLS AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. —- This Act shall be known as the “Last Mile Schools Act”.

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is the declared policy of the State to protect and
promote the right of all citizens to quality education in all levels and take appropriate steps to
make such education accessible to all.

The State recognizes and promotes the rights of Indigenous Cultural Communities
within the framework of national unity and development. To this end, the State shall recognize
the rights of all indigenous families and communities to retain shared responsibility for
upbringing, training, education and well-being of their children, consistent with the rights of
the child.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms, ~ As used in this Act, the following terms shall be defined
as follows:

a) Basic Education refers to the intended basic learning needs, which provide the
foundation on which subsequent learning can be based. It includes kindergarten,
elementary and secondary education as well as alternative learning systems for out-
of-school learners and those with special needs;


b) Basic Education School refers to learning institutions accredited by the Department

©

dq)

of Education (DepEd) to deliver services addressing the intended basic learning
needs of students;

Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs)/Indigenous Peoples (IPs) refer to the
same definition stated in Section 3(h), Chapter 2 of Republic Act No. 8371,
otherwise known as the “Indigenous People’s Rights Act of 1997”. which describes
it as a “group of people or homogenous societies identified by self-ascription and
ascription by others, who have continuously lived as organized community on
communally bounded and defined territory and who have, under claims of
ownership since time immemorial, occupied, possessed and utilized such territories,
sharing common bonds of language, customs, traditions and other distinctive
cultural traits, or who have, through resistance to political, social and cultural
inroads of colonization, non-indigenous religions and cultures, became historically
differentiated from the majority of Filipinos. ICCs/Ips shall likewise include people
who are regarded as indigenous on account of their descent from the populations
which inhabited the country, at the time of conquest or colonization, or at the same
time of inroads of non-indigenous religions and cultures, or the establishment of
present state boundaries, who retain some or all of their own social, economic,
cultural and political institutions, but who may have been displaced from their
traditional domains or who may have resettled outside their ancestral domains”; and

Last Mile Schools refer to public basic education schools with gaps in resources and
facilities which are located in geographically isolated and disadvantaged and
conflict-affected areas (GIDCA).

Sec. 4. Establishment of Last Mile Schools. — The Last Mile Schools are hereby

established, under the administration of the DepEd, to cater to the basic education of learners
throughout the country’s GIDCA.

Sec. 5. Access to Education. - The DepEd shall collaborate with concerned national

government agencies for the delivery of the infrastructures necessary to ensure access to
education in the Last Mile Schools, namely;

a) Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). for the construction of access

roads leading to the location of Last Miles Schools;

b) Department of Energy (DOE) and National Electrification Administration (NEA),

for the installation of electricity;

©) Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), for the

installation of information and communications technology.


Sec. 6. Criteria. - The indicators used in identifying a public school to be included
among the Last Mile Schools are the following:

a) Having less than four (4) classrooms;

b) With makeshift or nonstandard rooms;

¢) Absence of or irregular electricity;

d) Have not been allocated funds for repairs or new construction projects in the last
four (4) years unless destroyed:

e) With travel distance of more than one hour from the center of a city or municipality,
or with difficulty of terrain or of such nature as to be considered having difficulty
of access to existing educational institutions;

f) Having multigrade classes or rooms;

g) With less than five (5) teachers;

h) Having a student population of less than one hundred (100) learners;

i) With more than seventy-five percent (75%) IP learners; and

j) Having such other circumstances that make it difficult for learners to access school
facilities.

Sec. 7. Incentives for Private Sector Participation. - Provisions of existing laws to the
contrary notwithstanding, expenses incurred by the adopting entity for the Last Mile Schools
Program shall be allowed an additional deduction from the gross income equivalent to fifty
percent (50%) of such expenses.

Valuation of assistance other than money shall be based on the acquisition cost of the
goods, services and real property involved. Such valuation shall take into consideration the
depreciated value of the goods and real property in case the said goods or real property
involved have already been used.

The goods and services as indicated under this provision shall include all those directly
or indirectly used by the participating school or educational institution, including but not
exclusive to the donation of construction services, transportation, technological support,
technological hardware and software, essential and nutritional food and logistical support,
Provided, That such are used specifically for the purpose and benefit of the participating
school or educational institution.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) shall henceforth devise a system that shall
expedite the availment of tax exemptions. Coordination shall be made between the concerned
field offices wherein the schools are located and the relevant government agencies involved


in certifying the transfer of goods and services from the individual or entity donating to a
participating school or educational institution.

Sec. 8. Implementation. — The school building program for the Last Mile School shall
be established and completed within a period of five (5) years after the effectivity of this Act.

To facilitate synchronicity, harmony and complementarity of plans, resources and
efforts of both the national government and the local government units (LGUs) towards the
attainment of the objectives of this Act, the DepEd shall plan and implement the programs,
projects and activities that address the needs of the Last Mile Schools, in coordination and
collaboration with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), DPWH, DICT,
DOE, NEA, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), National Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Council (NDRRMC) and concerned LGUs.

See. 9. Appropriations. ~The amount necessary to carry out the implementation of this
Act shall be included in the budgets of the concemned Departments, agencies and Government-
owned and Controlled Corporations in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Sec. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations, - Within ninety (90) days from the
approval of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall, in consultation with the NCIP, DPWH,
DICT, DOE, BIR, NEA, DSWD, DENR, NDRRMC and Union of Local Authorities of the
Philippines, formulate the rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 11. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and
effect.

Sec. 12. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, executive orders, issuances, rules and regulations
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified or amended
accordingly.

Sec. 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,