Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6644

Introduced by Hon. Salvador B. Belaro Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Many of our Muslim brothers follow the Madrasah education program.
Madrasah (madaris, pl.), an Arabic term, generally refers to a Muslim private
school with core emphasis on Islamic studies and Arabic literacy. In the
Philippines, the madrasah educational system covers the weekend madrasah
where teaching is basically religious in nature: the developmental madrasah
where learning is structured hierarchically and chronologically, like the formal
basic education; and the standard private madrasah which is designed to be part
of the Philippine education system.

It has three components—Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education
(Alive) in public schools, Alive for out-of-school Muslims, and assistance to
private madaris.

In the 2013 Religious Freedom Report released by the Bureau of
Democracy, Human Rights and Labor of the United States, a total of 1,569
madaris are present across the Philippines, 53% of which are located in the
Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). In 2011, there were 893
public elementary schools nationwide that offer Alive classes.


Likewise, there are 1,140 madaris registered with the Offices on Muslim
Affairs (presently known as the National Commission on Muslim Filipino)
seeking financial assistance from local and foreign donors, of which only 35 are
registered with the Department of Education.!

Because of the variance of the Madrasah system of education with the
Philippine educational system in force in other parts of the country, there is a
need to integrate the same for the welfare of our Muslim brothers so that they
can be assured of employment in the Philippine labor market, among others.

However, the integration of madaris system requires a_ serious
commitment. There is a need of a radical reform both in the terminology and
approach. While preserving the religious studies as vital component, there is an
urgent need to include other subjects. Accelerated teachers’ training is needed
with special focus on methods of teaching. There is also an urgent need to
develop instructional facilities including libraries and laboratories.

Funding is also one of the critical aspect considering the minute amount
of financial support the government has given to the Madrasah program during
the past years. In 2011, the national government has released an amount of
P251.6 million for the nationwide implementation of Madrasah education
Program, which is considerably low considering the much-needed developments
in the program.”

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

Aa 6 WE
CONG. SALVADOR B. BELARO, JR.

Representative
1-Ang Edukasyon Party List

* Jun Mercado, OMI, Modernization of the Madrasah. GMA News Online.
* Ronnel W. Domingo. 2011. Muslim education program gets 252-M funding. Philippine Daily Inquirer


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6644

Introduced by: Hon. Salvador B. Belaro Jr.

AN ACT
CREATING THE BUREAU OF MADRASAH EDUCATION (BME) IN
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DepEd) TO STRENGTHEN
THE MADRASAH EDUCATION PROGRAM AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “Madrasah Integration Act of
2017”.

SECTION 2. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 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. Such education shall
also include alternative learning systems for out-of-school youths and adult
learners. It shall be the goal of basic education to provide them with the skills,
knowledge and values they need to become caring, self-reliant, productive and
patriotic citizens.


SECTION 3. The Bureau of Madrasah Education (BME) is hereby established
to ensure the capacity of the department in performing various functions
concerning the Madrasah system of education, which includes overseeing of the
operations of madaris schools in the country.

The various divisions under the bureau shall include:
A. Curriculum and Instruction Division
B. Human Resource Management and Development Division
C. Finance and Scholarship Division
D. Infrastructures and Projects Division

SECTION 4. The Madrasah Curriculum shall be a reconciliatory curriculum for
the smooth transition of learners from the Madrasah education system and the
formal educational system, and vice versa. It shall also be enhanced and
harmonized making it compatible with the curriculum of Philippine formal
education system.

SECTION 5. The Department of Education (DepEd), in coordination with the
National Commission on Muslim Filipino (NCMF) and the regional
government of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), is
hereby mandated to formulate the implementing rules and regulations.

SECTION 6. The initial funding of Five Hundred Million Pesos
(P500,000,000.00) necessary to carry out the provision of this Act shall be
included in the General Appropriation Act (GAA) of the year following its
enactment into law and thereafter.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved.