SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'n /lUG 15 P3 :19 
SENATE 
S. No. 1321 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 14, Section 1 provides that: 
SEC. 1. The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to 
quality edllcation at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such 
education accessible to all. 
As our nation progresses further into globalization, we have continuously been 
challenged to improve our skills. Our students, instead of rising to the challenge, seem to be left 
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behind, as evidenced by the poor natiqnaliachievement test scores. As we take on the great 
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information superhighway, or the Internet, we need to develop not only our skill to read, bllt also 
our skill to write in order to better communicate with the rest of the world. 
Good writing skills are essential to employment, both locally and internationally. 
Fllrthermore, it is also important in the performance of civic duty and participation in the 
national development. 
This bill seeks to encourage the cooperation between the government and the private 
sector in developing a program that will develop the writing skills of our youth.' 
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MIRIAM DEF 
SOR S~TI 
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()J!Y' 
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• This bill was originally filed in the Fourteenth Congress, Second Regular Session. 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
AUG 15 P3 :19 
SENATE 
S. No. 1321 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
CREATING A NATIONAL WRlTING PROGRAM 
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 "National Writing Program 
Act." 
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SECTION 2. Authorization -
The Secretary of Education, hereafter referred to as 
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"Secretary," is authorized to award a grant to nonprofit educational organizations, hereafter 
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referred to as the "Grantees," to improve the quality of student writing and learning, and to 
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improve the teaching of writing and the use of writing as a part of the learning process in our 
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country's classrooms. 
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SECTION 3. Grant Requirements. - The grant shall provide that: 
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A. 
The Grantees shall enter into contracts with institutions of higher education or 
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other nonprofit educational providers, hereafter in this section referred to as "Contractors," under 
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which the contractors shall agree to establish, operate, and provide the nongovermnent share of 
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the cost of teacher training programs in effective approaches and processes for the teaching of 
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writing; 
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B. 
Funds made available by the Secretary to the Grantees pursuant to any contract 
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entered into under this Act shall be used to pay the government share of the cost of establishing 
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and operating teacher training programs as provided in this Act; and 
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C. 
The Grantees shall meet such other .conditions and standards as the Secretary 
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determines to be necessary to assure compliance with the provisions of this Act and will provide 
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such technical assistance as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
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SECTION 4. Teacher Training Program. - The teacher training programs described in 
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the previous section shall -
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A. 
B. 
be conducted during the school year and during the summer months; 
select teachers to become members of a writing proj ect teacher network whose 
members will conduct writing workshops for other teachers in the area served by each writing 
project site; and 
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encourage teachers from all disciplines to participate in such teacher training 
programs. 
SECTION 5. Government Share. - Except as provided in paragraph A or B, the term 
"government share" means fifty (50) percent of such costs to the contractor. 
A. 
WAIVER - The Secretary may waive the provisions of this section on a case-by-
case basis if the National Advisory Board described in Section 6 determines, on the basis of 
financial need, that such waiver is necessary. 
B. 
MAXIMUM - The National Advisory Board shall determine the maximum 
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amount of the government share of the costs of teacher training programs conducted pursuant to 
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this Act. 
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SECTION 6. National Advisory Board. - The National Writing Project shall establish 
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and operate aN ational Advisory Board. 
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A. 
COMPOSITION- The National Advisory Board shall consist of-
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1. national educational leaders; 
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2. leaders in the field of writing; and 
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3. such other individuals as the Secretary deems necessary. 
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B. 
DUTIES - The National Advisory Board established pursuant to this section 
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shall-
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1. advise the Grantees on national issues related to student writing and the 
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teaching of writing; and 
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2. review the activities and programs of the Grantees. 
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SECTION 7. Evaluation. - The Secretary shall conduct an independent evaluation by 
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grant or contract of the teacher training programs administered pursuant to this Act. The results 
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of such evaluation shall be made available to the appropriate committees of Congress. 
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SECTION 8. Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount as 
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hereby necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. 
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SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 13. Effectivity Clause. -- 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, 
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