Republic of the Pitlippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 8022

introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT CREATING THE NATIONAL EDUCATION COUNCIL, DEFINING ITS
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

This bill proposes the creation of a National Education Council to develop a national
education agenda and institutionalize a system of national coordination, planning
monitoring, evaluation, and management among our three education subsectors —
the Department of Education, the Technical Education Skills and Development
Authority and the Commission on Higher Education.

It seeks to ensure effective coordination to eliminate fragmentation of education
policies and programs by strengthening the integration and collaboration of the three
sub-sectors. Since the separation of the three education subsectors in 1991, there
has been an inconsistent effort at coordination through the years. There was the
Presidential Commission on Educational Reform (PCER) in 1998, the National
Coordinating Council for Education (NCCE) under Executive Order (EO) No. 273. s
2000, EO No. 632, s. 2007 and EO No. 652, s. 2007.

This measure recognizes the indispensable role of a national council on education to
develop an effective and efficient education ecosystem that will enable the three sub-
sectors to implement policies and programs coherently

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

f hb
Luis RAYMUND/LRAY" F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

a


Repubire of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson Cty

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.8022

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

AN ACT CREATING THE NATIONAL EDUCATION COUNCIL, DEFINING ITS
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, 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. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “National Education Council
Act.”

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to make
education as a critical component of human capital development, socio-economic
equality, inclusive growth, and sustainable development. Pursuant to Article XIV of
the Constitution which mandates the State to protect and promote the right of all
citizens to quality education at all levels, take appropriate steps to make such
education accessible to all, and establish, maintain, and support a complete
adequate, and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the peopie
and society, the State hereby adopts the following policies

a. The State shall place education at the center of its development policies, guided
by a clear and long-term set of goals in the form of a national education agenda that
is a product of a iong-term pianning and strategic investments in education

b. The three sub-sectors of education, namely the Department of Education, the
Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority, shall strategically implement the policies and programs
under this national education agenda in a coordinated and harmonized education
ecosystem so that investments in education will lead to the achievement of the goal
of developing the country’s human capital as an essential factor to national
development: and

c. The State recognizes that to develop such an effective and efficient education
ecosystem, the role of a national council on education is indispensable in enabling
the three sub-sectors to implement policies and programs coherently, while engaging


other government agencies, local government units (LGUs), the business sector, the
academe, and other public and private stakeholders who play a crucial role in the
education sector.

Sec. 3. Objectives. - The objectives of this Act are as follows

a. Promote a culture of long-term. strategic. and collaborative planning among the
three sub-sectors through the formulation and implementation of a national
education agenda that will compel the adoption of a long-term vision and focused
priorities for the education sector:

b. Improve education governance in the country and ensure effective coordination
and eliminate fragmentation of education policies and programs among the three
sub-sectors; and

c. Establish an efficient institution through the creation of the National Education
Council with the necessary authority to mandate the integration of education policies
and programs, and strengthen the collaboration of the three sub-sectors to improve
education outcomes and achieve the goals set under the national education agenda.

Sec. 4. The National Education Council. - The National Education Council,
hereinafter referred to as the NEBCO. is hereby created and attached to the Office of
the President, to deveiop the country’s nationai education agenda, goals, priorities,
and long-term national strategy, and institutionalize a system of national
coordination, planning, monitoring, evaluation, and management among the three
sub-sectors. The NEBCO shall be composed of the following

pines - Chairpersen
b. Secretary of the Department of Education - Co-Vice Chairperson

c. Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education - Co-Vice Chairperson;

d. Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority -
Co-Vice Chairperson:

. President of the Senate - Member:

f. Speaker of the House of Representatives - Member:

g. Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority - Member:
h. Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology - Member

i. Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry - Member:

j. Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology -
Member:

k. Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management - Member;

1. Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government - Member.

m. Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment - Member

n. Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission - Member;

0. National Statistician and Civil Registrar General of the Philippine Statistics
Authority - Member;

p. Chairperson of the Professional Regulation Commission - Member; and

q. Four (4) Members to be appointed by the President from each of the following
stakeholders: education sector, business sector. academe. and other sectors,
whether public or private. with a direct stake in education to ensure broad-based
consultation and planning. The NEDCO shall meet at least twice a year The


President may designate the Executive Secretary to attend on his behalf and preside
over the meetings of the NEDCO. The ot ay not designate alternate
representatives other than their respective undersecretaries, or the officers next-in-
rank to such members, to the meetings. Majority of the members shall constitute a
quorum

Sec 5 The National Education Council: Powers and Functions. - The NEDCO shal!
have the following powers and functions

a. Develop the country's strategic vision for education as anchored on national
development plans. long-term and medium-term goals, plans and_ priorities
strategies for a coordinated and coherent implementation. and recommendations on
the corresponding investments and appropriations in the form of a national education
agenda

b. Institutionalize a system of national coordination in the planning, monitoring
evaluation. implementation. and management of the national education agenda to
ensure coherent strategic direction by the three sub-sectors and avoid possible
overlaps, gaps. and inconsistencies that may result from non-alignment of policies.
plans and programs;

¢. Serve as a regular forum for inter-sub-sectoral consultations and proposals for
intervention to address cross-cutting policies and programs of the three sub-sectors

4. Ensure effective, harmonized, and coordinated planning among the three sub-
sectors on issues critical to the education sector including but not limited to the
following: a teacher education program that will equip teachers with the required
skills, trainings, and competencies arid is suitable and responsive to the needs of the
three sub-sectors, taking into account the real demand of the labor market and
needs of the industry, an integrated curriculum that will deliver the desired education
goals, priorities. and outcomes under the national education agenda: and a K to 12
graduates employment pian that ensures a job-skills match between senior high
school graduates vis-a-vis the qualifications and needs of the government and the
private sector.

e. Coordinate with government agencies. LGUs. and other relevant sectors to
promote policy and program coherence.

f Regularly monitor, evaluate, review, and update the education programs under the
national education agenda. as well as existing programs. for tighter inter-sub-sector
coordination:

g. Communicate, whenever it deems necessary, the countrys national education
agenda, policies, priorities, and programs to both local and_ international
communities, including the public reporting of the State of Philippine Education
Address.

h. Implement an action agenda for the development of the country’s capacity for, and
Success in, education as measured by the National Achievement Test. Programme
for International Student Assessment, Education Index, Education for All


Development Index, and other indices and measures that it may deem appropriate in
measuring the growth and development of the education sector in the country, or
among countries;

i. Submit annual reports to the Philippine Congress on the progress of
implementation of this Act: and Perform other functions as may be necessary for its
implementation.

Sec. 6. The National Education Agenda. - The national education agenda shall be
anchored on national development plans and establish the country’s strategic vision
for education, long-term and medium-term goals, plans and priorities, strategies for a
coordinated and coherent implementation, and recommendations on the
corresponding investments and appropriations in the form of a national education
agenda. It shall provide a road map for improving education governance through
clear-cut delineation and complementation of education policies and programs
across the three sub-sectors and other stakeholders. It shall also identify areas and
strategies to stimulate the role of other government agencies and LGUs in the
attainment of its vision

The national education agenda shall have a minimum of five (5)-year horizon, to be
updated annually and reviewed periodically by the NEBCO. The three sub-sectors.
concerned government agencies. and concerned stakeholders shall strictly comply
with the national education agenda and shall incorporate its pertinent policies in their
respective programs

The national education agenda shall be developed by the NEBCO, in consultation
with other relevant government agencies, LGUs, and other stakeholders. It shall be
compieted within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act

Sec. 7. The NEDCO Secretariat - To provide support to the NEBCO, a Secretariat
shall be established within the Office of the President and shall be under its control
and supervision. It shall be headed by an Executive Director who shall be nominated
by the NEBCO and appointed by the President of the Philippines. The Executive
Director shall have at least ten (10) years of experience and practice in the field of
education to qualify for nomination and appointment

The NEDCO shali determine its organizational structure, staffing pattern, and
compensation schedule as it may deem necessary. and shall appoint officers and
employees in accordance with Civil Service law, rules and regulations

The initial staffing structure and complement of the Secretariat shall be submitted by
the NEDCO to the Department of Budget and Management for funding. Pending the
creation of the appropriate plantilla positions. the NEDCO shail constitute an interim
Secretariat within one (1) month from the effectivity of this Act, through the
temporary detail of competent personnel from the three sub-sectors.

The NEDCO shall define the duties and responsibilities of the Secretariat which
shall, in turn, formulate and adopt its own internal operating rules and procedures.


Sec. 8. Educational Mapping and Statistics for the National Education Agenda. - To
ensure an evidenced-based formulation and crafting of the national education
agenda, the Philippine Statistics Authority is hereby mandated to.

a. strengthen its core unit that is dedicated to the generation. analysis. utilization
and dissemination of all education and literacy statistics and information, including
the mapping of data related to education as a dimension of poverty under Republic
Act No. 11315 or the “Community-Based Monitoring System Act’

b. develop and manage a nationwide database of such statistics and information;

c. systematize its administrative and operational linkages with the statistical or
mapping units of the three sub-sectors: and d. coordinate with other government
agencies whose mandate requires the conduct of community mapping programs that
are relevant to the education sector such as the Department of Interior and Local
Government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Sec. 9. Annual Report. - Tne NEDCO shall submit an annuai report to the President
and both houses of Congress on or before the last day of May to provide an
assessment of the NEDCO's implementation of the national education agenda and
present strategies to remedy implementation gaps. The report shall also be made
available to the public through the respective portals of the three sub-sectors.

Sec. 10. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this
Act shail be sourced from the current appropriations of the Office of the President
Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous implementation of this Act shall
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act

Sec. 11. implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days after the
effectivity of this Act, the Office of the President and the three subsectors, in
consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall formulate and promulgate the
necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation

Sec. 12. Separability Clause. - \f any part or provision of this Act shall be held invalid
‘or unconstitutional, the other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected shall
remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 13. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, rules. executive orders, and other
administrative issuances and parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are
hereby repealed, superseded or modified accordingly

Sec 14 Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation

Approved.