Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES RECEIVED i

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Quezon City DATE July 7, 2022

TME 10:22 am
NINETEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. __1530

Introduced by Representative Roman T. Romulo

AN ACT
EXPANDING THE PURPOSES AND APPLICATION OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION FUND
(SEF), AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 100 AND 272 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO.
7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

Explanatory Note

It is the policy of the State to give priority to education, science and technology, arts,

culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and
promote total human liberation and development. Hence, it shall protect and promote the
right to quality education at all levels that is accessible to all. Further, the Constitution
mandates the State to assign the highest budgetary priority to education and ensure that
teaching will attract and retain its rightful share of the best available talents through
adequate remuneration and other means of job satisfaction and fulfillment.

Be that as it may, our teachers are plagued with administrative and/or non-teaching
duties and responsibilities. Instead of focusing on the lessons and devising ways to improve
the delivery of education thereby strengthening the quality of education, their hours are
consumed by fulfilling administrative functions.

Hence, this bill proposes to allow the employment of administrative/non-teaching
staff to help the teachers concentrate on the students. It also endows DepEd with authority
to levy funds from the SEF in times of national emergencies or when the Executive
Department deems it.

During the pandemic, we have seen how public schools failed to respond adequately
to what the situation required. Reports had been made of teachers using their own money
to produce learning materials, teachers who cannot go to school due to risk of infection,
insufficient manpower to deliver the materials to the students, and lack of gadgets, devices,
and internet connections among students and teachers. The budget of Deped was strapped
to various allocations which were previously approved in General Appropriations Act.



The proposed amendments will undoubtedly improve our ability to respond to the
current paradigm at the manner of speed that it calls for. The responsiveness that this bill
will provide will not only be applicable to the current national emergency, but to our
adaptability to future emergencies of this magnitude.

It cannot be gainsaid that the welfare of our learners is of paramount importance.
‘Although we are keen on continuing the education of our learners within a paradigm of the
COVID-19 crisis, we are intent on making sure that the quality of education that we deliver is
competent even under normal circumstances. As always, let us ensure that we do not simply
provide mere access to education but quality education.

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

RR

ROMAN T. ROMULO
Lone District, Pasig City


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1530

Introduced by Representative Roman T. Romulo

AN ACT
EXPANDING THE PURPOSES AND APPLICATION OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION FUND
(SEF), AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 100 AND 272 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO.
7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Title - This Act shall be known as the ‘Special Education Fund Amendments of
2022",

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy - \t is 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. Furthermore, it is the policy of the state to provide a safe
and healthy environment for students, more so in times of national emergencies.

SECTION 3. Section 100 of RA 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended is
hereby amended to read as follows:

“Sec. 100 Meeting and Quorum; Budget. -

(a) The local school board shall meet at least once a month or as often as
necessary.

(b) Any of the co-chairmen may call a meeting. A majority of all its members
shall constitute a quorum. However, when both co-chairmen are present in
‘the meeting, the local chief executive concerned, as a matter of protocol, shall
be given preference to preside over the meeting. The division superintendent,
city superintendent, or district supervisor, as the case may be, shall prepare
the budget of the school board concerned. Such budget shall be supported by
programs, projects, and activities of the school board for the ensuing fiscal


year. The affirmative vote of all the members shall be necessary to approve
the budget.

(c) The annual school board budget shall give priority to the following:

(1) Construction, repair, and maintenance of school buildings and other
facilities of public elementary and secondary schools;

(2) Establishment and maintenance of extension classes where necessary;

ul (3) Sports activities at the division, district, municipal, and barangay
12 levels;

M4 (4) THE HIRING AND EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING PAYMENT OF SALARIES,
1s [EFI I NI I
16 TEACHING STAFE: AND,

7

Is (5) PROVISION OF SCHOOL UNIFORMS AND ACCESSORIES SUCH AS
19 BAGS AND SCHOOL SHOES:”

20

21

22 SECTION 4. Section 272 of RA 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, as amended is
23 hereby amended to read as follows:

24

25 “Section 272. Application of Proceeds of the Additional One Percent SEF Tax. —
26 The proceeds from the additional one percent (1%) tax on real property accruing
27 to the Special Education Fund (SEF) shall be automatically released to the local
28 school boards: Provided, That, in case of provinces, the proceeds shall be divided
29 ‘equally between the provincial and municipal school boards: Provided, however,
30 That the proceeds shall be allocated for the operation [and maintenance] of
31 public schools INCLUDING PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION, SALARIES, WAGES
22 AND OTHER BENEFITS OF TEACHING AND NON-TEACHING PERSONNEL,
3 INCLUDING THOSE ON TEMPORARY BASIS, construction, MAINTENANCE and
34 repair of school building, facilities and equipment, educational research,
35 purchase of books and periodicals, sports development, AND PROVISION OF
36 ‘SCHOOL UNIFORMS AND ACCESSORIES SUCH AS SCHOOL BAGS AND SHOES, as
37 determined and approved by the local school board.

38

39 4 NT OF AN, LAL EI

40 [T_NI lz
41 EDUCATION (DEPED), IN COORDINATION WITH THE RESPECTIVE LOCAL
2 GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs), UPON SHOWING THE NECESSITY AND UPON,
8 APPROVAL OF THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD (LSB), MAY LEVY FUNDS FROM THE
“4 ‘SPECIAL EDUCATION FUND (SEF) FOR THE PREEMPTIVE AND/OR RESPONSIVE
45 MEASURES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE PAYMENT OF SALARIES,
46 ALLOWANCES, AND OTHER BENEFITS OF TEACHING AND NON-TEACHING

47 PERSONNEL, CREATION OF TEMPORARY TEACHER ITEMS ON CONTRACTUAL


SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG) and the Department of Education (DepEd) shall promulgate the
necessary rules and regulations to implement this Act not later than ninety (60) days after
its effectivity.

SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - Should any part of this Act be declared unconstitutional,
the rest of the provisions of this Act shall continue to be in effect and subsisting.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause.- All other laws, decrees, executive orders, and other
administrative issuances and parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this,
Act are hereby modified, amended, superseded or repealed accordingly.

SECTION 8. Effectivity.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette and/or in at least two (2) national newspapers in general circulation.

Approved,