Republic of the Philippines 
Senate of the Philippines 
Pasay City 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
S.B. No. 2156 
SENATOR SONNY ANGARA' 
14 
t1~R -3 P5 :24 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE OPEN HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Several economic, geographic and time-bound factors constrain, even discourage 
outright, many of our young from receiving the quality education they are rightfully entitled to. In 
fact, the 2010 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey (APIS) reported that lack of personal interest, 
on top of the high cost of education and the desire of work, was a top reason 6.24 million of our 
youth were out of school or had never been enrolled before. 
Such a figure points to glaring policy gaps on providing our youth adequate access to 
educational opportunities, and thereby, wider chances at building better lives for themselves. 
This runs counter to the constitutional mandate 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," found under Article XIV, Section 1. 
Finishing high school alone opens up thousands more opportunities for individuals. And 
with the roll-out of the K to 12 system, such opportunities are assured more and more. 
When entering a specific field within the job market, it is often required that the applicant 
at least possess a high school diploma, pointing to how a high school education is vital for 
individuals to become productive citizens. 
The Open High School System delivers educational services to high school students. It 
utilizes alternative means of instruction such as print, radio, television, and other multi-media 
learning and teaching technologies to allow students to study on their own without having to be 
constrained by the conventional classroom setup. 
Incorporating such a program into the country's alternative education systems widens 
accessibility and further empowers the state toward fulfilling its goals of education for all. 
The swift passage of this bill is earnestly soug hI. 


SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES 
16th Congress 
First Regular Session 
'14 
MAR -3 P5 :24 
SENATE 
SB. No. 
2156 
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR SONNY ANGARA 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE OPEN HIGH SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE PHILIPPINES 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Open High School 
System Act". 
SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
broaden access to relevant quality education through the employment of an alternative 
learning system that would enable the youth, including adults, to overcome 
geographical, socioeconomic and physical constraints, to encourage them to complete 
secondary education. To achieve this, the State recognizes that education must be 
accessible in its various modalities to all Filipino citizens, recognizing the importance of 
basic education through out-of-school study programs, particularly those that respond to 
the needs of the community and promote the nation's welfare. 
SEC. 3 Definition of Terms. - The terms used in this Act are hereby defined as 
follows: 
(a) Open High School System (OHSS) refers to a system of delivering 
educational services to high school students, utilizing print, radio, television, 
and 
computer-based 
communications, 
satellite 
broadcasting, 
teleconferencing and other multi-media learning and teaching technologies 
that allow students to study on their own without having to regularly attend 
classes in conventional classrooms. 
(b) Distance learning Program refers to an educational program in which the 
teaching and learning process are accomplished through self-instructional 
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materials and allows independent study, multi-channel learning and school-
family-community partnership. 
(c) Inang paara/an or mother high school refers to a regular secondary school in 
the regional or division level that function, among others, as: 
(1) Headquarter of the distance learners and teachers; 
(2) Center for enrolment, evaluation, direct or face-to-face instruction and 
promotion of distance learning; 
(3) Receiver of donations, instructional materials and reports relative to 
distance learning; and 
(4) Coordinator of the different learning centers in the community. 
(d) Guro refers to a regular secondary school teacher of the inang paara/an who 
is in charge of direct instruction, evaluation of student progress and keeping of 
the records of individual learners. 
(e) Gurong tagapatnubay refers to a regular secondary school teacher of the 
inang paara/an who serves as guidance counsellor to the distance learners, 
coordinates with the guro in evaluating the students' progress, and prepares 
and submits reports to the authorities concerned. 
(f) Gurong kadluan refers to a source person with specialized skills in practical or 
industrial subjects such as farming, handicraft, auto-mechanics, tailoring and 
other skills. 
(g) Para guro refers to a degree holder or a college level resident in the 
community who manages a learning center and facilitates the learning process 
of a group of distance learners. 
(h) Tagapayong pansamahan refers to the adviser of a club in the community who 
helps learners harmonize study with community service and leisure. 
SEC. 4 Establishment of the OHSS. - The OHSS is hereby established as part 
of the Department of Education's alternative secondary education program to provide 
access to secondary education through the distance learning modality. 
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SEC. 5. Coverage. -
This Act shall apply to public secondary educational 
institutions with existing distance learning programs and all other such institutions that 
shall be authorized as qualified implementors of the OHSS. 
All existing programs and projects of the Bureau of Secondary Education 
(BSE) regarding dropout intervention and poverty alleviation through education shall 
form part of the OHSS. 
SEC. 6. Clientele of the OHSS. - The OHSS shall be open to all youth and 
adults who have finished elementary ,education, as well as high school qualifiers of the 
Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT). 
SEC. 7. Administration and Function. -
The Department of Education 
(DepEd), through the BSE, shall administer the OHSS. An OHSS Unit shall be attached 
to the BSE to assist in performing the following functions: 
(a) Formulate the basic poliCies of the OHSS; 
(b) Formulate, adopt and supplement programs that ensures effectivity and 
productivity of the OHSS; 
(e) Monitor and evaluate existing distance learning programs for integration with 
the OHSS; 
(d) Develop and validate prototype instructional materials for distance learning; 
(e) Consult and collaborate with other DepEd divisions, local government units 
(LGUs), civil society organizations and other private agencies for the effective 
operation of the OHSS; 
(f) Promulgate the necessary guidelines, rules and regulations for the effective 
implementation of the OHSS; 
(g) Recommend to the DepEd the annual budget of the OHSS for inclusion in the 
annual General Appropriations Act; and 
(h) Perform such other tasks as may be necessary to attain the objectives of the 
OHSS. 
SEC.8. Curriculum Content. - The OHSS shall adopt the National Secondary 
Education Curriculum (NSEC) using the Philippine Secondary Schools Learning 
Competencies (PSSLC). 
The DepEd's BSE Curriculum Development Division, in collaboration with the 
University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), may modify the curriculum, 


devise a separate rating system, and develop appropriate instructional strategies and 
materials to suit the psycho-social needs and physical condition of learners who are 
detained in correctional institutions. In the discharge of this function, the BSE shall 
consult with professional psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and other experts 
in dealing with children who are in conflict with the law. 
SEC. 9. Personnel Recruitment and Incentives. - The DepEd shall determine 
the qualifications of personnel recruited to work under the OHSS. 
The teachers or guro and gurong tagapatnubay shall receive honoraria, to be 
arranged with the local school board .. 
The LGUs concerned shall hire the para guro, gurong kadluan and tagapayong 
pansamahan, in accordance with the guidelines it shall issue on the hiring of personnel. 
Provided, that said guidelines shall be prepared in consultation with the DepEd. 
SEC. 10. Training of Teaching Staff. - The DepEd shall take charge of the 
training of the guro, gurong tagapatnubay, para guro, gurong kad/uan and tagapayong 
pansamahan. The training of the para guro, gurong kad/uan and tagapayong 
pansamahan shall be in coordination with the LGUs and the non-government 
organizations concemed. 
Non-teaching stakeholders such as parents and LGU personnel, among others, 
who are needed to provide support to the OHSS, shall likewise be included in the 
training program. 
SEC. 11. Establishment of Distance Learning Centers. -
Pending the 
establishment of distance leaming centers in the inang paarQlan in the community, the 
DepEd shall establish at least two (2) pilot centers in each region. 
A center shall be housed in a room or a building where the distance learners can 
conduct research or gather additional information on topics under study. It may also 
serve as a venue where the gurong kad/uan can conduct hands-on activities. 
SEC. 12. Memorandum of Agreement. -
To ensure maximum cooperation 
towards the success of the OHSS, the DepEd, the UPOU and the Department of the 
Interior and Local Govemment (DILG) are encouraged to adopt a Memorandum of 
Agreement defining their respective roles in the operation of the OHSS. 


SEC.13. Private Sector Participation. -
Private educational institutions may 
establish their own privately-funded distance learning centers following the standards 
and criteria provided for in this Act for OHSS, subject to the approval of the DepEd. 
The DepEd shall encourage and promote close partnership ~ith concerned civil 
society organizations and other service providers in order to sustain an enabling 
environment for participatory planning, budgeting and implementation of the OHSS 
related programs and projects. 
SEC. 14. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation 
of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the Distance 
Learning Program of the DepEd. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued 
operation of the OHSS shall be included in the DepEd's budget in the annual General 
Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) Days after 
the effecitivity of this Act, the DepEd, in consultation with the DILG and the UPOU, shall. 
promulgate the rules and regulations needed for the effective implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 16. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other provisions n'ot so declared shall remain in force and effect. 
SEC. 17. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations 
and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby 
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repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 18. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall.take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazatte. 
Approved,