Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. f= ome OMAR
Quezon City f 45

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

u.B.no, 4240

Introduced by HONORABLE SCOTT DAVIES 8S. LANETE, M.D.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

As stated in the 1987 Philippine Constitution, it is the prime duty 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. It is also its solemn mandate to
establish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education
relevant to the needs of the people and society

Teachers are the primary instruments of knowledge. It is an established fact that most
of the country’s youth education greatly rely on public schools due to heavy financial burdens
private schools impose.

Moreover, children with disabilities find it difficult to secure quality education
because of the lack of teachers equipped with the necessary training and expertise in such
field. It is a fact that most teachers who are specifically trained to teach children with
disabilities are found within Metro Manila, Rarely do these teachers venture into the rural
areas of the country. As such, children with disabilities who live in rural areas turn out
uneducated, if not adequately educated. This is a gloomy reality which the State needs to
urgently address

‘As a solution to this predicament, it is essential that the State take a proactive step by
establishing a program that would attract teachers whose expertise lies in training children
With disabilities, to settle and teach in rural areas. Only through such solution will the State
aceord these children their right to education. The number of teachers that will find
employment in rural arcas satisfactory will inevitably result in the empowerment of children
with disabilities for future employment consequently transforming them into gems that will
expedite the country’s development.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly requested

‘COTT DAVIES S. LANETE, M.
epresentative
‘Third District, Province of Masbate

2014
of



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4210

H.B. No.

Introduced by HONORABLE SCOTT DAVIES S. LANETE, M.D.

AN ACT
TO ESTABLISH A COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM TO RETAIN
HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES

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 “Rural Teacher Retention
Act of 2014.”

SEC. 2. Definition. The following terms as used in this Act shall be defined as
follows:

a) “Child with a disability” means a minor who has a physical, mental or medical
impairment resulting from anatomical, physiological, or neurological conditions that
prevent the exercise of a normal body function or that substantially impair cognitive
function, and include but is not limited to, impairments requiring the use of an
artificial device to move, walk, see, hear or breathe, such as a wheelchair, braces,
crutches, respirator, or other supportive equipment, or use of a guide dog or other
‘guiding device, and which renders such person incapable of adequately providing for
his or her own health and personal care

b) “Department” means the Department of Education

©) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Education.

SEC. 3. Grant. The Secretary shall carry out a 5-year pilot program under which the
Secretary awards grants, on a competitive basis, to not more than 10 different provinces, to
enable them to award salary bonuses to highly qualified teachers or highly qualified special
education teachers who teach, or commit to teach, for at least 3 academic years in such
institution.

SEC. 4, Basis. The Secretary shall award grants under this section on the basis of the
needs of rural local educational agencies within a province for recruiting and retaining highly
qualified teachers or highly qualified special education teachers.


SEC. 5. Consideration of Needs. In determining the needs of rural local educational
agencies for recruiting and retaining highly qualified teachers and highly qualified special
education teachers under Section 5, the Secretary shall consider | or more of the following:

a) ‘The impact on a rural local educational agency of low-income students who are
served by the rural local educational agency

b) The impact on a rural local educational agency of children with a disability who are
served by the rural local educational agency.

©) The long-term plans of a province to improve the recruitment and retention of highly
qualified teachers and highly qualified special education teachers in rural local
educational agencies with the province.

SEC. 6. Application. A province that desires to receive a grant under this section shall
submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by
such information as the Secretary may require. The application shall contain a plan for the
proposed distribution and use of the grant funds among rural local educational agencies
within the province.

SEC. 7. Use of Funds. Grant funds under this section shall be used to provide salary
bonuses for highly qualified teachers or highly qualified special education teachers who
teach, or commit to teach, for at least 3 academic years, in an elementary school or secondary
school served by the same rural local educational agency.

SEC. 8. Study. The Secretary shall carry out a study of each project that is funded
under this Act. The study shall track and assess the implementation and effectiveness of each
project.

SEC. 9. Report.

a) ANNUAL REPORTS FROM PROVINCES ~ Each province receiving a grant under
this Act shall submit an annual report to the Secretary regarding each project within
the State that is funded under this Act. The report shall contain such information as
the Secretary determines necessary to evaluate the project.

b) REPORT TO CONGRESS ~ The Secretary shall submit a report on the study
described in Section 8 to the appropriate committees in the Senate and in the House of
Representatives within 5 years from the effectivity of this Act

1. the number of rural local educational agencies assisted under this Act;

‘a. the characteristics of such local rural educational agencies with respect to the
considerations of needs described in section 5(c);

the number and demographic characteristics of teacher receiving bonuses under this

Act;

3. the impact of the bonuses provided under this Act on the ability of rural local
educational agencies assisted under this Act to recruit and retain highly qualified
teachers and highly qualified special education teachers; and

4. such other information and analysis as the Secretary determines necessary to evaluate
the projects



SEC. 10. Appropriations. The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this,
‘Act shall be charged against the appropriations of the Department of Education under the
current General Appropriations Act, ‘Thereafter, such sum as may be necessary for its full
implementation shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act as a distinct and
separate item.

SEC. 11. Separability Clause. If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain
valid and subsisting,

SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or is
inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended
accordingly.

SEC. 13. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days afer its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,