\ 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
SENATE 
S. B. No. 
Introduced by SENATOR LUISA “LOI” P. EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Lack of funds has been the perennial problem in our public education system. The 
government has not been able to provide enough resources to support the ever increasing 
student population in public schools. 
As a result, the Department of Education has projected shortages in the public 
school system lo reach 49,000 teachers; 24 million textbooks; 44,000 classrooms; and 4.8 
million desks. The shortage in textbooks, classrooms, and desks taken altogether needs at 
least P20 billion to eradicate. 
The present budgetary allocation of the Department of Education cannot address 
the deficiency in the public education system with almost 90 percent of its annual 
appropriation already earmarked for personal services leaving only 10 percent of its 
annual budget to address the shortage. Such is the reason why our public education 
system has continued to lag behind our ASEAN neighbors. 
This bill seeks to eradicate the shortage in the public education system by 
providing for a one-time appropriation to address the deficiency. It seeks to create a 
center within the DepEd which will develop a program to eliminate the deficiency in 
classrooms, textbooks, and desks by using the most appropriate design and cost efficient 
method of building and acquiring the needed materials. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of tills bill is earnestly sought. 
LUISA “ L O I ~ ~  
P~EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


, 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
SENATE 
S. B. No. 
~, 
Introduced by SENATOR LUISA “LOI” P. EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR REHABILITATION 
AND IMPROVEMENT, CREATING A BASIC EDUCATION REHABILITATION 
AND IMPROVEMENT FUND, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Basic Education 
Rehabilitation and Improvement Act of 2004.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
uphold the primacy of .education, accelerate social progress, and promote total human 
development. Accordingly, the State shall ensure a continuing level of educational 
rehabilitation and improvement through the provision of essential requirements necessary 
for quality education. Towards this end, the State shall endeavor to provide pupils and 
students in the public school system with educational facilities that are adequate, up-to- 
date and that will meet the requirements for the education and training of a citizenry in a 
global and technologically enabled world. 
SEC. 3. Objective. - The objectives of this Act are: 
To eliminate the shortages in basic education inputs of classrooms, 
textboolts, and desks in our public school system; 
To improve the delivery of educational instructions necessary for 
quality education; and 
To foster an environment in school which is conducive for 
teaching and learning; 


SEC. 4. Education Rehabilitation and Improvement Center. - There is hereby 
created an Education Rehabilitation and Improvement Center (ERIC) in the Department 
of Education (DepEd) which shall be headed by a Director and a staff appointed fi-om 
among the personnel of the Department of Education. The ERIC shall adopt a program to 
resolve the shortage of classrooms, desks, and textbooks in the public school system. The 
ERIC shall perform the following functions: 
a) 
Develop a program to eliminate the deficiency of classrooms, 
desks, and textbooks in the public education system; 
b) 
Cause the preparation of plans and specifications for various 
models of public school buildings taking into consideration the 
type of community, functionality, and costs without sacrificing 
strength and durability, and aesthetics. 
c) 
Determine the allocation and distribution of the fimds appropriated 
and authorized to be appropriated under this Act among the 
different regional, division, district, and school levels in 
accordance with guidelines to be issued by the Secretary of 
Education. 
d) 
Act as administrator and trustee of the Education Rehabilitation 
and Improvement Fund as provided hereunder; 
. 
SEC. 5. Education Rehabilitation and Improvement Fund. - There is hereby 
created a trust fund, to be known as the Education Rehabilitation and Improvement Fund 
for which the sum of Twenty Five Billion Pesos (P25,000,000,000.00) shall be 
appropriated. The total amount allocated herein shall be used exclusively for the 
construction, rehabilitation and/or repair of school buildings/classrooms, the procurement 
of textbooks and desks pursuant to the program, as determined by the ERIC. 
Provided, That the primary objective in the use of any allocation under this act 
shall be to eliminate classroom, textbook, and desk shortages in the public school system. 
Provided, further, That all unexpended balance, after the completion of the work 
and/or procurement authorized for each fiscal year, shall at once revert to the National 
Treasury to the credit of the appropriation provided for under this act and shall not be 
withdrawn from it nor expended except for the purpose indicated herein. Such 


unexpended balance for any fiscal year shall be added to the appropriation for the next 
fiscal year and expended accordingly. 
SEC. 6. 
Bidding. - 
Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, 
fbnds allocated under the provisions of this Act shall be executed through public bidding 
in accordance with existing government rules and regulations. If there are no bidders or if 
the work and/or procurement can be executed at a reasonably lower rate than the most 
advantageous bid, such work and/or procurement shall be executed by the ERIC. 
SEC. 7. 
Appropriation. - The amount needed to implement this program shall 
be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year. 
SEC. 8. Penal Clause. - It shall be unlawful for any public officer or employee 
to allocate, distribute, or release the funds authorized under this Act in violation of 
Section Five hereof. Any public officer or employee violating any of the provisions of 
this Act shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than six (6)year and a fine of not 
more than one million pesos (P1,000,000.00) without prejudice to their liability under 
Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. 
SEC. 9. Separability. - If for any reason, any provision of this Act is declared 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue 
to be in full force and effect. 
SEC. 10. 
Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect 15 days after its 
publication in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved, ' 
C: lprecylbnsic education systenz.cloc