FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

2283

House Bill No.,
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The 1987 Philippine Constitution, Article 2, Section 17 provides that:

“The State shall 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.”

Our schools must prepare young people for their active participation in
community life and in a democratic society. This is not possible without knowledge
and understanding of humanities.

In order to ensure that our children acquire the necessary conceptual and
analytical skills and have an appreciation for the traditions and values of our
culture, studies in the humanities are essential. However, it is not possible to
accomplish this goal unless our teachers have the necessary background and
training in humanities.

Hence, it is the purpose of this bill to authorize a national program for the
establishment and operation of Teacher Institutes for the enhancement of the
humanities knowledge of private and public elementary and secondary school
teachers.

The early passage of this bill is earnestly recommended.

RUFUS B.fRODRIGUEZ

Wl

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS. =
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

2283

House Bill No.,

AN ACT
PROVIDING A NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF
INSTRUCTION IN THE HUMANITIES IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ELEMENTARY
AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS

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 Humanities
Excellence and Teacher Training Act.”

SEC 2. Purpose - It is the purpose of this Act to authorize a national
program for improving the quality of education which would make grants to
institutions of higher education for the establishment and operation of Teacher
Institutes for the enhancement of the humanities knowledge of private and public
elementary and secondary school teachers.

SEC 3. Definition - For the purposes of this Act:

(1) The term “Institution of Higher Education” means any college or
university within a region;

(2) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of
Education;

(3) The term “humanities” means both modern and classical languages,
literature, history, philosophy, language arts and social studies when taught in
elementary and high schools;

SEC 4. Grants -


(a) Fhe Secretary-shall-make-grants-in each region to an Institution of
higher education (or consortium of such institutions) whose application is approved
under subsection (b) for the purposes of establishing humanities training institutes
for the professional development of elementary and secondary school teachers.
Any institution or consortium whose application is so approved shall receive an
amount equal to not more than P5,000.00 multiplied by the number of teachers,
not to exceed two hundred, enrolled in such institute, per year.

(b) Any institution of higher education or consortium desiring to receive a
grant shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such form, and
containing such information and assurances as the Secretary may require. No
such application may be approved by the Secretary unless the application -—

(1) contains a description of the proposed program of
instruction, and the extent to which eligible classroom teacher
participants will be involved in the planning and design of the
institutes;

(2) contains an estimate of the number of teachers, including
the number of teachers from private elementary and secondary
schools, to attend the institute, and describes the selection
procedures;

(3) describes the nature and location of existing facilities to be
used in the operation of the institute;

(4) specifies the teaching and administrative staff for the
institute including the involvement of faculty from both the humanities
and education departments and elementary and secondary school
teachers;

(5) specifies the academic credits, if any, to be awarded for
the completion of the course of study to be offered at the institute;

(6) provides a schedule of stipends to be paid teacher
participants in the institute, including (a) allowances for subsistence
and other expenses for teachers attending the institute and their
dependents and (b) provisions assuring that there will be no
duplication of governmental benefits paid to participants:

(7) provides adequate assurances that teachers who wish to
participate will be selected on the basis of recommendations from a
principal attesting to the applicants’ potential to excel in the
humanities and other discipline or disciplines studied in the institute;
and


——_ (8}provides assurances that the institution of higher education.
will seek to enroll at least eighty qualified teachers in the institute,

(c) Awards under this section shall be made to the institutions (or consortia)
on the basis of excellence of the program proposed in the application, taking into
consideration such elements as library resources, faculty achievement, and
humanities learning facilities.

(d) Funds available to institutions under this section may be used to cover
costs associated with enrollment in an institute, including tuition fees,
administration and living expenses.

(e) In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall assure, to the
maximum extent consistent with the purposes of this Act, that there is equitable
distribution of institutes established and operated under approved applications
among regions and within regions. The Secretary shall award not less than one
institute in each region.

(f) No grant to a single application may exceed P700,00.00 in any fiscal
year.

SEC 5. Restriction - No grants shall be made or contracts entered into
under this Act except to such extent, or in such amounts, as may be provided in
the General Appropriations Act.

SEC 6. 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 7. Repealing Clause - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed,
modified or amended accordingly.

SEC. 8, Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.