REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

H.NO.'7350

Introduced by Rep. AURELIO "DONG" D. GONZALES, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The growing force of globalization has required the Philippines to adapt and stay
competitive with our neighboring countries. It is a powerful process that has influenced many
aspects ranging from education to politics and to the economy. Globalization imposes many
hurdles that demands for Filipinos to adapt to the changing of times in terms of trade, business,
the labor force, foreign relations but most importantly of all, in education. It also provides the
people, particularly the youth and the workforce, with a multitude of opportunities to take
advantage of.

In 2014, some of the country’s top universities took the leap and shifted their academic
calendar from June to August in hopes of riding this wave of globalization to become more
unified with the international standards and improving the academic standing and reputation of
our universities with foreign universities. Four years later, we see more universities continue to
make the change as it has provided them with the benefits that globalization has to offer.
ly, it raises the academic competitiveness of our students with those of our foreign

neighbors as well as the academic standing and reputation of our educational institutions.

It also promotes educational opportunities for Filipino students to study abroad by having
local schools partner with foreign schools in exchange programs eventually leading to more
employments opportunities for our students abroad, It also aligns the lessons & curriculum of our

educational institutions with those of foreign countries.


Another point is that, it also promotes the mobilization of faculty. It will give Filipino
teachers and professors the opportunity to teach abroad as well as for their foreign counterparts
to be able to teach here in the Philippines.

Lastly, by moving the calendar away from June to August, it will result in less
cancellation of classes due to heavy rains that occur during this period, protecting students from
unnecessary harm that may occur from the typhoon season.

The bill mandates that each school, college, private university or state university shall
adjust their curriculum in according with and keeping to the academic calendar shift. By
implementing the shift throughout all levels of education across the country, the overall benefits

of the shift will be most effective and the new calendar in placed will be synchronized.

Aurelio If. Gdn: Jr.


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress,
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 7350

Introduced by Rep. AURELIO "DONG" D. GONZALES, JR.

AN ACT DECLARING FOR A MANDATORY SHIFT OF THE ACADEMIC
CALENDAR OF ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIC
INSTITUTIONS

SECTION 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as the “Academic Calendar Shift Act of
2018”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy ~ It is hereby declared a 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. Towards this end, the State shall recognize the
complementary roles of public and private institutions in the educational system and exercise
reasonable supervision and regulation of all educational institutions.

Accordingly, the State shall establish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate, and integrated
system of education whose academic calendar must be uniform.

SECTION 3. Synchronizing the Start of the School Year — Any provisions of law to the contrary
notwithstanding, the start of the school year beginning school year 208-2019 shall be
synchronized.

The school year shall start as early as the second Monday of August but not later than the second
Monday of September.

SECTION 4. Adjustment of Curriculum — Each school, college, private university or state
university shall adjust their curriculum in according with and keeping to the academic calendar
shift.

SECTION 5. Number of School Days - The number of school days required to be completed by
a student prescribed by the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education
shall not be altered, added, or diminished by virtue of this act.


SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations — The Department of Education and the
Commission on Higher Education in coordination with the associations of private schools shall
promulgate the corresponding implementing rules and regulations of this Act within sixty (60)
days from the date of its effectivity.

SECTION 7. Suppletory Application — The provisions of Republic Act Nos. 7722, 9155, 10533
otherwise known as the “Higher Education Act of 1994”, “Governance of Basic Education Act
of 2001”, and “Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013” respectively, shall have suppletory
application to this Act whenever practicable or necessary.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause — If, for any reason, any part or provision of this Act is
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain
in full force and effect.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectivity — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days upon the approval and
publication thereof.

Approved.