FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 608 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
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. 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 608 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
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 colleges or 
universities 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) The Secretary shall make grants in each region to an institution of 
higher education (or consortilJm 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,OOO.OO 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; 
CO 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. 
(9) No grant to a single application may exceed P700,OO.OO in any 
fiscal year. 


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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 Appropriation 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, letier 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,