THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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S E N A T E  
5. 6. No. __ 
Introduced by Senator Pangilinan 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The advent of the new millennium has posed a serious challenge among 
developing countries to strengthen, expand and improve their respective 
education systems in order for them to fully meet the growing demands of 
globalization. 
For several years now, our country’s educational system has been rocked 
by various problems, most affected of which are those that belong to private 
education accessible to all.” (Sec. 1, Art. XIV). 
Further, the Constitution explicitly states that the system of the 
education to be established, maintained and supported should be relevant to 
the needs of the people and society 9Sec. 2 (I), Art. XIV), hence it has also 
responsibility to strengthen and develop our Madrasah education system in 
Muslim Mindanao and other Muslim- populated regions in the archipelago. 
The Madrasah education system, like their Christian counterparts, has 
pre-school, basic education and higher education levels. To date, there at least 
1,171 Madrasahs in existence offering basic education (elementary and high 
school) and 40 % of them are in Maguindanao. 
However, the number of Madrasahs offering post- secondary and colle$e 
programs is still being ascertained, and only 54 Madrasahs are given recognition 
and accreditation by Department of Education (Dep Ed). 
Relatively, the Department of Education, in close coordination with the 
Commission on Higher Education, the Office of the Muslim Affairs (OMA) and 
the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), shall determine the 
integration of the Madrasah school system into the country’s formal education 
system and therefore worthy of government support and assistance. 
.Based from the foregoing, the approval of this bill i s  urgently requested. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
’ -7 
F’1 :3q 
$ 1  
S E N A T E  
5. B. No. 
0 
Introduced by Senator Pangilinan 
AN.ACT PROVIDING GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO MADRASAH SYSTEM, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the “Fund Assistance to Madrasah 
Education Act of 2002”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of State Policy. It is a declared policy of the 
Stare in conformity with the mandate of the Constitution, to promote and 
make quality education accessible to all Filipino citizens regardless of cultural 
origin, 
conviction, 
creed or 
belief. 
The State also recognizes the 
Complementary roles of public and private educational institutions in the 
country’s educational system and the invaluable contribution of private 
educational institutions to educate i t s  citizenry. And this includes the Madrasah 
Schools in Muslim Mindanao and other areas in the country where Muslim 
population abounds. 
The State shall also, as a matter of policy, establish a fund for Madrasah 
infrastructure Development apart from maintaining a system of scholarship 
grants, student loans programs, teacher development program, subsidies and 
other incentives which shall be available to deserving students especially to the 
underprivileged. Further, the State shall encourage non- formal, informal and 
indifjenous learning systems as well as self- learning, particularly those that 
respond to community needs. 
For this purpose, the State shall mandate the Department of Education 
(DepEd), in close coordination with the Commission on Higher Education 
(CHED), Office of Muslim Affairs ( O M ) ,  and the Autonomous Region in Muslim 
Mindanao (ARMM), to provide mechanisms that will improve the quality of 
Madrasah education as well as open the opportunity of more Muslim students 
benefiting said educational system by maximizing the use of existing resources 
of private education, recognizing in the process he government responsibility 
to provide education to i t s  people. 
SECTION 3. Madrasah Curriculum. The Madrasah Curriculum shall be 
enriched and harmonized to make it compatible with the curriculum of the 
formal education system. Equivalency, learning accreditation, experienced - 
based learning and other innovative education approaches shall be utilized in 
order to make possible and smooth transition of learner from the Madrasah 
education system to the formal education system and vice versa. 


SECTION 4. Criteria for Assistance. The program for assistance shall be 
based on a set of criteria which shall include, among others, tuition fees 
charged by the schools, the socio- economic needs of the students giving 
priority to those who come from the poorest sector of society, overall 
performance of the school, the academic qualifications and the financial needs 
of both students and teachers 
In addition to the aforementioned criteria, students who may qualify 
scholarship assistance in Madrasah schools can continue to study in higher 
education institution, Provided that they pass the minimum requirement of said 
program. 
SECTION 5. Farms of Assistance. For the purpose of this Act, apart from 
Infrastructure Development, program and assistance to the students and 
teachers in Madrasah schools consist of the following: 
I. Nutrition and Feeding Program for Young Children; 
2. Classroom Facilities such as desks, tables, chalkboards and other 
basic classroom needs; 
3. Textbook Assistance Funds; 
4. Scholarship Grants to deserving students; 
5. Education Loan Fund; 
6. In- Service training Fund for Teachers; 
7. Scholarship Grants to Children of Teachers 
SECTION 6. Funding. The funds necessary for the implementation of this 
Act shall be provided in the General Appropriation Act (GAA) in the amount of 
P 500,000,000.00 and shall be charged under the current appropriations of the 
Department of Education. 
SECTION 7. lmplementing Rules and Guidelines. The Secretary of 
Education, in close coordination with the Chairman of the Commission on 
Higher Education, Office of Muslim Affairs and the Autonomous Resion in 
Muslim Mindanao, shall issue rules and regulations necessary fro the effective 
implementation of this Act. 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
orders, presidential proclamations rules and parts thereof contrary to or 
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act i s  declared 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the 
other provisions hereof. 
SECTION 10. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after i t s  complete publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved.