SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENtBlJ4 
S.No. ___ _ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article II, Section 17 provides: 
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SEP -5 P 5 :32 
Section 17. The State shall give priority to education, science and 
technology, arts, culture and sport to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate 
social progress, and promote total human liberation and development. 
Local businesses can play a key role in moving technology into schools, enhancing 
educators' technology capabilities, and making every student technologically literate. 
Educational technologies help children learn and teachers teach. Students who learn to use 
educational technologies are prepared for both high wage high skilled jobs and higher education. 
In order to encourage businesses to help schools-provide educational technologies, this bill seeks-
to establish a program that will give national recognition to businesses which show an exemplary 
commitment to participating with schools to make every student technologically literate.' 
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, This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress. First Regular Session. 
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:iel1Zltr 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
tt9f{l;r tlf till! .!l-tnthlf,'-
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
"13 
SEP -5 P5 :32 
, . 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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RECOGNIZING BUSINESSES WHICH SHOW AN EXEMPLARY COMMITMENT TO 
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PARTICIPATING WITH SCHOOLS TO ENHANCE EDUCATORS' TECHNOLOGY 
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CAPABILITIES AND TO MAKE EVERY STUDENT TECHNOLOGICALLY LITERATE 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Business and Education 
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Sharing Technology Act (BEST)." 
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SECTION 2. Purpose. - It is the purpose of this Act-
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(A) 
To establish a program to give local and national recognition to businesses which 
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show an exemplary commitment to participating with schools to enhance educators' technology 
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capabilities and make every student technologically literate; and 
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(B) 
To make information about these exemplary partnerships available to other 
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businesses and schools. 
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SECTION 3. Nomination. - The Department of Education shall form a committee 
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composed of qualified individuals, such as representatives from the government, academe, 
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private sector, and appropriate sectors to carry out the provisions of this Act. The members shall 
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select, through a competitive process, the businesses engaged in technology partnerships .with. 
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schools to receive a BEST award. 
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Representatives of any educational institutions or schools may nominate businesses 
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which show an exemplary commitment' to participating with schools to enhance educators' 
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technology capabilities and to make every student technologically literate .. Such nominations 
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shall, if available, include: 
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(A) 
Name of business; 
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(B) 
Address of business; 
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(C) 
Internet address of business; 
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(D) 
A description of the partnership between the school or school district and the 
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business, including the specific services provided by the business to the school; 
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(E) 
A description of how the partnership is helping to enhance the technological 
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capabilities of educators and/or to make every student technologically literate; and 
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(F) 
A description of why the partnership is exemplary. 
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SECTION 4. Criteria. -To be eligible to receive a BEST recognition award -
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(A) 
A business must be in active partnership with a school, consortium of schools, or 
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local educational agency; 
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(B) 
The purpose of the partnership must be to enhance educators' technology 
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capabilities and/or contribute to making every student technologically literate; 
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(C) 
The partnership must have a plan to enhance educators' technology capabilities 
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and/or contribute to making every student technologically literate which can be shared with other 
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schools; and 
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(D) 
The partnership activities must be of a high level of quality. 
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SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations; Dissemination. - The Secretary of 
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Education shall issue the necessary rules and regulations in implementing this Act, and shall 
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make information and descriptions regarding the programs and partnerships that are chosen for a 
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BEST recognition award available to schools nationwide. 
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SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid 
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and subsisting. 
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SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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