REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, _ 4183

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN II

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Computers play a vital role in education and in the movement and flow of information.
Information, when harnessed, brings about exchange of ideas and innovation, trade and
commerce, and ultimately, development.

Computer education is no longer just a luxury which only first world countries can afford. In
fact, it is now a necessity which would define the ability of a nation to join developed
countries in this information age or choose to be forever banished in the dustbin of
underdevelopment. It is, therefore, imperative to equip our students at least with basic skills
in computer operation.

Hence, the proposal of this bill for mandatory computer education for all high school
students.It is hoped that with critical training, together with knowledge and expertise gained
from the use of computers and with our language skills, our workers and professionals would
be able to maintain their competitive edge in the global marketplace and serve as the catalyst
which would ultimately propel our country to first world status.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly requested.

MANUEL 'ABOCHAN IIL
Representative
Magdalo Para sa Pilipino Party-List


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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 4183 _

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. MANUEL DG. CABOCHAN III

AN ACT
REQUIRING MANDATORY COMPUTER EDUCATION IN ALL PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOLS AND FOR OTHER RELATED PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This act shall be known as the "Mandatory Computer
Education Act".

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It shall be the policy of the State to foster and
promote education utilizing advancements in science and technology that will ensure
adequate computer education among all high school students.

SEC. 3. Mandatory Computer Education. — All public and private high schools shall
establish and maintain a computer facility system that will provide and ensure the access of
all students to computers. For the purpose of this Act, "computer education” shall refer to the
basic training in computer operations as wen as in the use of basic computer programs such
as word processing, database encoding and spreadsheets programs.

SEC. 4, Curriculum. - The Department of Education (DepEd), in consultation with
the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) shall develop the
appropriate computer education modules which shall be included as part of the regular
curriculum of secondary public and private schools all over the country.

SEC. 5. Training. — If and when necessary, the DICT shall train qualified DepEd
personnel in every public and private high school to enable them to serve as instructors
and/or facilitators for computer education classes.

SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations.- The DepEd, in coordination with the
DICT, shall formulate the necessary guidelines and promulgate rules and regulations
implementing the provisions of this Act.


SEC. 7. Allocations for Computers. - The DepEd, in consultation with the DICT,
shall determine the total capital outlay necessary to provide computers for all public high
schools in the country (which still do not have computers) over a period of three (3) years
The same shall be proportionally distributed per legislative district in accordance with their
share of student enrollment relative to the total population.

SEC. 8. Computers for Private High Schools.- The DepEd shall henceforth make it a
mandatory requirement for all persons and/or entities applying for registration and/or
accreditation to establish private high schools to set-up the appropriate computer laboratory
and/or computer system which will adequately meet the computer education needs of their
students. Likewise, the DepEd shall ensure that all existing Private High Schools will set-up
their own computer system and/or computer laboratory within a period of three (3) years
from the issuance of the implementing rules and regulations of this Act as a precondition for
their continued operation.

SEC. 9. Appropriation. - Such sum as may be necessary for the immediate
implementation of the provisions of this act is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of
any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated. Thereafter, funds for its
implementation shall be included in the regular appropriations of the DepEd and the DICT.

SEC. 10, Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders or parts thereof
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 11. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, other provisions not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 12. Effectivity.- This Act shall take effect 15 days after its complete publication
in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation

Approved,