Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

7103

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY HON. CRISTINA “CHIQUI” ROA-PUNO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

About 10% of the world population is left-handed’, and every day they struggle to
live in a right handed world.

This bill aims to promote the equal development of students by requiring
educational institutions all over the country to provide left-handed armchairs. Currently,
left-handed students are left without a choice but to work with right-handed armchairs

According to studies, a right-handed armchair does not offer left-handed students
the same arm support that right-handed students enjoy, causing back, neck, and shoulder
pain to the left-handed students.’ The inefficient and awkward writing position that some
left-handers must adopt in this kind of armchair likewise causes slower handwriting,
placing many left-handed students at a real disadvantage on important timed
examinations.” Left-handed students are thus placed at a learning handicap. Indeed, it is
high time that we address the plight of our left-handed students by providing them left-
handed armchairs.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

q A “CHIQI ROA-PUNO

' Price, Michael, “Left brain knows what the right hand is doing”, American Psychological Association, 2009, citing
Corballis, Michael , PhD, retrieved from: http //www.apa.org/monitor/2009/0 | /brain.aspx, Web... 20 August 2017
? Holder, M.K. , Ph.D., “What's Wrong with This Desk?", Handedness Research Institute, 2003, retrieved from:

hhttp://handedness org/action/fairdesks html, Web, 23 August 2017

ibid


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

tu
HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY HON. CRISTINA “CHIQUI” ROA-PUNO

AN ACT REQUIRING EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY TO PROVIDE LEFT-HANDED ARMCHAIRS

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

SEC. 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Mandatory Provision for Left-
Handed Armchairs in Educational Institutions Act”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy and Objective. — The State recognizes the vital role
of the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral,
spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. It is thereby declared the policy of the State
to promote the equal development of students, including those who are left-handed
Towards this end, the State shall require educational institutions to provide left-handed
armchairs to address the needs of the ten percent (10%) of the student population who are
left-handed

SEC. 3. Mandatory Provision for Left-Handed Armchairs. \t shall be obligatory
on all educational institutions, both private and public, to provide such number of left-
handed armchairs equivalent to at least ten percent (10%) of the student population.

The Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education and Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority are hereby authorized and directed to adopt
forthwith measures to implement and carry out the provisions of this Section. They shall,
within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate rules and regulations,
including those of a disciplinary nature, to carry out and enforce the provisions of this
Act.


SEC. 4. Separability Clause. — \f any provision or part of this Act is declared
invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected thereby shall
remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. — Laws, rules, regulations, orders, circulars, and other
issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SEC. 6. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.