EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
:r .
S E N A T E
*19 JUL 16 All
Senate
In tro d u ce d  by Senator Juan M iguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
SYNCHRONIZING THE OPENING OF ALL CLASSES IN  ALL SCHOOLS
IN  THE PHILIPPINES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 1, Article XIV of the 1987 Constitution affirms the policy of the State to 
protect and promote the right of every Filipino to quality education at all levels and take 
appropriate steps to make education accessible to all.
Education is a powerful tool in combating poverty. We must educate our youth 
with the knowledge of the world. As it is, we have laws that provide access to free 
education from the elementary to tertiary levels which are envisioned to give better 
opportunities to Filipinos and improve their economic status. With recent changes in our 
economic landscape, the country needs to step up to keep up with globalization. 
In 
addition to this, the advent of the ASEAN Integration in 2015 has brought so much 
opportunities in the country especially in the education sector.
This bill aims to harmonize the opening of classes among all schools in the country 
and synchronize the country's academic or school calendar with the rest of the world. 
Presently, the Philippines still follows a June to March school calendar while most 
educational institutions across the world commences school from August to September 
of each year. Synchronization of our academic calendar will allow our schools, students 
and faculty members to fully participate and benefit from research activities, exchange 
programs, and training programs from educational institutions overseas. This will also 
allow foreign students and faculty members to avail of exchange programs, research and 
other trainings offered by Philippine educational institutions.
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
UEL F. ZU B IR I


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
iC!. (I- of t 
:
S E N A T E
•19 JUL 16 All 51
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
SYNCHRONIZING THE OPENING OF ALL CLASSES IN  ALL SCHOOLS
IN  THE PHILIPPINES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representative o f the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Synchronizing the S tart o f the School Year. -  Any provisions
2 
of law to the contrary notwithstanding, the start of the school year beginning the
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immediately succeeding school year following the passage of this Act shall be
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synchronized.
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The school year shall start on the second Monday of August but not later than the
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second Monday of September.
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In the implementation of this Act, the Secretary of the Department of Education
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(DepEd) and the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall be
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guided by the provisions of Republic Act No. 7977 insofar as they are not inconsistent
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with this Act.
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SEC. 2. Im plem enting Rules and Regulations. —  The DepEd and the CHED
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in coordination with the associations of private schools shall promulgate the
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corresponding implementing rules and regulations of this Act within sixty (60) days from
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the date of its effectivity.
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SEC. 3. Repealing and Amendatory Clause. -  Section 3 of Republic Act No.
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7977 and all other laws, decrees, orders, regulations and policies inconsistent with the
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provisions of this Act are hereby repealed and/or amended accordingly.
18 
SEC. 4. Separability Clause. -  If any provision or part of this Act is held invalid
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or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected hereby shall remain valid and
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subsisting.
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SEC. 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 21
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publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette, 22
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whichever comes first.
Approved.