REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

6905

House Bill N

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

‘The founding of the Philippine Science High School System in 1964 sought to address the
country’s increasing need for individuals trained in the undertaking of innovations in science and
technology. The Philippine Science High School, likewise generously provided for the development
of gifted individuals in such field, bringing under its tutelage the most competent minds from across
the country in hopes of changing this country for the better.

What is often understated and ignominiously ignored, however is the need for honest,
competent, and responsible leaders; and the establishment of an educational institution that shall
address this insufficiency through the rigorous training of gifted students interested in assuming
leadership positions in our government.

Hence, this proposed measure shall establish the National Leadership High School that shall
be fully equipped to undertake the training and education of competent individuals in public policy
and administration; military training and discipline; and the principles of effective leadership and
good governance. Under this Act, all students with the motivation and required talents to undertake
leadership positions in key government institutions shall be given the full attention, training, and
education that our students from the field of science and technology, through the Philippine Science
High School, currently enjoys.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earnestly sought.



REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

6905

House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP HIGH SCHOOL
AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “National Leadership High School
(NLHS) Act of 2017”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — The State shall hereby establish a high school to be known
as the National Leadership High School, which shall prioritize the inculcation of the values of strong
and effective leadership, good governance, patriotism, social awareness, and their application on
social justice reform. It will spearhead the nation’s leadership education, training, and services with
special emphasis on subjects pertaining to public policy and administration; military training and
discipline, and the principles of effective leadership and good governance with the end in view of
preparing its students for a career in government service.

SEC. 3. Objectives. — In implementing the foregoing policy, the State shall pursue the
following objectives:

a) Rationalize the establishment of leadership high schools as defined.

b) Ensure uniformity in quality standards and systematize operations of schools under
the NLHS.

) Ensure that every region is given equal opportunity to benefit from the establishment
of the NLHS.

SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. — For the purposes of this Act:

a) National Leadership High School (NLHS) is a secondary education school
offering scholarships to deserving students who shall be admitted and trained under a


curriculum specially designed to prepare them for careers in public administration and
governance.

b) Term refers to term of office.

SEC. 5. Admissions. — Admission to the National Leadership High School shall be
determined through competitive entrance examinations. A passing rate of eighty-five percent (85%)
shall be strictly observed.

SEC. 6. Student Population. — The student population shall not exceed 1000 students, of
which, 70% of the slots shall be comprised of scholars and the remaining 30% shall be opened for
qualified applicants willing to pay for tuition and miscellaneous fees.

SEC. 7. Student Quota Distribution. — To the maximum extent practicable, the high school
shall observe the following quota distribution for the student population in the admission of passing
examinees:

a) forty percent (40%) shall be prioritized for passing examinees from the upper
socioeconomic classes, with an average annual family income of 600,000 pesos and
above; and

b) the remaining sixty percent (60%) of the student population shall then be equally
distributed to passing examinees from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao with twenty
percent (20%) each.

SEC. 8. Student Dormitories. — Students shall stay on separate dormitories for men and
women during weekdays and shall only be authorized to leave on weekends and holidays.

‘A headmaster shall be appointed by the board of trustees to maintain order, ensure discipline,
and enforce the dormitory rules and regulations to be formulated by the board.

SEC. 9. Benefits for Graduates of the NLHS. — Graduates of the National Leadership High
School shall also receive the following benefits after graduation:

1) an exemption from taking the Philippine Military Academy Entrance Examination.
Graduates shall only have to pass the required medical and physical examinations to
qualify for the Philippine Military Academy;

2) an exemption from taking the Philippine National Police Academy Entrance
Examination. Graduates shall only have to pass the required medical and physical
examinations to qualify for the Philippine National Police Academy;

3) a scholarship grant in the University of the Philippines system; and

4) an automatic qualification for a Civil Service 1 Level Eligibility (Sub-
Professional) Certificate.


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SEC. 10. Return Service Clause. — NLHS graduates, upon completion of their college
education, are required to serve under any government office equivalent to one year for each year of
schooling. Failure to comply shall result to the full reimbursement of the expenses incurred by the
high school for each academic year a student has been enrolled.

SEC. 11. Overall Coordinating Authority. — The NLHS shall be under the administrative
supervision of the Department of National Defense.

SEC. 12. National Leadership High School Director. - The NLHS shall be headed by a
Director. He shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees as hereinafter provided,
which Board shall also fix his compensation and the term of his office. His functions, powers and
duties, in addition to those specifically pertaining for in this Act, shall be those usually pertaining to
the office of the principal of any high school in the Philippine educational system.

SEC. 13. Board of Trustees. - There shall be a Board of Trustees composed of the Secretary
of Defense as ex-officio Chairman, the Secretary of Education as ex-officio Vice Chairman, and the
following members: The Secretary of Interior and Local Government, the President of the U.P., the
Executive Director of NLHS, the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the President
from the NLHS National Alumni Association as ex-officio members; and two (2) representatives
from the private sector. The private sector representatives shall be appointed by the Chairman subject
to the confirmation of the Board of Trustees. The appointed representatives from the private sector
shall serve for a term of six (6) years.

SEC. 14. Powers of the Board of Trustees. - The Board shall have all the powers and
prerogatives of a board of directors of a private corporation. It shall also have the following powers,
among others:

a) formulate policies and guidelines for the administration and operation of the NLHS;
b) formulate the house rules and regulations for the boarding houses;

c) approve appointment, promotion, retention, renewal, rewards and incentives for
faculty and staff, fix their compensation and other conditions of employment, and
remove them for cause after proper investigation and hearing;

4) approve the curricula submitted by the Executive Director;

) approve the criteria for the selection and admission of students;

£) approve the grant of scholarship, stipend and such allowances for students;

g) approve the graduation of successful candidates from the various NLHS
campuses;

h) formulate policies and rules of discipline for students, faculty and staff;


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i) approve the NLHS budget, receive and appropriate to the ends specified by law
such sums as may be provided by law for the support of the school;

j) receive grants whether cash, land, buildings and improvements thereof; donations,
contributions, bequests, gifts, and to formulate policies for the administration
thereof;

k) approve the use of all income generated by the school in the pursuit of its
functions and donations received in trust by individual campuses, according to the
purpose of the donor and intention of the donation. In cases where income/donation
received is not intended for a particular campus, the Board shall likewise appropriate
the same for the benefit of the System or any part thereof;

1) develop policies for the expansion of enrollment in the campuses under the NLHS
System;

m) establish policies and formulate guidelines/criteria, requirements necessary to
rationalize the establishment and operation of science high schools under the System
in order to maintain the quality and uniform standard inherent of a bona fide NLHS;
and

1) prepare strategic plans to enhance the capability of the school in developing
human resources with focus on youth with proven acuity in public administration
and governance

SEC. 15. Quorum of the Board. - A quorum of the Board shall consist of majority of all the
members holding office at the time a meeting is called.

SEC. 16. Yearly Progress Report. - On or before the first of June of each year the Board
shall submit to the President of the Philippines a detailed report on the progress, condition and
needs of the High School.

SEC. 17. Tax-Exemption on Gifts, Donations and Others. - All legacies, gifts and donations
for the benefit of the High School or for its support and maintenance or for aid to any of its students
shall be tax-exempt and shall be an allowable deduction from the gross-income of the donors. For the
purpose of the income tax, the high school shall be exempt from payment of all taxes, fees,
assessments and other charges of the Government, its branches and subdivisions. It shall likewise be
exempt from taxes and duties on any equipment, books, articles, goods or services it may import from
abroad, including withholding taxes on honoraria or fees paid by the high school to visiting lecturers
or professors from abroad.

SEC. 18. Leadership High School Fund. - All incomes and donations to the High School
created under this Act shall be formed into a fund, to be known as the Leadership High School fund.
‘This fund shall be expended as authorized by the Board exclusively for the purpose of this Act.

SEC. 19. Appropriations. - To carry out the purpose of this Act, including the operation of
the High School, the acquisition, improvement, and conditioning of the land on which the High


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School shall be located, the construction, maintenance, and repair of buildings and improvements,
and the acquisition of furniture, fixtures and equipment, the initial fund of one billion pesos is hereby
appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated.

Thereafter, the expenses of the High School, for the purposes above-described, shall be
provided in the yearly General Appropriation Acts of the National Government, provided, however,
that any unexpected balance for any shall also form part of the aforementioned Leadership High
‘School Fund.

SEC. 20. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Board of Trustees shall formulate the
implementing rules and regulations to carry out the implementation of this Act.

SEC. 21. Separability Clause. — Any provision of this Act declared as unconstitutional or
invalid, the other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected shall continue to be in full force
and effect.

SEC. 22. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or portions
thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 23. Effectivity.— This Act shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

Approved,