FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 1511 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
... oJ 
The Constitution explicitly mandates the State to give highest budgetary priority to 
education. The rationale behind this mandate is not only to make education accessible to all but 
also to give q~ality education to all Filipinos. It is sad to note however, that the noble intent of 
the framer.s of the Constitution will be rendered meaningless if the present policy in the 
appointment of the major players in the educational system - the classroom teachers - will not be 
rectified. It has been observed that the appointment of classroom teachers has been made by 
considerations other than merits and fitness of the candidates. It is not infrequent when 
applicants without the necessary credentials except political connections are able to infiltrate and 
effectively deteriorate the teaching profession. The' ranking system, an effective method to 
detennine the teaching capability of the applicants, in most cases, has been disregarded. This 
situation has legions of skeptics in the appointment process. 
This bill therefore, seeks to strengthen the ranking system in the appointment of public 
school teachers. To effectively address this issue, the Local School Boards shall be empowered 
to screen and recommend applicants, who possess the necessary qualifications and standards, 
including the ranking system, set by the Department to any teaching position in their area of 
jurisdiction. The said Boards, being composed of local chief executives, division superintendents 
of schools, supervisors, chainnan of the education committee of local government'.units, duly 
elected president of the federation of parents-teachers association and the duly elected on 
academic personnel of public schools, are in a better position to detennine the needs of the 
school. This bill will also provide a check and balance to the appointing power of DepEd by 
granting the power to screen and recommend the applicants to another body, the Local School 
Boards. 
Thus, the appointment of non-qualified candidates will be severely restrained. It is the 
foremost intention of this important piece oflegislation to attract the best and the brightest to the 


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teaching position if only to provide quality education to all. This is a Senate counterpart bill to 
one filed in the House of Representatives by Rep. Emilio C. Macias.' 
~'-
4b.v<~ .O,y;k';; 
MlRIAM DEF!fJ~SOR S~TI~O 
!III 
• This bill was originally filed in the 14"' Congress. 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SEN~Ul 
S. No. .1\)11 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
I 
AN ACT 
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EMPOWERING THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO SCREEN AND RECOMMEND THE 
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APPLICANTS TO TEACHING POSITIONS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. The Local School Boards; Powers. - The Local School Boards are hereby 
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empowered to screen and recommend applicants to any teaching position in the Department of 
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Education, hereinafter referred to· as the Department; Provided, however, That the applicant 
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possesses the necessary qualifications and standards, including the ranking system, set by the 
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Department. 
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SECTION 2. Manner of appointment. - Public school teachers shall be appointed by the 
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Secretary of the Department or his duly authorized representative based on the recommendation 
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submitted by the Local School Boards. 
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SECTION 3. Rules and Regulations. - The Department, in coordination with the League 
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of Local Government Units, shall issue the implementing rules and regulations within sixty (60) 
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days upon approval of this Act. 
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SECTION 4. EffectiVity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
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in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
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