Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSEBILLNo. 1604

Introduced by Honorable Danilo Ramon S. Fernandez

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish a Center for Filipino Gifted and Talented Children.

The gifted and talented children are the most important human resource of a
nation, The need to address the development of their potential should be given due
consideration. Unfortunately, our country’s school system has not offered full
programs and services that cater to such needs. Though many Filipino children
demonstrate an above average general intellectual and potential ability in the fields of
arts, music, humanities, science and mathematics, their mental capabilities remain
untapped.

While it is true that there are schools that have been established to cater to the
needs of gified and talented children, only a handful is given the chance to try their
luck in those institutions. These schools thoroughly filter prospective students by
way of examinations leaving behind other gifted and talented children without special
education that befit them.

With this bill, gifted and talented children will be given the right amount of
care and attention. For those who cannot afford to go to reputable schools, they can
avail of scholarships and grant-in-aids that will nurture and develop their intellectual
potential and abilities. Special training programs will also be given to teachers,
guidance counsellors and school administrators to assist them in meeting the special
needs of these gifted and talented students. Lastly, the proposed center under this bill
will make advanced education within reach even to the neediest of families.

Hence, the approval of this



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO,__ 1604

Introduced by Honorable Danilo Ramon S. Fernandez

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A CENTER FOR FILIPINO GIFTED AND
TALENTED CHILDREN AND APPROPRIATING 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
“Gifted and Talented Children Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~\t shall be the policy of the State
to recognize and discharge its responsibilities to strengthen and actively
promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall
take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. In pursuance
thereto, the State shall:

(a) Encourage the personal development of gifted and talented

children by providing scholarships, grants-in-aid, or other forms of
incentives to deserving arts, music and science students,

researchers, scientists, inventors and technologists;


(b) Establish a Center to implement the national program for the gifted
and talented children;

(c) Identify the gifted and talented children from ages 3 to 16;

(d)Provide special training programs for teachers, guidance
counsellors, school administrators, other personnel and parents;

(e) Provide logistical and infrastructure support that will effectively
supplement the curricular programs for the Filipino gifted and
talented children; and

(f) Establish and maintain linkages with national, international,
governmental and non-governmental organizations, institutions
and counterpart agencies involved in or relevant to programs for
Filipino gifted and talented children.

SEC. 3 Center for the Gifted and Talented Children. — There
shall be established, under the supervision of the Board of Regents of the
University of the Philippines (UP), a Center for the gifted and talented
children, hereinafter referred to as the “Center.” The Center shall perform
its functions in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd).

For purposes of this Act, “gifted and talented children” refer to
children from three (3) to sixteen (16) years old who show advanced
development and potential or at least above average intellectual ability or

talent in any of the following areas:


Verbal or Linguistic Intelligence refers to the ability to use with
clarity the core operations of language. Poets, authors, reporters,
public speakers, solicitors and talk show hosts may exhibit verbal
or linguistic intelligence:

. Logical or Mathematical Intelligence refers to the skillful ability to
reason, recognize significant problems and solve them, explore
abstract systems and explain physical reality. Scientists,
mathematicians, researchers, physicists and engineers may
demonstrate logical and mathematical intelligence;

Body or Kinesthetic Intelligence refers to the control of one’s body
motions and the ability to handle objects. Actors, dancers, athletes
and acrobats may possess body or kinesthetic intelligence;

Visual or Spatial Intelligence refers to the ability to perceive space
accurately, mental imagery and transform it to produce graphic
likeness of the spatial information. Painters, sculptors,
cartographers, surgeons, architects, navigators have highly
developed spatial intelligence; and

. Musical or Rhythmic Intelligence refers to the ability to use the set
of musical elements: pitch, rhythm and timbre and the qualities of
a tone. Musical intelligence maybe demonstrated by singers,
composers, instrumentalists, conductors and by those who enjoy,

understand and appreciate music.


Gifted and talented children likewise include science-oriented youth
‘or those who have demonstrated above average performance in science and
mathematics.

SEC. 4. Executive Council. — The Executive Council is hereby
created to ensure the effective coordination and implementation of the
programs established under this Act which shall be composed of the
following:

a} President of the UP System, as Chairman;

b) Secretaries of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)

and of the DepEd, as vice-Chairmen;

c) Executive Director of the Center;

d) National Chairman of the National Commission for Culture and

the Arts;

¢) Executive Director of the Philippine Science High School System;

f) Director of the Philippine Science High School for the Arts; and

z) Two (2) private sector representatives from industries and

institutions involved in providing programs for gifted and talented
children appointed by the UP Board of Regents, as members.

SEC. 5. Powers and Duties. — The Executive Council shall
exercise the following powers and duties:

a) Formulate policies and guidelines for the administration and

operation of the Center;


b) Formulate policies on the staffing, appointment, promotion,
retention, removal, renewal, rewards, and incentives for support
personnel;

c) Approve the grant of scholarships, stipends and allowances for
students;

d) Approve the internal operating budget of the Center in accordance
with the provisions of law;

¢) Receive grants, donations, contributions, bequests, gifts in cash or
in kind and to formulate policies for the administration thereof:

f) Receive and appropriate all sums as may be provided for by law
for the support of the Center to the end specified by law, and all
other sums in the manner it may, in its discretion, determine to
carry out the objectives of the Program;

8) Provide the Executive Director with technical, administrative and

other support services for the efficient and effective
implementation of the functions; and

h) Provide for its own rules of procedure, and to prescribe for the
administration of the Center such rules and regulations, not
contrary to law as are consistent with the objectives of the

Program.


SEC. 6. Executive Director. — The Center for the Gifted and
Talented Children shall be headed by an Executive Director and such other
personnel as maybe determined by the UP Board of Regents.

The Executive Director shall provide for the Secretariat Services of
the Executive Council and shall coordinate the implementation of the
policies and guidelines set by the Executive Council.

SEC. 7. Incentives for Donations. — Donations to the Center shall
be deposited in a trust fund to be used in accordance with the provisions of
this Act. Gifts or bequests in the form of cash, land, building, or
improvements thereon from private entities or individuals in support of
programs for gifted and talented children and science-oriented youth, as
certified by the Center, shall be exempt from the donor’s tax: Provided,
however, That not more than thirty percent (30%) of said gifts shall be used
by the Center for administration purpose. Said tax exemption shall be
granted in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue
Code, as amended.

SEC. 8. Appropriations. — The amount necessary for the
implementation of this Act shall be charged to the appropriations for the
University of the Philippines. Thereafter, such sum as may be needed for
the operation and maintenance of the school shall be included in the annual

General Appropriations Act.


SEC. 9. National Celebration of Giftedness. — In recognition of
the efforts and contributions of the gifted and talented children, the President
of the Philippines may declare one week each year as National Giftedness

Week.

SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Board of
Regents of the University of the Philippines shall, in collaboration with
DOST and DepEd, issue the rules and regulations necessary for the effective

implementation of this Act.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders,
proclamations, rules and regulations, and issuances, or parts thereof, which
are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or

amended accordingly.

SEC. 12.  Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspapers of

general circulation.

Approved,