FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
.. 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1154 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Non-formal education (NFE) programs and projects are implemented by 
the Department of Education (DepEd) through the Bureau of Non-formal 
Education in each of the regions of the country. Each region is subdivided into 
school divisions. Each division is further subdivided into school districts 
numbering 2,046 all over the Philippines. 
The District NFE coordinators are the persons most directly and actively 
involved in the overall implementation and coordination of NFE programs and 
projects within the service of the school division. While the Division NFE 
supervisor serves as planner/policy-maker, the District NFE coordinator is the 
immediate implementing personnel of such plans or project proposals in the 
schools and communities involved in the district areas. The position calls for 
dynamic leadership and creative talent in order to convert NFE plans or 
programs and ideas into wholesome, productive and income-generating 
activities. 
It was precisely in view of the importance of the position that NFE 
workshops and seminars as well as scholarship programs leading to the degree 
of Master of Arts in Non-formal Education were initiated by DepEd. Indeed, there 
are, at present, a number of colleges and universities, both public and private, 
which offer undergraduate courses in NFE. 
Now district NFE coordinators also perform the work of classroom 
teachers with teaching loads. For all their responsibilities, they are only paid the 
salary of elementary grade teachers. To this day, there is no item for district NFE 
coordinators in the plantilla of every school district in the country. 
It is strongly believed that the creation of national budget items for district 
non- formal education coordinators will not only do justice to school teachers who 
are made to perform dual functions but will also go a long way in giving the NFE 
programs and projects the focus and the attention they deserve. After all, such 
programs provide perhaps the only opportunity for a great number of our people, 
adult and children alike, to have access to some systematized educational 
activity outside the framework of the formal school system. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
MANNY ILLAR 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No.11S 4 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE STRENGTHENING OF NON-FORMAL EDUCATION BY 
CREATING 
ITEMS 
FOR 
DISTRICT 
NON-FORMAL, 
EDUCATION 
COORDINATORS AND TEACHERS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to 
plan, implement and encourage non-formal and indigenous education programs 
that would respond to community needs and provide adult citizens, the disabled 
and out-of-school youths with the necessary skills to make them productive 
members of society. 
SEC. 2. Creation of Positions. - The position of district non-formal 
education coordinator is hereby created in every school district in the Philippines, 
Elementary grade teachers who are actually designated and performing the 
duties and functions of a district non-formal education coordinator shall have the 
rank and privileges of an elementary school principal subject to adjustments 
approved by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). 
There shall also be created items for at least two teachers for non-formal 
education in each school district under the Bureau of Non-Formal Education of 
the Department of Education (DepEd). Each NFE teacher shall have the rank 
and privileges of a regular teacher under the Department. 
SEC. 3. Duties - The district coordinators and teachers shall be 
responsible for the year-round implementation of the projects and programs of 
the Bureau of Non-Formal Education. Furthermore, they shall initiate and plan 
such other programs as they may deem necessary for the advancement of non-
formal education in their respective districts and shall maintain close working 
relationship with the school principal and with the nongovernmental organizations 
(NGO's) duly accredited by the Department of Education. 
SEC. 4. Qualifications - The district non-formal education coordinators 
shall meet the qualification sta'ndards to be determined by the Department of 
Education: Provided, however, That, in case of district non-formal education 
teachers the qualification standards shall be appropriate to the nature and scope 
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of the various non-formal education activities- Provided, further, That, the 
following general qualifications for both are met: 
(4.1) Possess an appropriate civil service eligibility or its equivalent; 
(4.2) Appropriate training and/or experience in non-traditional methods of 
learning; 
(4.3) Ability to organize and implement non-formal education programs 
and activities-, and 
(4.4) Skills in literacy education and livelihood development. 
Each non-formal education teacher must possess such skills, training and 
qualifications necessary for the effective implementation of non-formal education 
programs. 
SEC. 5. Appropriations. - The amount needed to carry out the provisions 
of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the 
Department of Education appropriated for the non-formal education. Thereafter, 
such sums as may be necessary for the operation and maintenance of the 
program and to carry out the purposes of this Act shall be included in the General 
Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 6. Implementing Guidelines. - The Secretary of Education shall 
issue the necessary guidelines for the immediate and effective implementation of 
this Act within sixty (60) days of its approval: Provided, however, That such 
guidelines shall include a proviso on complementation with the Technical 
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) with respect to skills 
development and with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on the pre-
service education of NFE coordinators and teachers. 
The Secretary shall submit to both Committees on Education of the 
Senate and House of Representatives copies of the implementing rules and 
guidelines within thirty (30) days after its promulgation. 
Any violation of this section shall render the official/s concerned liable 
under RA No. 6713, otherwise known as the "Code of Conduct and Ethical 
Standards for Public Officials and Employees" and other existing administrative 
and/or criminal laws. 
SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, acts, rules and regulations 
or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly. 
SEC. 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other 
provisions thereof. 
SEC. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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