SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) 
Third Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No. 2975 
Tj jEP 3D P 2 :44 
Prepared by the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture with Senators Antonio 
"Sonny" Trillanes IV, Pia Cayetano, Loren Legarda and Sergio Osmeria III, as Authors 
Thereof 
"AN ACT RECOGNIZING THE BRITISH SCHOOL MANILA AS AN EDUCATIONAL 
INSTITUTION OF INTERNATIONAL CHARACTER, GRANTING CERTAIN 
PREROGATIVES CONDUCIVE TO ITS GROwrH AS SUCH, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES" 
Be enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Official Recognition. - The British School Manila, herein referred to as 
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the "School", operated by the British Education, Inc., is hereby declared and officially 
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recognized as an educational institution of international character authorized to operate 
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educational programs that primarily and principally adhere to universally accepted and 
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recognized educalional policies THROUGH ITS INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATIONS 
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FROM INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS COUNCIL OF INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS (CIS) 
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AND THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATTE OFFICE (IBO), WHICH CONFER 
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INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION TO STAKEHOLDERS ALL OVER THE WORLD. 
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THE SCHOOL SHALL BE 
SUBJECT TO APPLICABLE LAWS, RULES AND 
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REGULATIONS AND OTHER ISSUANCES ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND 
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TO SUCH LIMITATIONS AS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DEPED) MAY 
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IMPOSE. 
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SEC. 2. MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL. - THE SCHOOL SHALL BE COMPRISED 
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OF THE SCHOOL PERSONNEL OR MANAGEMENT, STUDENTS AND THEIR 
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PARENTS ANDIOR GUARDIANS, WHETHER OF THE PHILIPPINE OR FOREIGN 
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NATIONALITY. 
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SEC. [2] 3. Governing Body. - The School shall be governed by ITS BOARD OF 
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TRUSTEES ALSO KNOWN as the Council of Trustees, herein referred to as the 
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"Council", elected in accordance with THE CORPORATION CODE OF THE 
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PHILIPPINES AND its corporate charter: PROVIDED THAT, 
EIGHTY PERCENT 
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(80%) OF ITS TRUSTEES MUST BE RESIDENTS OF THE PHILIPPINES AND 
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1 
FORTY PERCENT (40%) OF WHICH MUST BE RESERVED FOR FILIPINOS: 
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PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL 
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DETERMINE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE TRUSTEES. 
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SEC. [3] 4. Grant of Prerogatives. - To enable the School to continue carrying out its 
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educational program, improve its standard of instruction and meet the special needs of 
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[the foreign temporary resident] ITS SCHOOL community for quality education, it shall: 
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(a) accept applicants for admission, regardless of nationality, in accordance with its 
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own eligibility standards and rules for admission and grade placement[;]: 
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PROVIDED, THAT THE SCHOOL SHALL NOT GIVE LESS PRIORITY TO THE 
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CITIZENS OF THE PHILIPPINES, AS ITS HOST COUNTRY BY ENSURING 
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THAT NO SINGLE ALIEN NATIONALITY SHALL CONSIST MORE THAN 
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THIRTY PERCENT (30%) OF THE ENTIRE STUDENT POPULATION IN A 
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GIVEN SCHOOL YEAR, AS STATED IN THE RECORDS OF THE SCHOOL; 
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(b) be managed and administered by a Head of School, who shall possess the 
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qualifications prescribed by the Council AND SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL 
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OF THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; 
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(c) upon [consultation with]THE APPROVAL OF the Secretary of the Department of 
18 
Education (DepEd): 
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I. 
determine its own curriculum; 
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II. 
ENDEAVOR 
TO 
PROMOTE 
INTERNATIONAL 
FRIENDSHIP, 
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GOODWILL AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG ITS STUDENTS. AS 
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WELL AS AMONG MEMBERS OF THE FOREIGN AND EDUCATIONAL 
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COMMUNITY AND CITIZENS OF THE PHILIPPINES; 
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III. 
ESTABLISH ITS calendar of studies and work schedule TO MAXIMIZE 
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EFFICIENCY AND MAINTAIN, ENHANCE, IMPROVE AND PROMOTE 
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THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION OR INSTRUCTION IT HAS ADOPTED 
FOR THE BENEFIT OF ITS STUDENTS; 
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IV. 
[and] teach whatever language or languages it may deem proper; 
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V. 
[and determine) IMPOSE REASONABLE [the) amount of fees and 
assessments [which may be reasonably imposed upon its students,] IN 
ACCORDANCE 
WITH 
THE 
RULES 
AND 
REGULATIONS 
PROMULGATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION [to maintain 
or conform to the School's standard of education); 
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(d) [maintain) UPHOLD standards of education compatible, IF NOT SUPERIOR with 
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those obtaining in similar schools of [generally) recognized INTERNATIONAL 
3 
standing; and 
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(E) ENGAGE AND SUPPORT THE HOST COUNTRY THROUGH MEANINGFUL 
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AND REFLECTIVE SERVICE AND PROVIDE AN ATMOSPHERE THAT 
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CREATES DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF CURRENT ISSUES WITHIN THE 
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CULTURAL CONTEXT; AND 
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[(e)] (F) employ [its own) QUALIFIED teaching and management personnel 
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selected by the Council either locally or abroad, from the Philippines or other 
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nationalities, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE QUALIFICATION STANDARDS 
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PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: PROVIDED, THAT FAIR 
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WAGES AND EQUAL REMUNERATION FOR WORK OF EQUAL VALUE 
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WITHOUT DISTINCTION FROM FILIPINO OR FOREIGN HIRED SHALL BE 
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IMPLEMENTED. S[s]uch foreign personnel ARE [being) exempt from laws that 
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impose nationality restrictions on control and administration of educational 
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institutions, except laws that have been or will be enacted for the protection of 
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employees: Provided, That such exception shall not extend to their liability from 
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income taxes. 
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SEC. 
5. 
SUPERVISION 
AND 
REGULATION 
OF 
THE 
DEPED-
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NOTWITHSTANDING THE 
RECOGNITION 
AND 
PREROGATIVES GRANTED 
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UNDER THIS ACT, BRITISH SCHOOL MANILA SHALL BE UNDER THE 
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SUPERVISION AND REGULATION OF THE DEPED AND SHALL ADHERE TO 
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BASIC LAWS, AND RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE DEPED GOVERNING 
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INTERNATIONAL OR FOREIGN SCHOOLS. 
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SEC. [4) 6. 
Implementing Rules AND REGULATIONS.- WITHIN NINETY (90) 
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DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT, The DepEd Secretary OR HIS 
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REPRESENTATIVE, SCHOOL'S ADMINISTRATION, REPRESENTATIVES FROM 
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THE SCHOOL PARENTS AND REPRESENTATIVE FROM PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL 
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1 
ASSOCIATIONS IN COORDINATION WITH THE OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 
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CONCERNED shall issue such rules as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of 
3 
this Act. 
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SEC. [5] 7. Severability CLAUSE - If any clause, sentence, paragraph or part of this 
5 
Act is subsequently declared unconstitutional, the validity of the remaining provisions 
6 
hereof shall remain in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 8. REPEALING CLAUSE - ALL LAWS, DECREES, ORDERS, RULES OR 
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REGULATIONS, OR PARTS THEREOF, INCONSISTENT WITH THIS DECREE ARE 
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HEREBY REPEALED OR MODIFIED ACCORDINGLY. 
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SEC. [6] 9. Effectivity CLAUSE - This Act shall take effect [immediately upon its 
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approval] FIFTEEN (15) DAYS AFTER ITS PUBLICATION IN THE OFFICIAL 
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GAZETTE AND IN A NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL CIRCULATION. 
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Approved, 
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