THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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"194 JUQl 313 P3 5 2  
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator S. R. Osmeiia Ill 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In the information age that we live in, the leaps and bounds achieved by 
industries associated with information technology have made possible the rapid 
dissemination of advancements in science, technology, agriculture, engineering, 
and many other fields of knowledge. 
If the Philippine labor force is to catch up with the rest of the world, 
Philippine policy makers should be cognizant of the fact that today, computer 
literacy is a skill that is as basic to a student as mathematics, language or 
reading literacy. 
This bill seeks to establish the Board on Computer Education as the 
government agency that will be tasked to promote the development of computer 
literacy among Filipino students. It also proposes enabling measures and 
incentives such as tax-free importation of computer hardware by accredited 
entities in order to facilitate the implementation of a computer literacy program in 
nineteen of the country's poorest provinces. 
Our abundant supply of labor will turn out to be a liability unless our 
workers are adequately equipped with the skills needed to compete in the global 
arena. This measure proposes to achieve the goal of a competitive Philippine 
labor force through computer education. 
In view of the foregoing, early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
h 
SERGIO OSMENA 111 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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"04 JCiW 30 P3 5 2  
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
S. No. 
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Introduced by Senator S. R. OsmeAa 111 
AN ACT 
TO INTEGRATE A COMPUTER EDUCATION PROGRAM INTO THE 
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Sec. 1. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to 
promote functional computer literacy in all schools, at the earliest possible stage, 
and in a manner that is most efficient and effective in producing a population that 
is highly skilled in the creation, use and manipulation of computer software. In 
this regard, private sector initiative and participation shall always be encourage to 
achieve this policy objective. 
Sec. 2. Board on Computer Education; Creation, Power and Functions. - 
A Board on Computer Education, hereafter referred to as Board, is hereby 
created to implement the provision of this Act and for this purpose shall have the 
following powers and shall exercise the following functions: 
a) 
supervise the accreditation of the computer schools which 
will participate in the program; 
b). 
assess and provide for the necessary training of the 
personnel of computer schools on methods of teaching; 
c) 
prepare the curriculum for computer-aided logic, math and 
science education in the elementary level; 
d) 
monitor the performance of the computer schools; 
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e) 
f) 
evaluate the abilities of the students enrolled in the program; 
issue and implement all rules and regulations provided for in 
this Act; and 
g) 
exercise all other powers and functions which may be 
necessary to carry out the provision of this Act. 
Sec. 3. Board Composition. - The Board shall be composed of the 
following Members: 
a) 
One (I) 
representative from the Department of Education 
(DepEd) to be nominated by the Secretary of DepEd; 
b) 
One (1) representative from the Commission on Higher 
Education (CHED) to be nominated by the CHED Chairman; 
c) 
One (I) 
representative from the Department of Science and 
Technology to be nominated by the Secretary and Technology to be 
nominated by the Secretary of the Department of Science and 
Tech no logy . 
d) 
One (I) 
representative from the duly accredited professional 
organizations of computer programmers and system analysts to be 
nominated by the recognized leadership of these organizations; 
e) 
One 
representative 
from 
the 
National 
Economic 
Development Authority, to be nominated by the Secretary-General of the 
National Economic Development Authority; 
The representative from the DepEd shall serve as Chairman of the Board. 
The Chairman and the Members shall be appointed by the President of 
the Republic of the Philippines for a term of five (5) years and shall have the rank 
and compensation of a Bureau of Director. 
Sec. 4. Promotion of the Build-Operate- Transfer (BOP) scheme and 
other similar arrangements. 
amended, shall be applied 
- The provision of Republic Act No. 6957, as 
to the construction, operation and servicing of 
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computer education and its facilities, provided that any contractual arrangement 
that will be utilized for this purpose shall additionally provide for the following: 
a) A training program for teachers not only on computer literacy but also 
on the maintenance and servicing of computer education facilities; and 
b) An apprenticeship program for interested students of the public school 
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being serviced whereby they may be employed as apprentices for the education 
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component or for the facilities maintenance component of computer education. 
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The build-operate-transfer arrangement or any other similar arrangements 
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provided for in Republic Act No. 6957, as amended, may be bidded out and 
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awarded at the school district level or at the school level, in accordance with the 
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Sec. 
5. 
Institutionalization of the Voucher System for Specialized 
implementing rules and regulations to be issued by the Board. 
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Computer Education in the Nineteen (79) Poorest Provinces. - In addition to 
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Section 4 hereof, there shall be created a voucher system for specialized 
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computer education in the country’s nineteen (19) poorest provinces whereby 
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each of these provinces shall be given the amount of Five Million Pesos 
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(P5,000,000.00) each year from the annual budget allocated for the 
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Students in these provinces who have completed secondary education 
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shall be allowed to take competitive aptitude examinations in specialized 
implementation of the specialized computer education program, or such amount 
as may be latter on provided by law. 
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computer education. 
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Students who have passed such qualifying examinations, or as many of 
those who may be provided funds from the annual budget, shall be given a 
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voucher worth Five Thousand Pesos (P5,OOO.OO) each, or such amount as may 
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be later on provided by law, to enroll in a computer school of his or her choice, to 
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finish advanced and specialized computer courses such as, but not limited to, 
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advanced programming, computer-aided design, hardware design, networking, or 
such other courses that may be identified by the Board. 
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Each student shall be entitled to only one voucher. The Board shall issue 
the implementing rules and regulations to ensure that students do not enroll in 
more than one school, or that enrollment figures reflect actual enrollment. Student 
found guilty of violating this one-voucher-per-student rule shall be subject to the 
penalties provided hereunder. 
Sec. 6. Accreditation of Computer Education Service Providers. - All 
entities participating the activities described in Section 4 and 5 hereof must be 
accredited by the Board as bona fide participants. The accreditation must be 
renewed for every period of not less than one year but not more than five years. 
Accreditation shall be based on the following criteria: 
a> 
b) 
The quality of the computers and other peripherals to be 
provided and the other peripherals to be provided and the other physical 
infrastructures to be built, operated or used which must ensure quality of 
education and minimum health and safety standards; 
c> 
issue minimum standards for evaluating teaching ability; and 
d) 
students on performance measures to be designed by the Board. 
The curriculum meet the standards provided for by the Board; 
The capability of the service provider’s instructors. The Board will 
With respect to renewal of applications, the performance of the 
Sec. 
7. 
Curriculum of Publicly-funded Computer Education. - The 
computer literacy program acknowledges the vital participation of the private 
sector in the scheme, but the curriculum shall be prepared by the Board. 
The curriculum should make use of computer-assisted education to teach 
elementary students the basic courses of math, science and logic. These 
courses will prepare the student for the demands of computer programming and 
system analysis, as well as strengthen the learning the student receives from the 
formal educational system. 
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The Board will also prepare the curriculum for computer programming and 
popular software utilization, which will be taught at the high school level. 
Sec. 8. Moniforing and lncenfives on Performance. - Monitoring of the 
program shall be done to maintain the quality of education being given to the 
students. Performance measures shall include, but not be limited to, the 
following: 
a. 
b. 
Testing 
C. 
National competitions; and 
d. 
The Board shall formulate or commission the formulation of a performance 
periodic renewal of accreditation or license to operate. 
Unannounced visits to participating schools. 
index which will be used in assessing the performance of the participating 
schools. The latest results of the evaluation of all schools shall be published 
before the start of every school year. 
The Board shall formulate a system of rewards and incentives to promote 
excellence among the service providers. 
Sec. 9. . Tax-free lmportafion of Computer Hardware and Soffware. - All 
entities who have been accredited, or who have obtained contracts as 
participants in the activities provided for in Sections 4 and 5 hereof shall be given 
fiscal incentives. 
These incentives shall include the tax-free importation of all computer 
hardware, software, peripherals and documentary materials. However, these 
incentives shall be limited to imports that are intended for the schools. These 
incentives shall last for a period of not more than ten years from the effectivity of 
this Act. 
The Board shall issue the implementing rules and regulations for the 
availment of the incentives described herein. 
Sec. 10. Phased Implementation. - The computer education program 
shall be implemented in phases to ensure that program and infrastructure 
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requirement shall be met, to prepare the private sector for the demand for 
computer schools and equipment, and to prime-up the local demand for 
computer-literate workers. 
The implementation shall be done in accordance with the following 
objectives: 
(a) 
the graduation, one year from the effectivity of this Act, of a 
corps of high-school students who can manipulate the most popular 
computer application programs in the areas of word processing, database 
encoding and spreadsheets; 
(b) 
the graduation, three years from the effectivity of this Act, of 
a corps of high school students who are not only literate in the applications 
described in paragraph (a) herein, but also in basic programming and 
system analysis; and 
(c) 
the immediate use of computer-aided education which will 
complement the academic instructions in math, science and logic. 
Sec. 
11. 
Community Linkages. - 
Other software and computer 
programming may be taught by the schools and service providers under a 
community link-up system whereby additional training on the use of special 
software can be paid for by interested business or manufacturing firms in the 
community. The business community will also be encouraged to expand and 
update their 
manufacturing 
procedures to 
achieve 
efficiency 
through 
computerization or computer-controlled processes. 
Sec. 12. Budget and Funding. - An initial budget of One Hundred Million 
Pesos (PlOO,OOO,OOO,OO) 
to be disbursed from the earnings of the lotteries 
conducted by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office is hereby appropriated 
for the payment of the services to be provided under Sections 4 and 5 of this Act 
as well as for the expenses related to the establishment and operation of the 
Board. Thereafter, the funds necessary for the continuous implementation of this 
Act shall be included in the yearly General Appropriations Act. 
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The administrative expenses related to the implementation of this Act shall 
not be more than three percent (3%) of the annual appropriations for this 
Computer Education Program. 
Sec. 13. Penalties. - Any person found guilty of violating the provisions 
of Section 5 hereof shall be meted the following penalties: 
a) 
The student shall pay the full cost of tuition, with interest 
thereon. The payment may be in cash, or in its equivalent in terms of 
community service. 
b) 
The accreditation of the service providers found guilty of 
padding their enrollment figures, or for knowingly permitting a student to 
violate the provisions of Section 5 hereof shall be suspended, for the first 
offense; and cancelled for the second offense, without prejudice to the 
payment of twice the amount of reimbursement resulting from the padded 
enrollment as fine. 
Sec. 14. Rules and Regulations. - Within forty five (45) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Board shall promulgate the necessary rules and 
regulations for the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act. 
Sec. 15. Separability Clause. - In the event that any provisions of this 
Act is declared unconstitutional, the validity of the other provisions shall not be 
affected by such declaration. 
Sec. 
16. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders 
regulations, or portions thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby 
rules and 
epealed or 
modified accordingly. 
Sec. 17. Effectivity Clause. - This law shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
Amroved. 
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