FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
-7 
/j's 
-1; 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
% 
i d . .  
First Regular Session 
1 
S. B. No. sENAf5 
I 3 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 11 provides: 
Section 17. The State shall give priority to education, science and 
technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, 
accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development. 
Technology in the schools is a central component of preparing students €or the 21" 
century. Equipping schools with technology is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity. 
Technology in the classroom improves students' mastery of basic skills, test scores, 
writing, and engagement in school. With these gains come decreases in dropout rates and 
decreases in attendance and discipline problems. 
Not 
enough 
students have 
access 
to 
computers, 
distance 
learning, 
and 
telecommunications technologies. In fact, many public schools do not have any computers, while 
few have older models that do not have the power to perform advanced functions, such as those 
involving video and the Internet. 
The purpose of this bill is to establish educational technology clearinghouses to facilitate 
the donation of surplus equipment and technology to schools and libraries from governmental 
agencies, businesses, and other private entities.* 
' This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
I 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
~~ 
~ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY CLEARINGHOUSES 
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 “Educational Technology 
Clearinghouse Act.” 
SECTION 2. Purpose. - It is the purpose of this Act to authorize a program to support 
regional educational technology clearinghouses that facilitate the donation of surplus equipment 
and technology to schools and libraries from governmental agencies, businesses, and other 
private entities. 
SECTION 3. Authority. - The Secretary of Education shall make grants to or enter into 
contracts with regional public or private nonprofit entities for the purpose of supporting a system 
of regional educational technology clearinghouses. 
In awarding the grants or contract, the Secretary shall ensure that each geographic region 
of the country is served by such an entity. 
SECTION 4. Requirements. - Each entity receiving a grant or contract under this Act 
shall- 
(A) In cooperation with regional program to support a clearinghouse that facilitates the 
transfer of surplus equipment and technology to schools and libraries from 
governmental agencies, businesses, and other private entities; 
Disseminate information to regional educational agencies about the availability and 
procurement of the equipment and technology through the clearinghouse; 
(B) 
1 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
(C) Disseminate information to the public about activities assisted under this Act, 
including information about the donations being accepted by the clearinghouse; 
(D) Have in place a process or ensuring that surplus equipment and technology is 
distributed in a fair and equitable manner, with school districts with the greatest 
need for such equipment and technology receiving priority for donations under this 
Act; 
[E) 
Provide technical assistance to a school or library to ensure the equipment and 
technology being donated is consistent with the short-term and long-term 
educational technology plans for the school or library, respectively; \ 
(F) Use finds under this Act to upgrade equipment or technology only if the entity 
determines such upgrading meets the short-term and long-term educational plan of 
the school or library receiving the equipment or technology; and 
(G) Ensure that the transfer of equipment and technology does not violate copyright, 
patents, or trademark laws. 
SECTION 5. Authorization of Appropriations. - There are authorized to be appropriated 
to carry out this Act such ums as may be necessary for each fiscal year to carry out the 
provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent 
with, the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) days after 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
2