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EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
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First Regular Session
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SENATE
BILLS &/fNDEX >
s. B. NO. 1438
Introduced by SENATOR VICENTE C. SOTTO III
AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION 3 OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBER 7977, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AN ACT TO LENGTHEN THE SCHOOL 
CALENDAR FROM TWO HUNDRED (200) DAYS TO NOT MORE 
THAN TWO HUNDRED TWENTY (220) CLASS DAYS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The coronavirus disease, also known as COVID-19, has been 
declared by the World Health Organization as Public Health Emergency 
of International Concern as it continuously hit almost all countries and 
territories around the world, inflicting millions; thus creating a global 
health crisis. COVID-19 likewise affects all segments of population - rich 
and poor, young and old,male and female, and living in urban and rural 
areas. It has affected our way of life, healthcare system, economy, and 
even the education system.
As COVID-19 keeps students at home as early as 10 March 2020, 
a lot of school activities - both curricular and extracurricular - have 
been put on hold asa result. Other schools opted for online classesor the 
use of social media to interact with students in ordernot to hamper the


academic year and to have a semblance of normalcy; while other 
academic institutions can only do so much.
Article XIV, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution states that:
The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to 
quality education at ail levels, and shall take appropriate steps 
to make such education accessible to all.
Thus, on 24 April 2020, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte accepted 
the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the 
Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (lATF-EID) to move the 
opening of classes for school year 2020-2021 to September. The said 
recommendation of the lATF-EID, according to the National Economic 
and Development Authority Acting Director-General Karl Chua, was 
based on the health study that children and youth from zero (0) to 
twenty (20) years of age are possible transmitters of the coronavirus.
However, Republic Act Number 7977, otherwise known as "An Act 
To Lengthen The School Calendar From Two Hundred (200) Days To 
Not More Than Two Hundred Twenty (220) Class Days," has specifically 
provided that "the school year shall start on the first Monday of June 
but not later than the last day of August." Thus, the approved 
recommendation of the lATF-EID runs counter to the aforesaid law.
In order to remedy the situation created by the above-mentioned 
scenario and would, consequently, allow the execution of the lATF-EID


recommendation, this measure is being proposed by this 
representation. Furthermore, this bill allowing the start of school year to 
be moved from August to September, or in such other month, as may 
be determined by the President, would give the Department of 
Education more time and opportunity to prepare and adopt measures 
for the "new normal" of the education system while helping the 
governmentfight the COVID-19 outbreak.
While no one knows when this pandemic ends and what the 
future holds for the country and its people thereafter,the National 
Government is doing its best to "flatten the curve"; and the steps being 
undertaken by it are based on medical experts' studies and 
assessments. Since what we have at the moment is a health 
emergency, there are no other view more important than the ones from 
the medical experts, particularly on the matter of preventing, fighting 
and, eventually, putting an end to this virus. Therefore, the 
recommendation of the lATF-EID to move the school year to 
September must necessarily be put into effect.
Due to the urgency and importance of this measure, it's 
immediate passage is earnestly sought.
VICENTE C. SOTTO II


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. B. NO. 1438
BILLS & INDEX
Introduced by SENATOR VICENTE C. SOTTO III
AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION 3 OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBER 7977, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AN ACT TO LENGTHEN THE SCHOOL 
CALENDAR FROM TWO HUNDRED (200) DAYS TO NOT MORE 
THAN TWO HUNDRED TWENTY (220) CLASS DAYS
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Section 3 of RA 7977 is hereby amended to read as
2 
follows:
3 
SEC. 3. Start of the School Year. - The school year shall
4 
start on the first Monday of June but not later than the last
5 
day of [August] SEPTEMBER, OR IN SUCH OTHER
6 
MONTH, AS MAY BE 
DETERMINED BY 
THE
7 
PRESIDENT.
8
9
10
11
12
In the implementation of this Act, the Secretary of 
Education, Culture and Sports shall determine the end of 
the regular school year, taking into consideration the 
Christmas and summer vacations, and the peculiar 
circumstances of each region.


} ‘
1
2
3
4
In the exercise of this authority, the Secretary of Education, 
Culture and Sports may authorize the holding of Saturday 
classes for elementary and secondary levels for public and 
private schools.
5 
SEC. 2. Repealing Clause. -All laws, acts, presidential decrees,
6 
executive orders, presidential proclamations, issuances, rules and
7 
regulations or parts thereof which are contrary to or Inconsistent with
8 
the provision of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified
9 
accordingly.
10 
SEC. 3. EffecOvity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
11 
after publication In the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
12 
circulation.
Approved,