Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

House Bill No._ 3128

Introduced by Representative Jerni

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Constitution enshrines a myriad of policies to lay down the framework by
which the State institutions operate, develop and conserve its resources, and secure the welfare
and well-being of the governed. Among such polices include the recognition by the State of its
responsibilities to:

1. inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their
involvement in public and civic affairs;

2. foster the appreciation of the role of national heroes in the historical
development of the country, teach the rights and duties of citizenship,
strengthen ethical and spiritual values, develop moral character and personal
discipline;

3. foster the preservation, enrichment, and dynamic evolution of a Filipino
national culture based on the principle of unity in diversity in a climate of free
artistic and intellectual expression; and

4. conserve, promote, and popularize the nation’s historical and cultural heritage
and resources, as well as artistic creations.

To breathe life to the abovementioned policies, this bill seeks the inclusion of mandatory
visitation of historical landmarks, monuments, and cultural heritage sites, as part of the off-
‘campus activities of all public and private schools in the country. This aims to truly promote and
popularize our historical and cultural heritage, and inculcate patriotism and nationalism among
Filipinos, especially the youth.

Support for this bill is earnestly requested from my colleagues.

ng Pinoy Partylist



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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3128 ©

Introduced by Representative Jernie Jett V. Nisay

AN ACT
REGULATING THE CONDUCT OF OFF-CAMPUS EDUCATIONAL
ACTIVITIES BY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Off-Campus
Education Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy — It is deciared the policy of the State to establish,
maintain and support a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education
relevant to the needs of the people. It is likewise the policy of the State to protect, foster
and promote the right of all citizens to affordable quality education at all levels.
Consistent with these policies, the State recognizes the authority of basic and higher
education institutions to adopt learning delivery strategies that integrate relevant off-
campus educational activities with regular classroom instructional programs to broaden
and supplement the learning opportunity.

Learning outside the confines of the classroom diminishes the security provided
by its walls and subjects leamers to safety concerns inherent in an exposed learning
environment. The State shall therefore prescribe the framework within which these off-
campus educational activities may be undertaken to ensure a more meaningful learning
experience in an ecosystem that advances the utmost safety and well-being of learners.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:

(a) Curricular activities refer to off-campus educational activities that are an
integral part of the instructional program.

(b) Institution refers to any public or private school offering basic education
program or higher or technical education;

(©) Non-curricular, co-curricular or extra-curricular activities refer to off-campus
activities that may or may not be anchored on standard curriculum and are considered

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non-program based activities but are deemed relevant and desirable to broaden the
opportunity for learning;

(d) Off-campus educational activities refer to curricular and non-curricular
activities undertaken outside the premises of the institution; and

(e) Service providers refer to educational tour and/or transport operators offering
their services for a consideration.

SEC. 4. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to all local off-campus non-curricular,
co-curricular or extra-curricular educational activities undertaken by public and private
educational institutions under the supervision of the Department of Education (DepEd)
and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

SEC. 5. Conditions for Off-Campus Non-Curricular, Co-Curricular and Extra-
Curricular Educational Activities. - No off-campus non-curricular, co-curricular, and
extra-curricular educational activities shall be undertaken unless they are:

a. relevant and aligned with the educational competencies of the curriculum;
or

(b) necessary to the acquisition of relevant knowledge, skills, and values of the
learners.

Participation in any off-campus non-curricular, co-curricular or extra-curricular
activities shall be voluntary and in no case shall the inability to participate in the off-
campus activity constitute a failure to complete any requirement or in any way put the
learner at a disadvantage.

SEC. 6. Accreditation of Venues and Destinations. - The DepEd and CHED, in
consultation with the Department of Tourism, National Museum of the Philippines,
National Historical Commission of the Philippines, National Commission for Culture and
the Arts, the local government units (LGUs) and other relevant government agencies,
shall separately accredit the venues, destinations, and activities where the educational
institutions under their respective jurisdictions may conduct, hold, or participate in off-
campus non-curricular, co-curricular or extra-curricular activities. In accrediting off-
campus venues, destinations and activities, the respective agencies shall consider the
following:

(a) Suitability of the venue, place or activity in relation to the program requirement
and learning objectives;

(b) Carrying capacity of the venue or place to ensure the accommodation of
learners, optimize the learning experience, and minimize adverse social and
environmental impact;

(c) Sufficiency of amenities and other facilities for the comfort and convenience
of the learners; and

(d) Adequacy of protective protocols to ensure the security and safety of the
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The list of accredited venues and destinations shall be published in the website
of the DepEd and CHED and shall be updated as the DepEd and CHED consider
necessary and appropriate.

Only venues, destinations, and activities accredited pursuant to this section may
be considered by educational institutions in planning for and in implementing off-
campus non-curricular, co-curricular or extra-curricular activities educational activities.

SEC. 7. Promulgation of Policies and Guidelines for Off-Campus Non-
Curricular, Co-Curricular or Extra-Curricular Educational Activities. - The DepEd and
CHED shall separately promulgate specific policies and guidelines for the guidance of
educational institutions, learners, parents or guardians, and other stakeholders involved
in the implementation of off-campus educational activities. The policies and guidelines
shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) Design of the off-campus activities with due regard to the educational value
or curriculum enhancement, or other learning objectives sought to be achieved, and
taking into consideration the academic freedom of institutions of higher learning:
Provided, That alternative or parallel activities shall be prepared for learners who are
unable to participate in off-campus educational activities;

(b) Coordination arrangements such as consultation with parents or guardians,
provision of transportation, accommodation and other logistical requirements;

(c) Security and safety protocols including appropriate arrangements for
participants with disabilities or special needs;

(d) Engagement of service providers or event coordinators;

(e) Involvement, participation of, or coordination with LGUs and law enforcement
agencies;

(f) Post-activity debriefing and reporting requirements; and

(g) Matters as the DepEd or CHED shall deem necessary to ensure a
meaningful, convenient, and safe conduct of off-campus educational activities.

SEC. 8. Outsourcing of Services for Off-Campus Non-Curricular, Co-Curricular
or Extra-Curricular Educational Activities. - The conduct of off-campus educational
activities shall primarily utilize the resources and transport equipment of the educational
institutions concerned. In case of absence or inadequacy of such resources and
equipment, educational institutions may outsource their needs from accredited service
providers: Provided, That the overall responsibility for the off-campus activity shall
remain with the educational institution: Provided, further, That the service provider shall
not be relieved of any responsibility in case of failure to exercise the degree of care and
vigilance required under the circumstances: Provided, finally, That in no case shall the
off-campus activity be left to the control and management of the service provider.

The DepEd and CHED shall, in consultation with the Department of Tourism,
Department of Transportation, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board,
and other relevant government agencies, accredit service providers as defined under
Section 3(e) of this Act under such terms and conditions as they shall separately
prescribe pursuant to this section, including the following:


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(a) Technical and financial capability;
(b) Experience and track record; and

(c) Road, sea or airworthiness of transport equipment; Provided, That in case of
land transportation, the vehicle shall not be more ten (10) years old from date of
manufacture.

No educational institution shall engage a service provider unless the same is
duly accredited by the DepEd or the CHED, as the case may be.

The expenses to be incurred in the conduct of off-campus educational activities
shall primarily be borne by the learners, subject to consultation with the parents or
guardians: Provided, That assistance from LGUs, institutional sponsors, and other well-
meaning benefactors may be solicited and accepted by the educational institutions.

SEC. 9. Penal Provisions. — Any violation of the provisions of this Act, after due
notice and hearing, shall be penalized by the DepEd or CHED as herein provided:

(a) An educational institution which conducts off-campus non-Curricular, co-
curricular or extra-curricular educational activities outside those off-campus venues and
destinations as may be identified and accredited by the DepEd or CHED or which
engages the services of a service provider not accredited by the DepEd or CHED, or
an employee of an educational institution who shall conduct or organize an off-campus
non curricular, co-curricular or extra-curricular activity without the expressed written
consent of the educational institution where the participating learners belong, shall be
punished by:

(i) a fine of Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) for the first offense; and

(ji) a fine of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) and suspension of all
off-campus educational activities for not less than six (6) months, for the second
offense.

If the educational institution is a public school, college or university, the fine shall
be imposed against the school head, principal, superintendent, or president, and other
officials directly responsible for the violation;

(b) A service provider who, by reason of failure to exercise the degree of care
and vigilance required by law or that justly demanded by the circumstances, causes
loss, damage, or injury to the participants of the off-campus educational activity shall
be punished by:

(i) a fine One Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (P150,000.00) and suspension of
accreditation for one year for the first offense; and

(ii) a fine of Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (P300,000.00) and revocation of
accreditation for the second offense.

The fines herein imposed shall be without prejudice to any administrative civil,
and criminal liabilities, which the educational institutions, service providers and their
respective officials and employees may be answerable to under the Civil Code, the
Revised Penal Code, and other laws, rules and regulations. No waiver of action or
liability executed by the learners, their parents or guardians prior to the activity shall


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operate to exonerate any educational institution, service provider, or their officials and
employees from a cause of action arising from the conduct of off-campus activity.

SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DepEd and CHED shall,
in consultation and coordination with appropriate national government agencies, LGUs,
and other stakeholders, promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act, within ninety (90) days from its effectivity.

SEC. 11. Separability Clause. — If for any reason, any part or provision of this
Actis declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other parts or provisions not affected shall
remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SEC. 13, Effectivity — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved.