SENATE 
riCE OF THE SECRETA 
P4 JLK. 15 pIZ:11 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
~~~~~~~~~ 
BY: I 
SENATE 
S. No. 
1 4 4 1  
~- 
Introduced by Senator Franklin M. Drilon 
I 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The first three months of the school year, June, July and August, are the 
peak periods for typhoons in the country. Thus, it has become impractical and 
unwise to commence the school year during the typhoon season as students, 
parents and school authorities have to deal with floods, landslides, diseases, lack 
of transportation, and damaged schoolbuildings. In the urban and metropolitan 
areas, traffic congestion becomes worse with the onset of the rainy season due 
to floods and bad road conditions. 
Also, in flood-prone areas, schoolbuildings are used as evacuation centers. 
These facilities can be better put to use if they are not being utilized as 
classrooms and are ready and properly equipped for such emergency measures 
during the height of the rainy season. 
This bill proposes the revision of the school calendar by transferring the 
commencement of the school year from June to September. By moving the 
school opening to September or about 3 months later, the country will avoid 
inconvenience and needless damage to life and property. In fact, the country 
can expect to realize untold savings in life and limb, manhours, health costs, and 
fuel, among others, with such proposal. 
school authorities but also the government and the economy. 
Revising the school calendar would benefit not only students, parents and 
Immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
I 


3 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
’04 
JUL 15 Pi231 
First Regular Session 
) 
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator Franklin M. Drilon 
1 
AN ACT 
REVISING THE SCHOOL CALENDAR, AMENDING FOR THE 
PURPOSE SECTION 24, CHAPTER 9, TITLE VI, BOOK I V  OF 
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 22, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
“ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF 1987“ 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. School Calendar of Elementaty and Secondary Levels. - 
Section 24, Chapter 9, Title VI, Book I V  of Executive Order No. 292 is hereby 
amended to read as follows: 
“SEC. 24. School Year, - (1) The school year for public and 
private schools shall consist of not less than forty (40) weeks for 
the elementary and secondary levels [, and thirty-six (36) weeks 
for the college level or eighteen (18) weeks a semester]. 
(2) The opening date shall be fixed by the Secretary, but it 
shall not be earlier than the first day of [June] SEPTEMBER nor 
later than the last day of [July] OCTOBER of each year unless 
prevented by fortuitous events. 
xxx 
xxx 
xxx” 
SECTION 2. School Calendar of Higher Education or Post-Secondary 
Level. - The school year for higher education or post-secondary level shall 
commence on the first week of September and shall continue for thirty-six (36) 
weeks or eighteen (18) weeks a semester. 
SECTION 3. Rules and Regulations. - Within thirty (30) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Department of Education and the Commission on 
Higher Education respectively shall issue ahd publish the necessary rules and 
regulations to implement the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 4. Separability Clause, - If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, such sections or parts not affected thereby shall 
remain in full force and effect. 


. 
SECTION 5. Repealing Clause, - All laws, executive orders, presidential 
decrees, presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
SECTION 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
days after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,