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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6684

Introduced by Representative Roman T. Romulo

Explanatory Note
In this light, this bill seeks to amend the salient provisions of the Local Government Code on
the Special Education Fund (SEF), amending for the purpose RA7160 or the Local Government
Code of 1991 (LGC), as amended. Particularly, we are amending Sections 100 and 272.

The amendment to Section 100 of RA7160 will provide the DepEd the power to levy funds
from the SEF in times of national emergencies or when the Executive Department deems it
necessary. Through this amendment, the salaries, allowances, and other benefits of our
teaching, teaching-related, and non-teaching personnel will be addressed and secured. Most
importantly, we will ensure that the responsive programs for our learners will be
implemented and thoroughly executed.

The proposed amendment includes the hiring and employment by the LGU’s of administrative
and non-teaching personnel who will be assigned to public schools. Presently our public
school teachers are burdened in doing administrative work, instead of devoting their time
teaching and preparing lesson plans.

Moreover, the amendment to Section 272 of RA7160 will expand the coverage of the SEF to
include the Alternative Learning System through an express provision which requires the Local
School Boards to set aside a portion of the SEF for the implementation of the ALS programs
of our government.

The proposed amendments will undoubtedly improve our ability to respond to the current
paradigm at the manner of speed which it calls for. The responsiveness that this bill will


provide will not only be applicable to the current national emergency, but to our adaptability
to future emergencies of this magnitude.

It cannot be gainsaid that the welfare of our learners is of paramount importance. Although
we are keen on continuing the education of our learners within a paradigm of the COVID-19
crisis, we are intent on making sure that the quality of education that we deliver is competent
even under normal circumstances. As always, let us ensure that we do not simply provide
mere access to education but quality education.

The educational sector and our learners require our support and we shall provide it.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

Bee

ROMAN T. ROMULO
Lone District, Pasig City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, _6684

Introduced by Representative Roman T. Romulo

AN ACT AMENDING THE SALIENT PROVISIONS OF THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT CODE ON THE SPECIAL EDUCATION FUND (SEF), AMENDING
FOR THE PURPOSE R4 7160 OR THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991,
AS AMENDED.

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

SECTION 1. Title - This Act shall be known as the “Special Education Fund Amendments of
2020”,

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy ~ It is the policy of the State to protect and promote the
right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make
such education accessible to all. Furthermore, it is the policy of the state to provide a safe and
healthy environment for students, more so in times of national emergencies.

SECTION 3. Emergency Levy of the SEF - Section 100 of RA 7160 or the Local Government
Code of 1991, as amended is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 100 Meeting and Quorum; Budget. -
(a) The local school board shall meet at least once a month or as often as necessary.
(b) Any of the co-chairmen may call a meeting. A majority of all its members shall

constitute a quorum. However, when both co-chairmen are present in the meeting, the
local chief executive concerned, as a matter of protocol, shall be given preference to


preside over the meeting. The division superintendent, city superintendent, or district
supervisor, as the case may be, shall prepare the budget of the school board concerned.
Such budget shall be supported by programs, projects, and activities of the school
board for the ensuing fiscal year. The affirmative vote of all the members shall be
necessary to approve the budget.

(c) The annual school board budget shall give priority to the following:

(1) Construction, repair, and maintenance of school buildings and other facilities of
public elementary and secondary schools;

(2) Establishment and maintenance of extension classes where necessary;
(3) Sports activities at the division, district, municipal, and barangay levels;

(4) “THE HIRING AND EMPLOYMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND NON-
TEACHING STAFF; AND

(3)_IN THE EVENT OF A NATIONWIDE DECLARED EMERGENCY OR
WHEN THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT DEEMS IT NECESSARY, THE

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DEPED), IN COORDINATION WITH
THE RESPECTIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUs), UPON
SHOWING THE NECESSITY AND UPON APPROVAL OF THE LOCAL
SCHOOL BOARD (LSB), MAY LEVY FUNDS FROM THE SPECIAL
EDUCATION FUND (SEF) FOR THE PREEMPTIVE AND/OR RESPONSIVE
MEASURES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE PAYMENT OF

SALARIES, ALLOWANCES, AND OTHER BENEFITS OF TEACHING AND
NON-TEACHING PERSONNEL; CREATION OF TEMPORARY TEACHER

ITEMS ON CONTRACTUAL EMPLOYMENT, AS WELL THE HIRING OF
ADMINISTRATIVE _AND_NON-TEACHING PERSONNEL: PROVIDED,
THAT THE HIRING OF TEACHERS THEREFOR SHALL BE _IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE SELECTION AND PROMOTION SYSTEM OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SUCH AS RANKING AND
LOCALIZATION: PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT THE TEACHER HIRED
SHALL BE PAID A SALARY EQUIVALENT TO THAT RECEIVED BY A
NATIONALLY PAID SCHOOL TEACHER, PROVIDED FURTHERMORE,
THAT THE SAID TEACHER SHALL BE ENTITLED, WHENEVER
POSSIBLE, TO THE SAME ALLOWANCES RECEIVED BY THE LATTER;
REMUNERATION _OR__HONORARIA__OF _VOLUNTEER SCHOOL
TEACHERS; RESEARCH STUDIES; TRAINING OF TEACHERS; AND ALL

OTHER PURPOSES NECESSARY FOR THE PROPER IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE PREEMPTIVE AND RESPONSIVE PROGRAMS OF THE



DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THE DURATION OF THE

PUBLICLY DECLARED EMERGENCY OR _UNTIL_THE EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENT AND DEPED DEEM NECESSARY.

DEPED SHALL REPORT TO THE LSB AS TO THE USE AND
DISBURSMENT OF THE LEVIED FUNDS, AS OFTEN AS MAY BE

REQUIRED BY THE LSB.”

SECTION 4. Provision for the ALS in the SEF - Section 272 of RA 7160 or the Local
Government Code of 1991, as amended is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 272. Application of Proceeds of the Additional One Percent SEF Tax. - The
proceeds from the additional one percent (1%) tax on real property accruing to the
Special Education Fund (SEF) shall be automatically released to the local school
boards: Provided, That, in case of provinces, the proceeds shall be divided equally
between the provincial and municipal school boards: Provided, however, That the
proceeds shall be allocated for the operation and maintenance of public schools
INCLUDING THE HIRING AND EMPLOYMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE
AND NON-TEACHING PERSONNEL, construction and repair of school buildings,
facilities and equipment, educational research, purchase of books and periodicals, and
sports development as determined and approved by the Local School Board.
FURTHERMORE, THE LSB SHALL SET ASIDE _A PORTION OF THE
PROCEEDS OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION FUND FOR THE
UTILIZATION OF THE ALTERNATIVE LEARNING SYSTEM (ALS)
PROGRAM WITHIN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS’ RESPECTIVE
AREAS OF JURISDICTION.

SECTION 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Department of Interior and Local
Government (DILG) and the Department of Education (DepEd) shall promulgate the necessary
rules and regulations to implement this Act not later than ninety (60) days after its effectivity.

SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - Should any part of this Act be declared
unconstitutional, the rest of the provisions of this Act shall continue to be in
effect and subsisting.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause.- All other laws, decrees, executive orders, and other
administrative issuances and parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act are hereby modified, amended, superseded or repealed accordingly.

SECTION 8. Effectivity.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette and/or in at least two (2) national newspapers in general circulation.


Approved,