Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES /x
Quezon City |

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No,_2081

Introduced by: HON. CLAUDE P. BAUTISTA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article 14 of the Philippine Constitution states that "The State shall
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. Provide adult citizens, the disabled, and out-of-school youth with
training in civics, vocational efficiency and other skills.” Thus, the highest
law of the land expressly affirms that education is a primordial and
fundamental mandate to the State that cannot be evaded without just
reason.

Filipinos place a very high premium in education. Many parents and
students believe it is the rite of passage to a better life. So much so, that
parents are willing to go to all lengths in order to see their children
graduate. To them who are truly poor, education is the only hope they
have to get up from the quagmire of their dismal condition. This reality
resonates at the core of our government system, that education has always
been at the top of the national administration's priority when it comes to
allotting the budget for national development.

Formal education started in the barangay as early as 1950.
Barangay Bukid is very far from central barangays. The above rationale
justifies the filing of this Bill that will work towards the conversion of the
Bukid Elementary School in the Municipality of Jose Abad Santos into
Bukid Integrated School. The schools, which are proximate to Bukid
Elementary School, are quite a distance. For instance, the distance of
Bukid Elementary School to Camalian Elementary School is 2.15
ksilometers away, while the Balangonan National High School is 10.4
kilometers and because the vehicles plying the route are few and far
between, most of the students traverse these schools by foot. From Bukid
Elementary School to Camalian Elementary School is something like two
hours during the dry season and a few minutes more during the rainy
season, while Bukid Elementary School to Balangonan National High
School is nearly half a day walk and more during the wet season. If ever
the students were lucky enough to take a ride, they were charged
exorbitant price for their fares.

Most of the people living in Barangay Bukid are engaged in farming
and fishing as their means of living. Because of this, most of the
elementary graduates have decided to get married at an early age and
then settle down to the menial jobs their parents had like working in the
farms and in coconut plantations.



It is hope the approval of this Bill will give the people of Barangay
Bukid in Jose Abad Santos a new lease in like through the opportunity
afforded by better education

CLAUDE. BAUTISTA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2081

Introduced by: HON. CLAUDE P. BAUTISTA

AN ACT CONVERTING THE BUKID ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN BARANGAY
BUKID, MUNICIPALITY OF JOSE ABAD SANTOS, PROVINCE OF DAVAO
OCCIDENTAL INTO AN INTEGRATED SCHOOL TO BE KNOWN AS BUKID
INTEGRATED SCHOOL AND APPOPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. The Bukid Elementary School in Barangay Bukid, Municipality of
Jose Abad Santos, Province of Davao Occidental is hereby converted into an
integrated school to be known as Bukid Integrated School.

SECTION 2. All personnel, assets, liabilities, and records of the Bukid
Elementary School are hereby transferred to and absorbed by the Bukid Integrated

School.

SECTION 3. The Secretary of Education shall immediately include in the
Department's program the operationalization of the Bukid Integrated School, the
funding of which shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 4. Within one hundred twenty (120) days after the approval of this
Act the Secretary of Education shall formulate the rules and regulations implementing
the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved.