Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

72

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable RHEA MAE A. GULLAS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish a national mathematics and science high school in
the Municipality of San Fernando, Province of Cebu.

Under the 1987 Constitution, the State is mandated to protect and promote the
right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and to take appropriate steps to
make such education accessible to all. It must establish, maintain, and support a
complete, adequate, and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the
people and society.

The Municipality of San Fernando has a total student population of more than
18,000. It is one of the few municipalities in the province that do not have a science
and mathematics high school. None of the eight public schools in this municipality
offers a specialized or accelerated curriculum in science and mathematics. While
some public high schools in the area offer science and mathematics subjects, these
schools have regular secondary curricula. They may only accommodate a limited
number of science and math students since they also cater to other programs in the
general education category. The absence of a science and mathematics high school
in this municipality deprives its people of quality education and other benefits
provided and offered by a science and mathematics school

The establishment of San Fernando Math and Science High School will
promote and enhance the development of the municipalities in the province. It will
serve the needs of residents in their quest for specialized and quality high school
education. It will also allow the people of San Fernando to pursue and avail of the
education provided by a science and mathematics school without the need to travel
to other science and mathematics schools. It will give them the opportunity to
harness their talents and excel in the fields of science and mathematics, prepare them
to face the challenges and demands of science and technology driven-society, and
ultimately, enable them to pursue higher education and careers in science and
mathematics. Increasing the number of students in these fields will boost the
competitive edge and innovative capacity of the municipality and will provide sound
economic development strategy.


The measure aims to provide basic and highly specialized secondary
education to the qualified students of San Fernando by establishing a school that will
offer an accelerated curriculum on science and mathematics, provide a conducive
environment for learning math and science skills, concepts and ideas, and establish
amath and science community that will meet the demands of the town, province and
country for math and science professionals.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is urgently recommended.

v7)

RHEA MAE A. GULLAS


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

72

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable RHEA MAE A, GULLAS

AN ACT.
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL IN
SOUTH POBLACION, MUNICIPALITY OF SAN FERNANDO, PROVINCE OF CEBU,
TO BE KNOWN AS THE SAN FERNANDO MATH AND SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL, AND
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.

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

SECTION 1. San Fernando Math and Science High School. — There is
hereby established, under the supervision of the Department of Education, a national
mathematics and science high school in South Poblacion, Municipality of San
Fernando, Province of Cebu to be known as the “San Fernando Math and Science

High School.”

SECTION 2. Appropriations. - The Secretary of Education shall
immediately include in the Department’s program the operationalization of the San
Fernando Math and Science High School. The funding of which shall be included in

the General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 3. Implementation. — The Secretary of Education shall issue such
rules and regulations as may be necessary for the effective implementation of this

Act.

SECTION 4. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after

publication in the official gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation

Approved,