" 
" 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
), 
Hi 
'Ul '1 
,j' . 
iI~ 
SEN1\T,E 
S, No, 
1'129 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
j 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 17, provides: 
The State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, 
culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, 
and promote total human liberation and development. 
Our schools must prepare young people for active participation in community life and a 
democratic society, This is not possible without knowledge and understanding of humanities, 
In order to ensure that our children acquire the necessary conceptual and analytical skills 
and have an appreciation for the tradition and values of our culture, studies in the humanities are 
essentiaL However, it is not possible to accomplish this goal unless our teachers have the 
necessary background and training in the humanities, 
Hence, it is the purpose of this Act to authorize a national program for the establishment 
and operation of teacher institutes for the enhancement of the humanities knowledge of private 
and public elementary and secondary school teachers,' 
~'--
4~.~.y." .D'y;t:;'; 
.MIRIAM DEF~SOR sJ6l{TIAfO 
,NIJI 
• This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session, 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SEN.o\'I:E 
S.No. 1'/29 
:.1" 
n:;:'IC"F. r,:· : 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT 
'j 
2 
PROVIDING A NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF 
3 
INSTRUCTION IN THE HUMANITIES IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE 
4 
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS 
i .BY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
5 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "The Humanities Excellence 
6 
and Teacher Training Act." 
7 
SECTION 2. Purpose. - It is the purpose of this Act to authorize a national program for 
8 
improving the quality of education which would make grants to institutions of higher education 
9 
for the establishment and operation of teacher institutes for the enhancement of the humanities 
10 
knowledge of private and public elementary and secondary school teachers. 
11 
SECTION 3. Definition. - For purposes ofthis Act, the terms -
12 
(A) "Institution of higher education" means any college or university within a region; 
13 
(B) "Secretary" means the Secretary of Education; and 
14 
(C) "Humanities" means both modern and classical languages, literature, history, and 
15 
philosophy; and language arts and social studies when taught in elementary and 
16 
high schools. 
17 
SECTION 4. Grants. -
18 
(A)' The Secretary shall make grants in each region to an institution of higher education, 
19 
or a consortium of such institutions, whose application is approved under paragraph (B) for the 
20 
purposes of conducting summer humanities training institutes for the professional development 
21 
of elementary and secondary school teachers. Any institution or consortium whose application is 
1 


1 
so approved shall receive an amount equal to not more than Three Thousand Five Hundred Pesos 
2 
(P3,500.00) multiplied by the number of teachers, not to exceed two hundred (200) enrolled in 
3 
such institute. 
4 
(B) Any institution of higher education or consortium desiring to receive a grant shall 
5 
submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such form, and containing such 
6 
infonnation and assurances as the Secretary may require. No such application may be approved 
7 
by the Secretary unless the application-
8 
(1) Contains a description of the proposed program of instruction, and the extent 
9 
to which eligible classroom teacher participants will be involved in the 
10 
planning and design of the institutes; 
11 
(2) Contains an estimate of the number of teachers, including the number of 
12 
teachers 
from private elementary and secondary schools, to attend the 
13 
institute, and describes the selection procedures; 
14 
(3) Describes the nature and location of existing facilities to be used m the 
15 
operation of the institute; 
16 
(4) Specifies the teaching and administrative staff for the institute including the 
17 
involvement of faculty from both the humanities and education departments 
18 
and elementary and secondary school teachers; 
19 
(5) Specifies the academic credits, if any, to be awarded for the completion of the 
20 
course of study to be offered at the institute; 
21 
(6) provides a schedule of stipends to be paid teacher participants in the institute, 
22 
including allowances for subsistence and other expenses for teachers attending 
23 
the institute and their dependents; and provisions assuring that there will be no 
24 
duplication of governmental benefits paid to participants; 
25 
(7) Provides adequate assurances that teachers who wish to participate will be 
26 
selected on the basis of recommendations from a principal or 0 ther 
27 
supervisory official and a demonstrated interest in the humanities discipline or 
28 
diSCiplines studied in the institute; and 
2 


• 
1 
(8) Provides assurances that the institution of higher education will seek to enroll 
2 
at least eighty (80) qualified teachers in the institute; 
3 
(C) Awards under this section shall be made to the institutions or consortia on the basis of 
4 
excellence. of the program proposed in the application, taking into consideration such elements as 
5 
library resources, faculty achievement, and humanities learning facilities. 
6 
(D) Funds available to institutions under this section may be used to cover costs 
7 
associated with enrollment in an institute, including tuition, fees, administration, and living 
8 
expenses. 
9 
(E) In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall assure, to the maximum extent 
10 
consistent with the purposes of this Act, that there is an equitable distribution of institutes 
11 
established and operated under approved applications among regions and within regions. The 
12 
Secretary shall award not less than one (1) institute in each region. 
13 
(F) No grant to a single application may exceed Seven Hundred Thousand Pesos 
14 
(P700,000.00) in any fiscal year. 
IS 
SECTION 5. Restrictions. - No grants shall be made or contracts entered into under this 
16 
Act except to such extent, or in such amounts, as may be provided in the Appropriations Act. 
17 
SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
18 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
19 
valid and SUbsisting. 
20 
SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
21 
order, letter'of instruction, administrative order, or rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
22 
with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
23 
SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
24 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
3