Senate Offrep of the Serretacp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 25 DEC 15 P5:52 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED BY: Senate Bill No. 1614 Introduced by Senator Erwin T. Tulfo AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PUBLIC BASIC EDUCATION SCHOOLS IN GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED AND DISADVANTAGED AND CONFLICT-AFFECTED AREAS, PROVIDING ACCESS ROADS LEADING TO LAST MILE SCHOOLS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR EXPLANATORY NOTE The Constitution guarantees the right of all Filipinos to quality education. However, for learners in geographically isolated, disadvantaged, and conflict-affected areas, access to basic education remains severely constrained by distance, inadequate infrastructure, and the absence of essential public services. This measure, therefore, seeks to institutionalize public basic education schools in geographically isolated, disadvantaged, and conflict-affected areas by formally recognizing Last Mile Schools and mandating inter-agency coordination among national government agencies, local government units, and Local School Boards. It provides for the delivery of critical infrastructure, including access roads, electricity, and information and communications technology, and requires the development of education programs tailored to the unique
contexts of these schools, with due respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples. By establishing a clear policy framework for Last Mile Schools, this bill aims to address persistent education inequities, promote inclusive development, and ensure that quality basic education reaches learners in the most remote and underserved areas of the country. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. ERWIN T. TULFO
Senate TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ote of the Surth REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) ) 25 DEC 15 P5:52 First Regular Session RECEIVED BY: SENATE Senate Bill No. 1614 Introduced by Senator Erwin T. Tulfo AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PUBLIC BASIC EDUCATION SCHOOLS IN GEOGRAPHICALLY ISOLATED AND DISADVANTAGED AND CONFLICT-AFFECTED AREAS, PROVIDING ACCESS ROADS LEADING TO LAST MILE SCHOOLS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Last
Mile Schools Act."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby the declared policy
5 of the State to promote the right all of Filipinos to quality education at all levels, and to take appropriate steps to make education accessible for all. The State recognizes and promotes the rights of Indigenous Cultural Communities within the framework of national unity and development. To this end, the State shall recognize the right of indigenous families and communities to retain shared responsibility for upbringing, training, education and well-being of their members, 14 consistent with their rights.
The State shall improve the quality and access to basic education for learners in the far-flung, isolated, disadvantaged, and conflict- affected areas, as well as those in Last Mile Schools, by investing in school infrastructures and access roads and programs responsible to their unique contexts.
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
a. Basic Education refers to the intended basic learning needs which provide the foundation on which subsequent learning can be based. It includes kindergarten, elementary and secondary education as well as alternative learning systems for out-of-school learners and those with special needs; b. Basic Education School refers to learning institutions accredited by the Department of Education (DepEd) to deliver services addressing the intended basic learning needs of students; c. Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged and Conflict- Affected Areas (GIDCA) refer to schools or communities situated in remote or marginalized locations, with limited access to essential services and infrastructure, or impacted by conflict of insecurity; d. Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs)/Indigenous Peoples (IPs) refer to a group of people or homogenous societies, as defined under Section 3 (h), Chapter 2 of Republic Act No. 8371 or "The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997; and e. Last Mile Schools refer to public basic education schools with gaps in resources and facilities which are located in the GIDCA.
SEC. 4. Establishment of Last Mile Schools. - The Last Mile
Schools are hereby established under the administration of the DepEd, 37 'in close coordination with the concerned provincial, city and municipal
governments, to provide access to basic education for learners in 2 GIDCAs across the country. The establishment of Last Mile Schools in areas occupied by the ICCs shall be undertaken in consideration of the rights of the IPs, in accordance with Republic Act No. 8371.
SEC. 5. Access to Education and Infrastructure Support. - The
DepEd, together with the concerned local government units (LGUs), shall collaborate with concerned national government agencies for the delivery of the infrastructures and basic services necessary to ensure access to education in the Last Mile Schools, namely: a. Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), for the construction of access roads leading to the location of Last Mile Schools; b. Department of Energy (DOE) and National Electrification Administration (NEA), for the installation of electricity; and c. Department of Information and Communications Technology and (DICT), for the installation of information communications technology.
SEC. 6. Indicators of a Last Mile School. - A public basic
education school may be classified as a Last Mile School based on one or more of the following indicators: a. Having less than four (4) classrooms; b. With makeshift or nonstandard rooms; c. Absence of electricity; d. Have not been allocated funds for repairs or new construction projects in the last four (4) years; e. With travel distance of more than one (1) hour from town center, or with difficulty of terrain; f. Having multigrade classes/rooms; g. With less than five (5) teachers h. Having a student population of less than 100 learners; and
i. With more than 75% Indigenous People (IP) learners.
SEC. 7. Tailored Programs for Last Mile Schools. - The DepEd
shall formulate and implement the appropriate programs responsive to the unique context of Last Mile Schools including but not limited to: a. Learning delivery and intervention mechanisms; b. School staffing standards; c. Formula for school maintenance and other operating expenses, in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM); d. Learning tools and equipment; e. Learner support services; f. Relevant pre-service teacher education curriculum and assessment with the Teacher Education Council (TEC), the Commission on Higher Education, and the Professional Regulation Commission; g. Relevant in-service training, through the National Educators' Academy of the Philippines; and h. Teacher, school head, and school evaluations, in coordination with the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
SEC. 8. Role of Local School Boards. - The Local School
Boards shall perform the following: a. Assist the DepEd to identify, establish, and prioritize Last Mile Schools; b. Recommend and allocate funds, including the Special Education Fund and other local resources, for the establishment of Last Mile Schools; c. Ensure Last Mile School needs are included in local education and development plans; and d. Promote community participation, including parents, ICCs/IPs, and other stakeholders, in school planning and monitoring.
SEC. 9. Implementation Period. - The school building program
2 for Last Mile Schools shall be established and completed within five 3 (5) years from the effectivity of this Act.
SEC. 10. Monitoring and Reporting. - The Department of
6 Education shall regularly assess and report on learner participation, 7 retention, and learning outcomes in Last Mile Schools. It shall also annually publish a list of Last Mile Schools, which shall serve as the basis for the allocation of national funds and guide the participation of Local Government Units in supporting these schools. The DepEd shall submit an annual report to Congress on the status and implementation 12 of this Act.
SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety
(90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DepEd in coordination with the Local School Boards of the concerned LGUs, NCIP, DPWH, DICT, DOE, NEA, DSWD and other concerned national government agencies, shall issue the corresponding rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
SEC. 12. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the
implementation of this Act shall be included in the budgets of the concerned departments, agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 13. Separability Clause. - Should any provision or part of
this Act be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions and parts hereof, insofar as they are separable from the invalid ones, shall remain in full force and effect.
SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders,
proclamations, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
SEC. 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
2 after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,