Senate Office of the Secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 26 MAY -4 P4:31 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. —- 2089 Introduced by Senator Bam Aquino AN ACT ENHANCING DECENTRALIZED GOVERNANCE AND SERVICE DELIVERY IN BASIC EDUCATION, AUTHORIZING THE CREATION AND RATIONALIZATION OF SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICES, AND AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9155, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "GOVERNANCE OF BASIC EDUCATION ACT OF 2001 EXPLANATORY NOTE Republic Act No. 9155, or the Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001, was enacted to decentralize the management of the country's basic education system. By empowering regional and schools division offices, the law sought to bring decision- making closer to schools and communities, allowing education leaders to better respond to the needs of learners, teachers, and local stakeholders. More than two decades since its passage, however, the realities faced by the Department of Education (DepEd) have significantly evolved. Learner populations have grown, the number of schools has expanded, and the complexity of delivering quality education across diverse geographic contexts has increased. One of the most pressing challenges is the uneven workload among Schools Division Offices (SDOs). As highlighted by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), a number of school divisions now oversee more than 1,300 schools, making it extremely difficult for division offices to effectively supervise schools, support teachers, and implement programs on the ground. In such situations, division leaders are stretched thin, and the ability of DepEd to provide timely and responsive support to schools is compromised. These realities point to the need to strengthen and update the decentralized governance framework envisioned under RA 9155. This measure seeks to address these gaps by authorizing the rationalization and creation of Schools Division Offices in order to ensure that the delivery of basic education services remains responsive and equitable. Specifically, the bill empowers the Secretary of Education, in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), to establish additional school divisions and to reorganize, merge,
realign, or subdivide existing divisions and districts when warranted by learner population, number of schools served, geographic conditions, workload demands, or other service delivery considerations. At the same time, the measure also guarantees that each province and city will have at least one schools division while allowing DepEd the flexibility to adjust organizational structures based on objective criteria and evolving needs. Strengthening the capacity of Schools Division Offices is critical to ensuring that policies crafted at the national level translate into meaningful support for schools and teachers. By enabling a more rational and responsive structure for school divisions, this measure seeks to bring leadership, technical assistance, and administrative support closer to our schools. Ultimately, improving governance at the division level is about improving learning outcomes for Filipino students. When school leaders are better supported, teachers are better equipped, and education services are delivered more efficiently, our learners benefit the most. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought. Bam quin
Senate Office of the Secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 26 MAY -4 P4:31 SENATE RECEIVED BY: 2089 S. No. _ Introduced by Senator Bam Aquino AN ACT ENHANCING DECENTRALIZED GOVERNANCE AND SERVICE DELIVERY IN BASIC EDUCATION, AUTHORIZING THE CREATION AND RATIONALIZATION OF SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICES, AND AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9155, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "GOVERNANCE OF BASIC EDUCATION ACT OF 2001" Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Section 7(B) of Republic Act No. 9155, or the "Governance of Basic
2 Education Act of 2001," is hereby amended as follows: "Section 7. Powers, Duties and Functions. - XXX B. Regional Level There shall be as many regional offices as may be provided by law. Each regional office shall have a director, an assistant director and an office staff for program promotion and support, planning, administrative, LEGAL, ANCILLARY, and fiscal services. Consistent with the national educational policies, plans and standards, the regional director shall have authority, accountability and responsibility for the following:
(1) Defining a regional educational policy framework which reflects the values, needs and expectations of the communities they serve; (4) CONTEXTUALIZING POLICIES OF THE CENTRAL OFFICE, PROVIDING DIRECTION SETTING FOR THE REGION, AND EXTENDING SUPPORT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE TO ENSURE THE EFFECTIVE AND COHERENT IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL POLICIES, PROGRAMS, AND STANDARDS; (5) Monitoring, evaluating and assessing regional learning outcomes; [5](6) Undertaking research projects and developing and managing region wide projects which may be funded through official development assistance and/or or other finding agencies; [6](7) Ensuring strict compliance with prescribed national criteria for the recruitment, selection and training of all staff in the region and divisions. [7](8) Formulating, in coordination with the regional development council, the budget to support the regional educational plan which shall take into account the educational plans of the divisions and districts; [8](9) Determining the organization component of the divisions and districts and approving the proposed staffing pattern of all employees in the divisions and districts; [9](10) Hiring, placing and evaluating all employees in the regional office, except for the position of assistant director; [10](11) Evaluating all schools division superintendents and assistant division superintendents in the region; [11](12) Planning and managing the effective and efficient use of all personnel, physical and fiscal resources of the regional office, including professional staff development.; [12](13) Managing the database and management information system of the region; [13](14) Approving the establishment of public and private elementary and high schools and learning centers; and
[14](15) Preforming such other functions as may be assigned by proper authorities. C. Division Level [A division shall consist of a province or a city which shall have a schools division superintendent, at least one assistant schools division superintendent and an office staff for programs promotion, planning, administrative, fiscal, legal, ancillary and other support services.] EACH PROVINCE AND CITY SHALL HAVE AT LEAST ONE (1) SCHOOLS DIVISION. WHERE LEARNER POPULATION, NUMBER OF SCHOOLS SERVED, GEOGRAPHIC CONDITIONS, WORKLOAD DEMANDS, OR OTHER SERVICE DELIVERY CONSIDERATIONS SO WARRANT, THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION, IN COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT (DBM), IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO ESTABLISH ADDITIONAL SCHOOLS DIVISIONS, AND/OR TO CREATE, REORGANIZE, MERGE, REALIGN, OR SUBDIVIDE EXISTING DIVISIONS AND DISTRICTS TO ENSURE EFFICIENT, EQUITABLE, AND RESPONSIVE DELIVERY OF BASIC EDUCATION SERVICES. EACH DIVISION SHALL BE HEADED BY A SCHOOLS DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT AND SHALL HAVE AT LEAST ONE (1) ASSISTANT SCHOOLS DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT. EACH DIVISION SHALL BE SUPPORTED BY A STAFFING PATTERN AND MANPOWER COMPLEMENT COMMENSURATE WITH ITS SCOPE OF JURISDICTION, NUMBER OF SCHOOLS AND LEARNERS SERVED, GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT, AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITIES. THE DEPED AND THE DBM SHALL JOINTLY ISSUE AND PERIODICALLY UPDATE GUIDELINES PRESCRIBING OBJECTIVE STAFFING CRITERIA, STANDARDS, AND FISCAL
SUSTAINABILITY MEASURES GOVERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SCHOOLS DIVISIONS UNDER THIS ACT, SUBJECT TO REVIEW AT LEAST ONCE EVERY FIVE (5) YEARS. XXX"
SEC. 2. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from
6 the implementation of this Act, the DepEd shall promulgate the rules and regulations 7 for the effective implementation of this act.
SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 9155 is hereby amended. All laws,
9 presidential decrees, executive orders, resolutions, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
SEC. 4. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act or any part hereof
13 be declared unconstitutional, the other provisions or parts not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect
SEC 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
16 its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,