Friday, September 28, 2007
Bill - Hon. Melwin F. Abracia
Republic of the Philippines
YOUTH CONGRESS
Baguio City
Introduced by Hon. Melwin F. Abracia
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines has a tropical climate having a rainfall averages about 2,030 mm (80 in) a year, Tropical storms are common from June to October; each year about 20 typhoons strike the Philippines, bringing high winds and flooding that sometimes result in property damage and loss of life.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) are responsible for tracking and reporting the condition of the climate of the country. The weather predictions of PAGASA, are generally reliable. Sometimes the forecast goes wrong, but one has to admit that the weather itself at times does not behave as it should. It has been known for a typhoon to swing back on itself and to return.
There are several intensities of typhoons, which are usually announced in advance in the newspapers, on radio and TV. Signal 1 is the weakest. When signal 2 has been announced, elementary and high schools and some offices and shops are closed, still depending on the flood conditions. During a signal 3, all schools, government offices and most private offices are closed. But even with signal 1, things start going haywire. There are traffic jams because of the floods, and employees in many businesses to gether with the students in all levels come late. Some areas of Metro Manila become almost inaccessible after several hours of heavy rain. This is negligible in Ermita, Malate and Makati, but in Tondo, Sampaloc, parts of Quezon City, and outskirts of the metropolis together with other cities and provinces out of Manila, places like Bulacan, Pampanga, & Marikina are prone to flood and always strongly affected.
PAGASA in cooperation of City Mayors, Department of Education (DepEd), and Commission on Higher Education (CHED), decide if they are to cancel the classes, make it half day, or let the students go to school in times of heavy rain fall. Announcements don’t have any definite time of declaration that often cause troubles with the public.
There are many flood prone area and locations that are at risk when a typhoon hits the country. Attending to school in this so-called places are always at stake. No one could accurately tell what will happen at this time of calamity. Education often faces hiatus with its track leading disturbance for the student that is supposed to be continuously enjoys learning.
Classes were suspended because the school is used as evacuation center, if there is flood, the rooms were destructed, and transportation is out. There so many problems that causes learning to have paused most specially at the early part of the school year. The month of June till August was the peak of the entering of typhoon and rainy season in our country and goes down in the month of September.
This Bill seeks to have a continuous flow of classes, having no unexpected gap of learning to the side of all levels of education in public and private schools, universities and colleges in the country.
This Bill aims that the traditional date of the opening of the classes in the Republic of the Philippines, dated in the month of June, be move to the month of September. It is for purpose of avoiding the problems that may occur during the schooldays and experience learning without any bad intermission due to effects of typhoon.
Towards this end, I urge my colleagues in the chamber to immediately pass this Bill.
Melwin F. Abracia
Republic of the Philippines
YOUTH CONGRESS
Baguio City
Introduced by Hon. Melwin F. Abracia
AN ACT
MAKING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER AS THE OFFICIAL MONTH OF THE OPENING OF CLASSES IN THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
Be it enacted by the Youth Congress of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in the Congress Assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “September Classes Act of 2007”.
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – It shall be the Policy of the State to foster and promote continual and serene schedule of classes. This will ensure ample number of schooldays in both Public and Private schools in all levels of education in the Republic of the Philippines.
Section 3. September Opening of Classes. – All schools, Universities, and Colleges, both Public and Private shall start or open their classes on the month of September that will ensure all students to have ample number of schooldays and enjoy studying without any hindrances of going to school created by atmospheric disturbance. For the purpose of this Act, “September Classes” shall refer to opening of classes in all levels of education in the Republic of the Philippines.
Section 4. Curriculum. – The Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the School Administration shall create an Ad Hoc committee to create:
a) New division of Quarters for Pre-school, Elementary, and High Schools.
b) New division of Semesters for College level.
c) New Curriculum that will match with the new set of schooldays.
Section 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations – The PAGASA in coordination with the DepEd, CHED, School Administrators and City Mayors shall formulate necessary guidelines and promulgate rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this Act.
Section 6. Appropriation. – Such sum as may be necessary for the immediate implementation of the provisions of this act is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated. Thereafter, funds for its implementation shall be included in the regular appropriations of the DepEd, the CHED, the PAGASA, School Administrators and City Mayors.
Section 7. Repealing Clause. – All Laws, Decrees, Executive Orders or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
Section 8. Separability Clause. – If any provisions of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect.
Section 9. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect Fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in at least Two (2) news paper of national circulation.
Approved,Labels: education
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