of the * ‘-f.-et.ivv
NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session
) )
•22
DEC -7 All ‘32
SENATE S.B. No. 1604 (In substitution of S.B. No. 150)
RECEIVLD BV. _
Prepared by the Committee on Basic Education joint with the Committees on Ways and Means; and Finance, with Senators Gatchalian and Angara as authors thereof.
AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN ACADEMIC RECOVERY AND ACCESSIBLE LEARNING (ARAL) PROGRAM, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 1
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "ARAL Program Act".
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Sec. 2. Coverage. - This Act shall apply to the following learners under the
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public basic education institutions of the Department of Education (DepEd); (a) those
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who did not enroll starting School Year (SY) 2020 to 2021; or (b) those who are below
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the minimum proficiency levels required in Language, Mathematics, and Science.
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Similarly situated learners who are enrolled in private basic education institutions shall be provided the same interventions under this Act upon request.
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Sec. 3. Declaration of Policy and Objectives. - It is the declared policy of the
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State to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels
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and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.
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Towards this end, the State shall endeavor to support learners by establishing
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a free and effective national intervention program to provide learners who experienced
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learning loss as a result of the pandemic school closures, as well as other instances of
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loss of knowledge and skills due to gaps or discontinuities in a learner's education.
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with supplemental lessons to close learning gaps and enable them to catch up to the
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standards required in their respective grade levels.
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Sec 4. Establishment of the ARAL Program. - The ARAL Program is hereby
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established to provide a national learning intervention program which shall be
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grounded on the following premises:
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a) Well-systematized tutorial sessions which demonstrate higher achievement gains;
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b) Well-designed intervention plans and learning resources, following a
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learner-centered approach that is supportive and empathetic of the learner's
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needs, motivation and behavior;
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c) Effective and accessible delivery modes for tutors and learners;
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d) Careful determination and assessment of learners;
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e) Involvement of curriculum and reading specialists and other stakeholders;
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f) Well-chosen and trained tutors and learning facilitators; and
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g) Adequate development and provision of nutritional, social, emotional, and
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mental health programs to support and ensure the holistic well-being of
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learners, and for them to prosper academically, build resilience against
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adversity, and be equipped with skills and confidence to seek help for early
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intervention during their educational journey.
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The program shall further ensure that learners are provided optimal
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instructional time to ensure mastery of essential competencies and make up for
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learning loss.
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Sec. 5. Essential Learning Competencies in Language, Mathematics, and
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Science. - The ARAL Program shall cover the essential learning competencies under
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the K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum covering the subjects of Language and
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Mathematics for Grades 1 to 10, and Science for Grades 3 to 10. Essential learning
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competencies are competencies needed by the learners and are considered
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indispensable in the teaching-learning process in building skills and equipping learners
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for subsequent grade levels.
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Reading and numeracy shall be prioritized in the ARAL Program.
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For Kindergarten learners, the ARAL Program shall focus on building
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foundational skills aimed at strengthening their literacy and numeracy competencies.
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Sec. 6. Determination and Assessment of Learners under the ARAL Program. -
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The Learner Information System (LIS) of the DepEd shall be used to determine those
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who did not enroll starting SY 2020-2021 for purposes of Section 2 (a) of this Act.
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The DepEd shall determine the learners to be covered under Section 2 (b)
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based on the results of the assessment to be administered prior to the start of the
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ARAL Program.
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To assess the progress of learners, appropriate assessments shall be regularly administered. Priority shall
be given to
learners from
Kindergarten to Grade 6.
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Sec. 7. Tutors under the ARAL Program. - Teachers and para-teachers shall be
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responsible for tutoring learners under the ARAL Program: Provided, That teachers
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shall not be the tutors of their own learners.
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Tertiary level students may volunteer as tutors provided that they are at or
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above the 75th percentile of their respective school cohorts in the subject that they
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will be teaching and have passed a mock tutoring session to be administered by the
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DepEd: Provided, That pre-service teachers as defined under Republic Act (R.A.) No.
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11713 or the "Excellence in Teacher Education Act" shall automatically qualify as tutors
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under this program.
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The DepEd may likewise engage the services of pre-service teachers and other
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tutors whom it deems qualified in accordance with its qualifications and conditions to
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be stated under the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of this Act.
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For purposes of this Act, teachers refer to all persons engaged in teaching at
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the elementary and secondary levels, whether on full-time or part-time basis, including
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but not limited to technical-vocational teachers and trainers, and all other persons
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performing supervisory or administrative functions, or both, in all schools in the
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aforesaid levels and qualified to practice teaching under existing laws. Para-teachers
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are those who have taken the Licensure Examination for Teachers but were unable to
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qualify, and have been issued by the Board for Professional Teachers a special permit
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indicating their area of assignment. Pre-service teachers refer to students enrolled in
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a teacher education degree program offered by Teacher Education Institutions.
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Sec. 8. Capacity Building of Tutors. - To successfully improve learning
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outcomes as envisioned by the ARAL Program, tutors shall receive adequate training
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focusing on effective pedagogies, interpersonal skills, social-emotional learning, and
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cultural competency, among others, as may be deemed necessary.
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Sec. 9. Campaigns for Learners to Return to School. - The ARAL Program shall
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create mass awareness campaigns on media and through community engagement to
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encourage learners under Section 2 (a) to re-enroll and return to school.
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Sec. 10. Updated Learner Information System (LIS). - The DepEd shall update its LIS which shall contain the following additional information:
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a) Name and academic background of tutors;
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b) Name, grade level, and school of learners and their corresponding pre- and
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post- assessment scores in standardized measures of program effectiveness
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and grades in the subjects where they are doing remediation; and
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c) Assessment of learner performance on tasks and activities administered during the tutorial sessions.
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Sec. 11. Free Access to AH of DepEd's Learning Management Systems Subsidized
Data
Rians
for Learners
and
Tutors.
-
Public
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Applications;
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Telecommunications Entities (PTEs) shall provide free access to all of DepEd-
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exclusively hosted learning management systems applications with a static and public
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internet protocol (IP) address. The learning management systems applications shall
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include web-based applications, online educational platforms, digital libraries, and
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other online knowledge hubs exclusively hosted by DepEd. No data charges shall also
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be incurred in the data downloaded from, or uploaded to, these applications.
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Learners and tutors shall also be provided subsidized data plans by the DepEd for the use of these applications.
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As used in this Act, (1) PTEs shali refer to entities duly authorized by the
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National Telecommunications Commission to provide users or other entities with data
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connection allowing access to the internet; and (2) free access shall refer to the use
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of all learning management systems applications without incurring any corresponding
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data charges.
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Sec. 12. Allotment of Air Time for Supplemental Tutorial Video Materials. -
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Pursuant to R.A. No. 8370 or the "Children's Television Act of 1997", a portion of the
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daily total air time of each broadcasting network shall be allotted for supplemental
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tutorial video materials within the regular programming of all networks granted
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franchises or as a condition of renewal of their broadcast licenses hereinafter, to be
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included as part of the responsibility of the network in serving the public.
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The materials shall cover the essential learning competencies under the K to
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12 Basic Education Curriculum covering the subjects of Language, Mathematics, and
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Science.
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The applicable provisions of the laws granting the respective legislative
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franchises of these broadcasting networks shall be used as basis to require them to
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provide additional air time for the tutorial videos under the ARAL Program.
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Sec. 13. Remuneration of Teachers and Para-teachers Who Serve as Tutors. -
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Teachers who serve as tutors shall be compensated subject to the pertinent provisions
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of R.A. No. 4670 or the "Magna Carta for Public School Teachers" and the existing
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rules and regulations of the DepEd and the Department of Budget and Management
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(DBM). Said compensation for teachers shall be granted, provided that they have
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already rendered the prescribed six (6) hours of actuai classroom teaching, and the
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amount paid for the purpose shall not exceed the compensation for two (2) hours
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based on the Prime Hourly Teaching Rate consistent with DBM guidelines.
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Para-teachers who serve as tutors under this Act shall be compensated from
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the budget of the DepEd or the Special Education Fund of the Local School Board of
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the local government unit (LGU) where the schools of the learners are located.
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Sec. 14. Equivalent Literacy Training Service Credits for Tertiary Level Students
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Who Serve as Tutors. - Tertiary level students who serve as tutors under the ARAL
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Program for a period of two (2) semesters shall be given credits equivalent to their
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Literacy Training Service under the National Service Training Program, in accordance
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with R.A. No. 9163 or the "National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001".
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Under R.A. No. 9163, the Literacy Training Service is a program designed to
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train students to become teachers of literacy and numeracy skills to school children,
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out-of-school youth, and other segments of society in need of their service.
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Sec. 15. Incentives for Pre-service Teachers. - Services rendered by pre-service
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teachers who serve as tutors shall be considered relevant teaching experience when
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applying for plantilla position in the DepEd, subject to relevant rules and regulations
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of the Civil Service Commission and the Merit Selection Plan and hiring guidelines of
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the DepEd.
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Sec. 16. Local Government Support.-Ihe. DepEd, in collaboration with the LGU
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concerned, shall provide a safe learning environment for face-to-face tutorials giving
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due consideration to accessibility, cost-effectiveness and health-safety risk. They may
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also collaborate on other matters for the implementation of the ARAL Program, such
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as the promotion of the program to potential tutors in higher education institutions,
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identification and referral of potential tutors to DepEd, and encouragement of parents
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and parent-substitutes to include their children in the ARAL Program.
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The initiatives of an LGU in implementing learning recovery strategies may be
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added as one of the performance indicators under the criterion on Programs for
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Sustainable Education under Section 7 (e) of R.A. No. 11292 or "The Seal of Good
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Local Governance Act of 2019".
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Sec. 17. Parental Involvement - Schools shall develop linkages and maintain
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regular communication with the parents of the learners, as well as their parent-
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substitutes as defined under R.A. No. 11908 or "The Parent Effectiveness Service
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Program Act". The parents and parent-substitutes, being a primary resource and
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essential support in the education of their children, shall enhance their parental roles
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by assisting their children through home learning activities and making significant
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contributions in their educational development at home.
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Sec. 18. Implementing Agencies. - The DepEd shall coordinate with the
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Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development
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Authority (TESDA), Department of Information and Communications Technology
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(DICT), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and other
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stakeholders in the implementation of the provisions of this Act.
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Sec. 19. Tax Incentives - Any donation, contribution, or grant, in cash or in
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kind, made by individuals or organizations, public or private, local or foreign, to the
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ARAL Program through the DepEd, shall be exempt from the donor's tax and the cost
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of which shall be considered as an allowable deduction from the gross income of the
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donor in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of
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1997, as amended, and Bureau of Internal Revenue Rules and Regulations.
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Sec. 20. Mandatory Review and Impact Evaluation. - An annual evaluation shall
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be designed to collect comparable data for the purpose of determining the impact of
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the program.
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The impact evaluation report shall be submitted to Congress not later than six (6) months after the end of every school year of implementation.
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Sec. 21. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. - There is hereby created a
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Joint Congressional Oversight Committee to oversee, monitor and evaluate the
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implementation of this Act. The Oversight Committee shall be composed of five (5)
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members each from the Senate and from the House of Representatives, including the
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Chairpersons of the Committees on Basic Education and Finance of the Senate, and
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the Chairpersons of the Committees on Basic Education and Culture and
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Appropriations of the House of Representatives. The membership of the Oversight
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Committee for every chamber shall have at least one (1) minority member. The other
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two (2) members each from the Senate and the House of Representatives shall be
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designated by the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
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respectively.
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Sec. 22. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of this
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Act shall be charged against those authorized in the current appropriations of the
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DepEd. Thereafter, the amount necessary for its continuous implementation shall be
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included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
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Sec. 23. IRR. - Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DepEd,
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in consultation with the CHED, TESDA, DICT, DILG, and other relevant government
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agencies and private stakeholders, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for
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its effective implementation. The rules and regulations issued pursuant to this section
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shall take effect thirty (30) days after its publication in a newspaper of general
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circulation.
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Sec. 24. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is declared
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invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions or parts not affected shall remain
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in full force and effect.
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Sec. 25. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, executive orders, presidential
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decrees, administrative orders, rules and regulations, issuances, or parts thereof
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inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
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amended accordingly.
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Sec. 26. Effectivity. - Notwithstanding the non-issuance of the IRR, this Act
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shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a
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newspaper of general circulation. Approved,
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