2 House panels OK bill allowing president to revise school opening schedule

MANILA, Philippines — The substitute bill which would empower the president to set a different date for the start of the school year in the event of a state of emergency or state of calamity has been approved by two committees in the House of Representatives.

The House Committee on Basic Education and Culture and the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education approved on Saturday the substitute bill to several filed House bills, in a move to amend Republic Act 7797 or “An Act To Lengthen the School Calendar From Two Hundred Days to Not More Than Two Hundred Twenty Class Days”.

Before the approval of the substitute bill, a motion was made to adopt the Senate version of the bill—which was recently approved on second reading.

Under Senate Bill No. 1541, the date of the postponed school year opening will be based on the recommendation of the secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Currently, R.A. 7797 mandates the opening of classes between the first Monday of June but not later than the last day of August.

But if the proposed measure is approved, the president would be allowed to postpone school opening beyond August.

To recall, the education department has set the opening of classes, whether physically or virtually, on August 24.

With the House panels’ approval of the substitute bill, it will now be brought to the plenary for debates.

GSG