President empowered to reset school opening

Once signed into law, bill may cover the current school calendar

The House of Representatives has approved a measure that will empower the President to reset the date of the school opening to protect the well-being of students in times of calamity and epidemic.

This is stipulated in House Bill (HB) No. 6895 that also extended the school calendar from the current 200 to 220 days. The measure was approved on third and final reading Thursday night, June 4, by all 241 House members present.

Minutes after voting to pass the measure, the House swiftly adopted a motion for the adoption of Senate Bill (SB) No. 1541 passed unanimously by senators on Monday.

As a result of the motion, the two legislative chambers may now skip bicameral committee proceedings and send the merged bill directly to Malacañang for signing by President Duterte.

The new law may then be applied for the current school calendar that had been disrupted by the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Earlier, the Department of Education (DepEd) recommended moving the school opening from the second week of June to the last week of August to help guarantee the

safety of students from

COVID-19 infection.

The newly passed bill will amend Section 3 of Republic Act No. 7797 that provides a school calendar comprising of 200 days.

HB 6895 consolidated nine separate legislative measures, including new proposals that were filed recently to address the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to the previous and current school year.

Authors of the bill include Reps. Wes Gatchalian (NPC, Valenzuela City); Michael John Duavit (NPC, Rizal); Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” Villanueva (CIBAC Party-list); and Ann Hofer (PDP-Laban, Zamboanga Sibugay).

Gatchalian said the bill will give the Chief Executive the flexibility to adjust the opening date of a school year to address a state of emergency or calamity that has disrupted the school year.

“This means that before we open our schools to a very vulnerable sector, we can ensure that they are safe because while the education of our youth is very important, their health is equally vital,” said Gatchalian, chairman of the House Committee on Trade and Industry.

Strongly endorsed for approval by the House Committees on Higher Education and on Basic Education, HB 6895 directs the Secretary of Education to make recommendations to the President the setting of a different date for opening of school year in the event of a declaration of a state of emergency or state of calamity, such as the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.

HB 6895 also mandates that the resetting of a school year will apply to all basic education schools, including foreign or international schools operating in the country.