Manila: The House of Representatives on Wednesday advanced several landmark education reforms with the approval on third reading of House Bills Nos. 9358, 9377, and 9466, measures aimed at strengthening educational governance, promoting constitutional literacy, and expanding nutrition support for Filipino learners.
According to Philippines News Agency, the measures, principally sponsored by Rep. Roman Romulo, Chairperson of the Committee on Basic Education and Culture, reflect the continuing commitment of the House of Representatives to improving learning outcomes and ensuring that learners are provided with the institutional, civic, and nutritional support necessary to succeed.
House Bill 9358 seeks to bolster the governance structure of the Department of Education by amending Republic Act No. 9155. It addresses the growing administrative demands due to the K to 12 program and the increasing number of schools, learners, and educators. The bill empowers DepEd regional offices to tailor national policies to local needs, enhances support for schools division offices, and facilitates the creation of additional schools division offices and school districts where necessary. Additionally, it updates the law to align with the governance framework of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, strengthening coordination between national and regional education authorities.
House Bill 9377, known as the 'Constitutional Education Act,' aims to institutionalize age-appropriate constitutional education throughout the basic education curriculum starting in Grade 1. This initiative will help learners develop a deeper understanding of democratic institutions, citizenship, human rights, accountability in government, social justice, and civic participation. The bill also institutionalizes the annual observance of Constitution Day every February 2 and provides for teacher training programs in collaboration with legal and judicial institutions to enhance the delivery of constitutional education.
House Bill 9466 seeks to transform the National Feeding Program under Republic Act No. 11037 into a more comprehensive National Nutrition Program. It expands the program's coverage to include undernourished children below five years old, all learners from Kindergarten to Grade 3, undernourished learners from Grades 4 to 12, nutritionally at-risk pregnant learners, children with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples learners, and other marginalized sectors. The bill emphasizes milk feeding initiatives, incorporates science-based nutrition standards, and integrates interventions such as micronutrient supplementation, health examinations, sanitation, hygiene promotion, and nutrition education. It also supports local agriculture by requiring a portion of food procurement to be sourced directly from Filipino farmers and fisherfolk.
Rep. Romulo emphasized the importance of proper nutrition, stating that investments in child nutrition are investments in education, human capital, and national development.
