AMENDING R.A. NO. 3478 AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS SUBSIDY ACT, SO AS TO INCLUDE THE BARRIO HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE COVERAGE THEREOF.

• Number: Presidential Decree No. 479
• Sections: 7

Preamble

WHEREAS, R.A. No. 3478 as amended by R.A. No. 4128 provides

an appropriation of Ten Million Pesos (P10,000,000.00) as aid to all

provinces, municipalities and cities, except Manila and Quezon City, in

the maintenance of public high schools;

WHEREAS, R.A. No. 6054 enacted much later authorizes the

establishment of barrio high schools funded mainly from tuition fees of

students and from a very meager share of the realty tax collected on

real property situated thereat;

WHEREAS, the growth in the number of barrio high schools

today has clearly demonstrated the concern of local officials with the

educational welfare of the barrio youth in their thirst for secondary

education;

WHEREAS, said barrio high schools are part and parcel of

the educational system but are not included within the coverage of the

national aid annually allocated to public secondary schools under R.A.

No. 3478;

WHEREAS, due to inadequate fund resources as now authorized

by law, most barrio high schools today are beset with financial problems

for their continued operation and maintenance;

WHEREAS, with improved funding of secondary schools

including barrio high schools, the reorientation of the secondary

curriculum towards increased emphasis on work-oriented programs

particularly supervised training and allied activities can be better

achieved;

WHEREAS, the State, in assuming the obligation to give

financial assistance to public institutions rendering service to a great

number of people, is committed to the continuing program of human

resource development, more particularly the youth who must be encouraged

and provided the opportunity to strive for social and economic uplift,

thereby enabling them to contribute more effectively to the development

of their communities.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the

Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution do

hereby decree and order the following:

Section 1

SECTION 1. Provisions of existing law to the contrary

notwithstanding, there is appropriated out of any funds in the National

Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of Ten Million Pesos

(P10,000,000) in addition to such sums as have been appropriated in the

Appropriations Decree for FY 1973-74 as aid to public general secondary

schools including barrio high schools.

Section 2

SEC. 2. Excluded from the benefits of this Decree are

general secondary schools in the cities of Manila and Quezon City and

all First Class A cities and municipalities.

Section 3

SEC. 3. All barrio high schools shall be converted into

vocational schools and work-oriented programs related to community

development needs shall be emphasized.

Section 4

SEC. 4. The Secretary of Education and Culture shall

promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to convert barrio

high schools into vocational schools and carry out the provisions of

this Decree: Provided, however, That in the allocation of the

aid herein provided, distribution to beneficiaries shall be as equitable

as possible based on the need instead of mainly on the basis of student

population.

Section 5

SEC. 5. All Acts or parts of Acts, administrative orders and

rules and regulations inconsistent with the provisions of this Decree

are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Section 6

SEC. 6. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 6th day of June, in the year of Our

Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.

(Sgd.)

FERDINAND E. MARCOS

President of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.)

ALEJANDRO MELCHOR

Executive Secretary