THE HOUSE Committee on Basic Education and Culture has approved several versions of the education measures which the House passed on third and final reading in the 18th Congress.

Committee Chairman Roman Romulo cited Section 48 of the House Rules of the 18th Congress which was adopted in the 19th Congress in approving the bills.

Section 48 states that “In case of bills or resolutions that are identified as priority measures of the House, which were previously filed in the immediately preceding Congress and have been approved on third reading, the same may be disposed of as matters already reported upon the approval of majority of the Members of the committee present, there being a quorum.”

The panel approved House Bill 561 authored by ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro recognizing the annual observance of World Education Support Personnel Day and declaring May 16 of every year as the National Education Support Personnel Day in the Philippines.

Also approved were House Bills 636, 932, 1348, 1928 and 2466 authored by Representatives Joey Sarte Salceda, Romulo, Christian Tell Yap, Alfred Delos Santos and Rufus Rodriguez for the establishment of public schools of the future in technology.

The panel members also agreed to endorse for plenary discussion Romulo’s House Bill 929 that seeks to strengthen the promotion and delivery of mental health services in basic education and House Bills 931 and 1097 on the establishment of Philippine High School for the Creative Arts System.

House Bill 930 which will rename the Literacy Coordinating Council to National Literacy Council was also approved by the committee.