Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) Party List Representatives Deputy Speaker Bro. Eddie Villanueva and Domeng Rivera welcome and commend on Monday the signing of Republic Act 11480 which allows the government to set the date of the opening of classes in all basic education schools in case of a state of calamity or emergency like this COVIC-19 pandemic.

“RA 11480 is a much-needed law in the middle of this pandemic because it gives the government free hand in determining when is the right time to open classes taking into account the safety and readiness of all the stakeholders in the resumption of classes. This will put to rest the apprehension of parents that their children might skip schooling this year considering the reports that our learning institutions and students alike are not fully ready to undergo blended learning as well as the high risk of contracting the virus when students go out of their homes,” says Deputy Speaker Villanueva.

“Aside from its relevance in our current situation, RA 11480 also has bearing and applicability in future cases of state of emergency, calamity or similar occurrences that would require delaying the start of the school year,” adds the CIBAC lawmaker.

RA 11480 amends Republic Act 7797 which mandates that opening of classes must be between the first Monday of July but not later than the last day of August. Through the new law, the President, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Education, is empowered to defer the opening of classes even beyond the last day of August particularly in the state of calamity or emergency. In addition, the law also covers all basic education including foreign and international schools.

CIBAC Party-List is one of the principal authors of the law at the House of Representatives. It filed House Bill 6661 which is one of the principal bills consolidated to be transmitted to the President.

“We thank the President for signing this legislation into law. By such, DepEd is not anymore beholden and bound-by-law to start classes until the end of August but is now at liberty to come up with the most efficient course of action based on progressive assessment and evaluation of our situation,” says CIBAC lawmaker Domeng Rivera.