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.

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. 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.

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.

SEC. 3. All barrio high schools shall be converted into
vocational schools and work-oriented programs related to community
development needs shall be emphasized.

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.

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.

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.