IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 12118 OR “AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE BAGUIO CITY HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR”

RULE I

GENERAL  PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. – Title. – These rules and regulations shall be referred to as the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) on the establishment of the Baguio City High School for the Arts.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the declared policy of the State to foster the preservation, enrichment, and dynamic evolution of Filipino national culture based on the principle of unity in diversity in a climate of free artistic and intellectual expression.

To this end, the State shall promote the sustained development of young Filipinos whose aptitude and skill in culture and the arts shall be properly encouraged and honed through education and specialized training programs. The State shall establish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education and training to encourage the artistic talent and cultural aptitude of the Filipino youth as well as support and promote the development of young artists nationwide.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this IRR, the following terms are defined:

a.	Act – refers to RA No. 12118, titled, “AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE BAGUIO CITY HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.”;
b.	Artist – refers to experts and practitioners in the fields of music, theater arts, dance, visual arts, literary arts, multimedia arts, traditional folk arts, and other emerging art forms who will instruct the earners through masterclasses of the specific art disciplines offered by the school.
c.	Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) – refers to the Cultural Center of the Philippines created under Presidential Decree No. 15, as amended;
d.	Establishment of a Public School – refers to the process of initiating, instituting, organizing, operating, conducting, and maintaining a new public school in a barangay, municipality, city, or province by the administrative authority of the respective Department of Education (DepEd) Regional Office;
e.	High School for the Arts – refers to a public high school with specialized curriculum offering significant emphasis on developing the talent, skill, and exceptional giftedness of learners in Arts, thereby nurturing potential student-artists while preserving and promoting Filipino heritage.
	For purposes of this IRR, High School for the Arts shall refer to Baguio City High School for the Arts;
f.	National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) – refers to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts created under RA No. 7356;
g.	Non-Teaching Personnel – refers to those occupying non-teaching positions, either on full time or part-time, whose primary duties and responsibilities contribute to the delivery of basic education services and achievement of agency outcomes, but neither involve nor directly support the actual conduct of teaching or delivery of instruction;
h.	RA No. 10533 – refers to “AN ACT ENHANCING THE PHILIPPINE BASIC EDUCATION SYSTEM BY STRENGTHENING ITS CURRICULUM AND INCREASING THE NUMBER OF YEARS FOR BASIC EDUCATION, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES,” otherwise known as the “Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013”;
i.	RA No. 9155 – refers to “AN ACT INSTITUTING A FRAMEWORK OF GOVERNANCE FOR BASIC EDUCATION, ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, RENAMING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, CULTURE AND SPORTS AS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”, otherwise known as the “Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001”;
j.	Teacher refers to those occupying teaching positions directly engaged in teaching or delivery of instruction, either on full-time or part-time basis, in the Baguio City High School for the Arts; and
k.	Related-Teaching Personnel – refers to those whose primary duties and responsibilities contribute to the delivery of basic education services and achievement of agency outcomes, through the provision of direct support to teaching and the delivery of instruction, such as standard setting, policy and program formulation, research, and sector monitoring and evaluation.

SECTION 4. Establishment of the Baguio City High School for the Arts. – There is hereby established in the City of Baguio a specialized public high school that shall offer arts-focused education, to be known as the Baguio City High School for the Arts. Provided that, the establishment of Baguio City High School for the Arts shall be consistent with the procedure laid down in relevant DepEd issuances, including DepEd Order No. 40, s. 2014, as amended.

The High School for the Arts shall be administered and supervised by the Department of Education (DepEd), in close coordination with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). The NCCA and the CCP shall provide policy direction and technical assistance to the school through DepEd Cordillera Administrative Region – Regional Office and the Schools Division of Baguio City.

For purposes of this IRR, the High School for the Arts shall be under the administrative supervision of the DepEd through the DepEd Schools Division of Baguio City.

SEC. 5. Mandate. – The High School for the Arts shall implement a general secondary curriculum, as prescribed by RA No. 10533, to learners with considerable potential in the arts. The curriculum shall have significant emphasis on developing the talent, skill, and exceptional giftedness of learners, thereby nurturing potential artists while preserving and promoting Filipino heritage.

SEC. 6. Curriculum and Teaching. – The High School for the Arts shall implement the enhanced basic education curriculum, together with the Special Program in the Arts and other Arts curriculum models recognized by DepEd. It shall preserve and promote Filipino heritage through localization and contextualization. In the development of the school curriculum, the High School for the Arts shall be guided by the following:

6.1	Adoption and Alignment of Curriculum. The High School for the Arts shall strictly adhere to the curriculum and program standards developed by DepEd-Central Office. The NCCA, CCP and other relevant agencies and stakeholders shall provide technical assistance to facilitate the enhancement and contextualization of the Special Program in the Arts curriculum, tailored to the specific needs of the High School for the Arts.
6.2	Learning Delivery. The High School for the Arts shall deliver, whenever applicable, other DepEd recognized art curriculum models and pedagogies into its instructional design framework. Artists, experts, and qualified educators shall ensure holistic development, supported by adequate resources, inclusive access, and creative industry partnerships.
6.3	Provision of Learning Resources. All learning resources shall undergo the necessary process of quality assurance by DepEd, NCCA, CCP, and other relevant stakeholders in accordance with national policies and standards.
6.4	Assessment and Evaluation. Student-artists shall be assessed and evaluated based on the standards set by the DepEd-Central Office. In the crafting of classroom assessment and evaluation tools, DepEd may coordinate with NCCA and CCP should the need arise. Assessment shall include academic evaluations, performances, portfolio reviews, and exit assessments.
6.5	Stakeholder Participation. To achieve an enhanced and responsive school curriculum, DepEd shall undertake consultations with other government agencies, relevant stakeholders, and other art-related organizations with proven and established track record in the promotion of history, arts, and culture.

SEC. 7. Hiring of Secondary Education Teachers. – The hiring of secondary education teachers shall follow the applicable guidelines in the recruitment, selection, and appointment process.

The different art specializations shall be handled by teachers whose areas of specialization, among others, are in music, theater, dance, visual arts, creative writing, and multimedia arts.

Guided by the CSC-approved qualification standards, the qualifications of teachers teaching specialized subjects shall be specified in a separate guidelines to be issued by DepEd.

SEC. 8. Hiring of Artists and Experts. – DepEd may hire artists or experts in the fields of music, theater arts, dance, visual arts, literary arts, multimedia arts, and other emerging art forms to teach specialized subjects of the School’s special arts curriculum.

The hiring of these individuals shall be in accordance with relevant laws, rules, and regulations.

SEC. 9. Teacher Education and Training. – To ensure that the School’s arts program meets the demand for quality teachers and school leaders, DepEd, through the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP), in coordination with NCCA and CCP, shall conduct teacher education and training programs, in collaboration with relevant partners in government, academe, industry, and non governmental organizations. Such professional development programs shall be initiated, conducted, and evaluated regularly to ensure constant upgrading of teacher skills. Teacher education and training programs shall include:

9.1	Continuing Professional Development of Teachers. School teachers shall be trained to enhance their artistic and pedagogical skills to meet the content and performance standards of the Special Program in the Arts curriculum and other art curriculum models.
9.2	Continuing Professional of Instructional Leaders. School administrators and other instructional school leaders shall likewise undergo art-related and academic workshops and training to enhance their skills in art management.

SEC. 10. Creation, Recruitment, Selection, and Appointment of School-based Personnel. – The DepEd, in consultation with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), shall initiate the creation of items of the necessary teaching, teaching-related and non-teaching personnel in the High School for the Arts, consistent with existing guidelines and school organizational structures and staffing patterns.

The recruitment, selection, appointment, and deployment of teaching, teaching-related and non-teaching personnel of the School for the Arts shall be guided by the existing DepEd guidelines, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Civil Service Commission, DBM, and other relevant government agencies.

SEC. 11. Inclusion of the School in DepEd’s Program of Expenditure and Its Management Information Systems. – DepEd shall immediately include in the Department’s program of expenditures and shall ensure the provision of basic education inputs, necessary in the High School for the Arts’ operations, that are compliant with the minimum service standards and appropriate to the needs of its learners and teachers.

DepEd shall likewise include the High School for the Arts in the Enhanced Basic Education Information System, the Learner Information System, and other management information systems of Dep Ed.

SEC. 12. Organizational Structure and Staffing Pattern; Development Plan. – The organizational structure and staffing pattern of the High School for the Arts shall be prescribed by the DepEd, subject to the approval of the DBM.

Within one hundred twenty (120) days upon the effectivity of this IRR, the High School for the Arts shall submit a five (5)-year development plan, including its corresponding budgetary program to the DepEd, and set up its organizational, administrative, and academic structure.

SEC. 13. Roles and Responsibilities of NCCA and CCP. – For purposes of this IRR, the NCCA and CCP shall have the following roles and responsibilities:

i.	Provide culture and arts-related policy direction and technical assistance to the High School for the Arts through DepEd Cordillera Region-Regional Office and the Schools Division of Baguio City.
ii.	Provide technical assistance to evaluate the content of all culture and arts-related learning resources intended for use at the High School for the Arts, guaranteeing historical and cultural accuracy and relevant to the current state of the arts; and
iii.	Other acts necessary for the effective implementation of the provisions under this IRR.

SEC. 14. Authority to Receive Donations, Grants, and Other Gratuitous Transfers Allowable Deductions and/or Exemptions. – The School head may receive donations, grants, bequests, legacies, devised, endowments, contributions, and other gratuitous transfers made to the High School for the Arts, which shall form part of the school fund to be used actually, directly, and exclusively by the High School for the Arts, subject to compliance with existing laws, rules, and regulations.

Any donation, grant, bequest, legacy, devise, endowment, contribution, and other gratuitous transfers, in cash or in kind, made by individuals or organizations, public or private, local or foreign, shall be subject to applicable deductions and/or exemptions, in accordance with the pertinent provisions on donor’s and estate taxes under the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.

SEC. 15. Monitoring and Evaluation Systems of the Performance of the Baguio City High School for the Arts. – Consistent with existing monitoring and evaluation systems for the operationalization of schools, the High School for the Arts shall endeavor to produce high learning outcomes. Its performance shall be closely monitored, evaluated, and reported to the appropriate governance level.

SEC. 16. Guidelines on the Establishment of Baguio City High School for the Arts. – DepEd may formulate and implement additional guidelines on the establishment of the High School for the Arts, as may be necessary.

SEC. 17. Transitory Provision. – The Schools Division Office of Baguio City, having jurisdiction over the High School for the Arts, shall, as may be necessary, immediately initiate the formal acquisition and establishment of its school site under the name of DepEd and include in its budget proposal the budgetary requirements of the priority equipment and facilities.

Provided that, the establishment of the High School for the Arts shall be consistent with the procedure laid down in the existing policies on the establishment of public schools.

The Secretary of Education shall immediately include in the Department’s program the operationalization of the High School for the Arts, the initial funding of which shall be charged against the current year’s appropriation of the Schools Division Office of Baguio City. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued operation of the School shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 17. Separability Clause. If any provision or part of this IRR is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 18. Repealing Clause. All DepEd Orders and other related issuances, rules, and regulations inconsistent with this IRR are hereby repealed, rescinded, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 19. Effectivity. – This IRR shall take effect immediately after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Three certified copies of this IRR shall be filed with the Office of the National Administrative Register at the University of the Philippines Law Center, UP Diliman, Quezon City.

Done this 28th day of April 2025.

 

(SGD.) SONNY ANGARA

Secretary

Department of Education