Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 4171)
The main purpose of Republic Act No. 4171 is to provide for a twenty-year public elementary school building construction program in the Philippines, appropriating funds to build adequate permanent and semi-permanent public elementary school buildings nationwide.
Fifty million pesos were appropriated for the fiscal year 1964-1965, with a similar amount authorized to be appropriated annually thereafter for the succeeding nineteen years.
Six million pesos out of the fifty million pesos appropriated for the fiscal year 1964-1965 shall be made available for the repair, reconstruction, and improvement of existing public elementary school buildings.
The committee is composed of the Secretary of Education as chairman, and the Secretary of Public Works and Communications along with the Secretary of Finance as members.
The committee should consider functionality, economy without sacrificing strength and durability, aesthetics, and incorporate plans for landscaping, with distinct types for urban and rural communities.
Allocation and distribution are based on a sworn statement by the division superintendent of the number of public elementary pupils not housed in permanent or semi-permanent buildings per congressional district relative to the total number nationwide in the previous fiscal year.
Releases of funds require recommendation by the current congressman of the district. If there is no congressman, then by the former incumbent, or in his absence, by the provincial governor. Additionally, releases must be made simultaneously and proportionately for like projects across all districts.
Projects must be executed through public bidding in accordance with the usual procedures of the Bureau of Public Works, unless there are no bidders or projects can be done at a lower rate by administration.
The engineering surcharge shall not exceed two percent of the actual project cost, covering expenses for inspection, checking materials, and incidental office expenses related to estimates and contract documents.
The buildings must be erected only on land exclusively owned by the city, municipality, or National Government, or land donated or purchased for the school site, with the title registered under the land registration law. The Secretary of Education may allow construction to begin upon filing of the registration application.
Unexpended balances revert to the National Treasury credit of the appropriation and cannot be withdrawn or expended except for the program's purpose. Any unexpended balance for a fiscal year is added to the next fiscal year's appropriation.
Violations of the fund allocation and release provisions can lead to imprisonment of not more than one year and a fine of not more than five hundred pesos.
Yes, it contains a severability clause stating that if any section or part is declared unconstitutional, the other parts or sections shall not be affected.