- Alfred Vargas is the author of House Bill 388 or the controversial “No Homework on Weekends Act of 2019″
- Aiko Melendez hits Alfred Vargas’ over boo-boo in his ‘no-homework’ bill
- Vargas later issued an apology, saying that the provision was a “technical error” and that his office would correct it
On August 26, 2019, Second District Quezon City Representative Alfred Vargas filed House Bill 388, which he wants to pass as the “No Homework on Weekends Act of 2019″.
The proposed law seeks to ban all elementary and high schools from allowing teachers to give homework or assignments over the weekend. It is for the students to enjoy their free time on weekends. Violators will face a fine of P50,000 and jail time of up to two years.
House Deputy Speaker Evelina Escudero also filed House Bill 3611 which promotes a no-homework policy for kinder to grade 12 and barring the taking of textbooks out of the school for kinder to grade six students in all public and private schools.
Unlike Vargas, Escudero’s bill has no provisions for penalties.
The public voiced out their mixed reactions to the two proposed bills. Those in the field of teaching disagreed with the penalty in Vargas’ bill. To this, Vargas released a statement on August 29 that it was just a mistake from his office and there will be no penalty for the teachers.
Here is an excerpt of the official statement released by Vargas’s office:
“Humihingi po ako ng paumanhin sa ating mga kababayan Lalo na sa ating mga guro na anapektuhan ng mapgkakamali ng aking opisina. Hindi po sinasadyang naisingit and penal clause sa panukalang batas para sa ating mga mag-aaral na “NO HOMEWORK ON WEEKENDS BILL”.
“Ito po ay isang technical error at iwinawasto na po ng ating opisina. Kung inyo pong susuriin, mapapansin na may dalawang Section 4 na nakasama sa panukalang batas. Ito po ang pagkakamaling nagawa. Tama po kayo, hindi ito isang krimen na kailangan ng kaparusahan. Tayo po ay gumagawa na ng hakbang upang iwasto ang naturang pagkakamali.”
However, Prima Donnas star, Aiko Melendez, called out Vargas on her facebook account. She stated that although she agrees that no one is perfect and it is just a mistake, it could have affected a lot of people in the teaching field.
“Ang pagkakamali sa isang batas na nais mo ipasa para sa bayan ay hindi biro. Naawa ako na ang mga guro Naten na halos kakarampot na nga ang sweldo meron pa na multa na 50k.”
She ended the post by saying “Cong Alfred sana sa susunod bago pumirma ng batas idouble check naman kasi buhay namen mga tax payers at mga ordinaryong mamayan ang maapektuhan. May this be the last bill na magkakamali ang opisina mo. #justsaying”
Like Vargas, Melendez is also a resident of Quezon. She also served the city as Councilor back in 2001-2009. She even ran for the vice mayorship in the said city in 2010.
