THE House of Representatives, voting unanimously, passed on third and final reading the bill mandating educational institutions to provide the appropriate armchairs for left-handed students.

Some 207 lawmakers voted in favor of House Bill No. 8654, or the “Mandatory Provision of Left-Handed Armchairs in Educational Institutions Act”, during the plenary session on Monday, December 10.

The measure provides that “it shall be obligatory for all educational institutions, both public and private, that make use of armchairs in the classroom to provide the appropriate armchairs for left-handed students equivalent to at least 10 percent of the student population.”

The bill mandates the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to formulate rules and regulations in relation to the provisions of the measure.

Authors of the measure are Representatives Cristina Roa-Puno, Antonio Tinio, Sarah Jane Elago and Strike Revilla, among others.

Roa-Puno, in the explanatory note of the bill, said that according to studies, a right-handed armchair does not offer left-handed students the same arm support that right-handed students enjoy, causing back, neck and shoulder pain to students.

“The bill aims to provide the equal development of students by requiring educational institutions all over the country to provide left-handed armchairs. Currently, left-handed students are left without a choice but to work with right-handed arm chairs,” she added.

Roa-Puno also said it is high time that the Congress pass the bill as the armchairs being used in schools place left-handed students at a “disadvantage” and at a “learning handicap.” (SunStar Philippines)