Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 8796

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S, TAMBUNTING

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Early childhood education, which refers to the learning period starting from the child's birth to
the moment they enter kindergarten, is an important time as this is when children learn to interact
with other people and begin to develop interests. During this period, children develop social and
emotional skills which will prove to be useful for the rest of their lives. United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) argues that early child education “aims at the
holistic development of a child's social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs in order to build
a solid and broad foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing”. Early childhood education is
considered to be the foundation of a child’s education. With a better quality of stimulation, support
and nurture, children can grow into more successful learners and prepare them for better career
opportunities later on in life.

Itis ultimately the responsibility of the State to improve the lives of the people not only by creating
conditions for human development, but also by enhancing human abilities which involves
improving their health and life expectancy, nurturing their knowledge and skills, and raising their
standard of living. To this end, this measure seeks to establish an early learning program across
local government units which shall provide learning services to pre-kindergarten children. This
early learning program shall be designed to improve child development through: (1) improved
access to and increased coordination with health care services; (2) increased access to enhanced
early learning environments; and (3) increased parental involvement.

On behalf of the people of Parafiaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought.

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istrict, Parafiaque City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 8796

Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S, TAMBUNTING

AN ACT ESTABLISHING EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS FOR PRE-KINDERGARTEN
CHILDREN

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Early Learning Program Act”.
SEC. 2. Purposes. — The Purposes of this Act are:

1) To make widely available to pre-kindergarten children a high quality child-centered and
developmentally-appropriate early earning program

2) To make widely available to parents of pre-kindergarten children who desire the services
a program in which they can enroll their pre-kindergarten children; and

3) To provide resources to ensure that all children enter elementary school ready to learn
how to read and write,

SEC. 3, Definitions — The following terms as used in this Act shall mean:

1) Early Learning Programs — refer to programs that provide services for children who have
not attended kindergarten or elementary school. Such programs are designed to provide
indigent pre-kindergarten children with a high-quality child-centered and
developmentally-appropriate learning program and with resources to ensure that all
children enter elementary school ready to learn how to read and write;

2) Parent — refers to a biological parent an adoptive parent a stepparent or a foster parent
of a child, including a legal guardian or other person standing in loco parentis;

3) Secretary — refers to the Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).

SEC. 4, Early Learning Program. - The Secretary shall establish and maintain an early learning
program that provides learning services in every city or municipality. The program shall:

a) Be developed pursuant to guidance provided by the educational authorities and experts
in early childhood development and


b) Be designed to improve child development through:

i, Improved access to and increased coordination with health care services;
. Increased access to enhanced early learning environments; and
ili, Increased parental involvement.

The program shall be designed to service pre-kindergarten children, including those with special
needs, who shall receive enhanced educational and comprehensive services and support, through
parent involvement and education.

SEC, 5. Assessment, — The Secretary shall conduct an evolution of the effectiveness of the
early childhood programs established and conduct needs and resources assessment, and use
‘such an assessment to:

i. Determine where early learning programs are lacking or are inadequate within a given
city or municipality with particular attention to poor urban and rural areas and what special
services are needed; and

ii. Specify which programs might be expanded or upgraded with the use of funds received
under this Act.

SEC. 6. Appropriation, — The amount necessary to effectively carry out the provisions of this
Act is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause — If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or unconstitutional,
the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause — Any law, presidential decree or issuance executive order, letter of
instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions
of this Act is hereby repealed, modified and amended accordingly.

SEC. 9, Effectivity — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least
two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,