Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

0
House Bill No. eet

Introduced nid Rabtesentative Jose imagen s. Garcia im

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Parent Effectiveness Service (PES) was first introduced by the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in 1981 with the
release of the PES Handbook developed by then Bureau of Family and Child
Welfare. The PES later became the main component of the Early Childhood
Care and Development (ECCD) which was the focus of UNICEF under the
Country Program for Children (CPC) Il. Printing of the PES Manual in book form
was first made in 1987."

With the passage of Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as the “Local
Government Code of 1991”, the PES was among the services of the DSWD
devolved to the local government units. The devolution, notwithstanding, the
DSWD enriched the manual in 2001 to provide additional reference guide for
local government unit workers and enhance the methodology, strategies and
approaches, and content in facilitating the conduct of PES in the community.”

At present, the implementation and impact of the PES is largely unfelt.
While it remains as a component of the Early Childhood Care and Development
(ECCD) Act, it is not given the appropriate attention that it justly deserves. This
is notwithstanding the provision of the ECCD Act directing that the PES, among
others, shall continue to be supported by LGUs in the form of construction of
basic infrastructure, provision of facilities, materials and equipment, and
compensation for the service providers.’

Likewise, although the DSWD continues to incorporate the PES as one
of the materials of Family Development Sessions in connection with the

‘Lourdes G. Balanon: Preface, Manual on Effective Parenting (Enriched Parent Effectiveness
Service)

* Ibid.

* Paragraph 3, Section 9(a), R.A. 8980, otherwise known as the “ECCD Act.”


implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), its focus and
coverage is not as extensive and continuous as that originally envisioned.

The quality and extent of care, attention, and provision for their needs
remain to be cornerstone of our children’s development. Effectively providing for
all these needs depends on the readiness and commitment of parents and
parent substitutes to perform their roles and responsibilities. While child rearing
and development are inherent responsibilities of parenthood, it is equally the
responsibility of the State to defend the right of children to assistance, including
Proper care and nutrition, and special protection from all forms of neglect,
cruelty, exploitation, and other conditions prejudicial to their development.

Support for this bill is therefore earnestly requested from my colleagues.

IRIQUE S. GARCIA Ill
istrict, Bataan


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 204

AN ACT MANDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE PARENT EFFECTIVENESS SERVICE BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT
UNITS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as “The Parent
Effectiveness Service Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy — It is the declared policy of the State
to recognize the sanctity of family life, protect and strengthen the family as the
basic social institution and foundation of the nation, strengthen its solidarity, and
actively promote its total development. It is further the policy of the State to
defend the right of children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition,
and special protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and
other conditions prejudicial to their development.

Towards this end, the State shall implement a parent effectiveness
service designed to enhance and strengthen the role of parents as the primary
educators and caregivers of their children, and create an atmosphere conducive
to the children’s physical, moral, and intellectual development.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms — As used in this Act, the following
terms shall mean:

(a) Parent Effectiveness Service (PES) - is the provision and
expansion of knowledge and skills of parents and parent substitutes
on parenting to be able to respond to parental duties and
responsibilities on the areas of early childhood development,
behavior management of younger and older children, husband-wife
relationships, prevention of child abuse, health care, and other
challenges of parenting. It assists parents and parent substitutes to

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(b)

(c)

develop and strengthen their knowledge and skills so they can
assume the major educational role in their child's growth and
development;

Parent substitute — refers to the guardian other than the biological
parents who has custody over a child and is primarily responsible
for his care, physical, moral and intellectual development. It shall
also include surrogate parents and caretakers.

Module — refers to a component subject consisting of a carefully
thought out and written material with varied number of sessions,
that together with the other modules shall count towards the
completion of the PES.

SECTION 4. Establishment of the PES - There is hereby established in
every city and municipality a PES program to assist parents and parent

substitutes in strengthening the
parental duties and responsil

knowledge and skills in responding to their
s. The PES shall consist of the following

modules to be developed by the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) and rolled out in such number of sessions as the DSWD.
may prescribe:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(a)

(e)

Module 1: Myself as Person and as a Parent. — This module aims to
provide participants with a deeper understanding of their roles as
parents by going through lessons that enrich their understanding of
themselves. Facilitators will help participants identify individual
strengths and weaknesses, describe factors that affect the
characteristics of their personhood, and clarify family values and
goals aligned with strengthening their role as parents among others;

Module 2: The Filipino Family. - This module aims to give an
overview of family dynamics in the context of the Philippines
Facilitators will help participants understand the importance and
functions of the family, describe the characteristics of the Filipino
family, and understand how these characteristics affect the values
and behaviors of children among others;

Module 3: Challenges of Parenting. - This module aims to provide
participants with a more in-depth understanding of the obstacles
that will be faced by parents and how stronger parenting skills will
be able to address these;

Module 4: Child Development. — This module aims to provide
participants with a proper understanding of child growth and
development. Different learning avenues for children as well as
domains of child development may be discussed;

Module 5: Keeping Your Child Safe from Abuse. — This module
aims to prevent child abuse by educating parents about the rights of
their children and familiarizing them with risk factors or warning

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signs of abuse in children;

(f) Module 6: Building Children’s Positive Behavior. - This module
aims to improve parental understanding of child behavior. Basic
theories on child behavior will be discussed. Factors that can
positively or negatively affect child behavior will also be discussed;

(g) Module 7: Health and Nutrition. — This module aims to provide
adequate information on common health and nutrition needs of
children. Common childhood diseases, basic nutrition principles,
and growth monitoring are some of the topics that may be
discussed;

(h) Module 8: Home Management. - This module aims to provide
participants with practical ideas on how to manage
their respective households. Time, financial, and stress
management are some of the topics that may be discussed; and

(i) Module 9: Keeping a Healthy Environment for Your Children. — This
module aims to show the importance of physical environment
cleanliness in creating a strong household. Waste management and
community environmental management efforts may be included as
topics in this module.

The DSWD may add other modules or expand, modify or merge existing
modules as it may deem appropriate taking into consideration the progress and
result of the PES implementation.

SECTION 5. Coverage. - The PES shall primarily cover fathers and
mothers, surrogate parents, and caretakers of 0-6 years old children belonging
to the low-income group. Those belonging to the higher income group may join
voluntarily to enrich their parenting knowledge and skills.

SECTION 6. Implementation of the PES - The PES shall be
implemented by cities and municipalities through their respective social welfare
development offices. Parent effectiveness sessions shall be conducted in every
barangay at such schedule and interval to be determined by the social welfare
officer concerned. For this purpose, the respective social welfare officers shall,
on an annual basis, prepare and submit to the local chief executive a complete
program and schedule of the parent effectiveness sessions covering all
barangays of their respective jurisdictions.

The PES conducted pursuant to this Act shall constitute as full and
complete compliance with the PES component incorporated in Republic Act
8980, otherwise known as the “ECCD Act’, and such other government
programs mandating the delivery of the PES as requisite for program coverage
and entitlement. Accordingly, the DSWD shall harmonize and standardize all
PES Module Manuals used by facilitators in conducting parent effectiveness
sessions.


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SECTION 7. Capacity Building. - The DSWD shall assist the cities and
municipalities in developing the required competencies of facilitators who shall
be deployed to conduct parent effectiveness sessions in the barangays.

SECTION 8. Development and Production of PES Manuals - The DSWD
shall, within three (3) months from the effectivity of this Act, develop and
produce the PES Module Manuals to be utilized by the facilitators in conducting
the parent effectiveness sessions.

SECTION 9. Appropriation. - The funds necessary to carry out the
responsibilities delegated to the DSWD shall be sourced from its current
appropriation. Thereafter, the funds necessary for the continuing
implementation of its mandate under this Act shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act.

The costs for conducting the parent effectiveness sessions and other
expenses relevant thereto shall be charged against the respective
appropriations of the cities and municipalities.

SECTION 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60)
days from the effectivity of this Act, the DSWD shall promulgate the rules and
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 11. Separability Clause. — If, for any reason, any part or
provision of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts
or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 12. Repealing Clause - All laws, presidential decrees,
executive orders, rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 13. Effectivity — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
upon the approval and publication thereof.

Approved.