FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILJPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In the present Philippine public education set up, a child intending to enroll in Grade I is 
expected to have some basic reading, writing and socialization skills, thus, may be 
admitted only when possessing such skills. It is somehow understandable because only 
when a child is armed with the said simple abilities that school authorities could be 
assured of greater efficacy in learning and better absorption of information from a child. 
What is incomprehensible, however, is the setting of that unwritten standard while 
government fails to provide for a free pre-school education. The situation, in effect, is 
making inutile the promise of free elementary and secondary education. 
When a child is finally admitted to Grade I despite this deficiency of not undergoing pre- 
school, it is possible to find him miserably lagging behind his pre-school educated 
classmates. To remedy the problem, parents are compelled to enroll their kids in private 
pre-schools usually offering preparatory learning at a very high cost. 
Hence, making it even more difficult for the many economically hard-up Filipino 
families to survive and be assured of the best education for their children, at the same. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
AN$ONIO 
‘‘SONNY” F. TRILLANES IV 
Senator 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING AND PROVIDING FOR A FREE PUBLIC PRE-SCHOOL 
EDUCATION AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assem bled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Free Public Pre- 
School Education Act”. 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
provide for a free public pre-school education to all qualified children and to promote 
quality education at all levels. 
SEC. 3. Institutionalization of Pre-Scltool in Public Elementaty Education. - 
Free public pre-school education is hereby institutionalized as part of the formal 
elementary education. It shall commence on the school year immediately following the 
approval of this Act. 
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. -For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall 
mean: 
(a) Free Public Pre-school Education - refers to the pre-school education 
to be offered to all qualified children by public elementary schools 
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nationwide, which shall be free from payment of tuition and other 
school fees. 
(b) Tuition Fee - refers to the charge representing costs of instructions. 
Training and other related activities and for the pupils’ use of the 
instruction and training facilities. 
(c) Other School Fees - refer to those charges, which cover other 
necessary costs supportive of instruction, including but not limited to 
medical and dental, athletics, libraIy, and laboratory fees. 
SEC. 5. Determ 
n and Development of Prep Curriculum. - To achieve 
declared policy of the State, enhance the learning process, and maximize the development 
of pre-school pupils, a “Prep Curriculum”, designated and formulated by the Department 
of Education, upon consultation if necessary with Parent-Teachers Associations and pre- 
schooling learning centers or organizations and other stakeholders, must be made part of 
the public elementary education system as a separate curriculum level and shall be 
considered as a prerequisite to Grade I. 
SEC. 6. Implementation of Free Public Kindergarten Education. - This Act 
shall be implemented by the Department of Education, and for that purpose shall, within 
ninety (90) days from the approval hereof, promulgate the necessary implementing rules 
and regulations, 
SEC. 7. Appropriations. - The amount to implement the provisions of this Act 
shall be charged against the allocation of the Department of Education under the current 
General Appropriations Act. ThereaRer, the amount necessary to carry out and maintain 
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the free public pre-school education shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders or parts thereof 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified 
accordingly. 
SEC. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, other provisions not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SEC. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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