Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 4968

Introduced by Representative John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto

EXPLANATORY NOTE

As a manifestation of support to this timely piece of legislation, this
representation respectfully refiles this bill, which has constantly been
receiving support from the past and present congress.

Pre-school education plays an integral role in early childhood development.
Republic Act No. 6972 or the Barangay-Level Total Development and
Protection of Children, which was signed into law on November 23, 1990,
recognized such importance by establishing day care centers in every
barangay. Despite the landmark legislation and its outstanding
accomplishments in child development, the day care system still leaves
much to be desired.

Among the different issues concerning the day care system, questionable
practice standards and the quality of day care workers/ instructors are areas
where we can start to improve on. By providing an environment conducive
to learning and with the help of quality teachers, it is the proposed
legislation’s hope that it will lead to a better and much more desirable
performance of day care centers.

The proposed legislation aims to improve the quality of pre-school education
in the country by providing funds for the establishment, maintenance, and
operation of barangay day care centers, providing standardized pay for day
care workers, and providing an avenue to develop the curriculum used in
pre-schools and day care centers. The proposed legislation also details the
set of qualifications to be used in hiring day care workers. Moreover, day
care workers will be mandated to continuously undergo the necessary
trainings in order to not only ensure that they are equipped and up-to-date
with the necessary teaching tools and techniques, but also to promote
continuous development of pre-school education as a whole.

In view of the foregoing, the favorable consideration and approval of this
proposed legislation is respectfully and most earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

House Bill No. LE

Introduced by Representative John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION, INCREASING THE
MONTHLY COMPENSATION OF DAY CARE WORKERS AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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 "Pre-School Education
Development Act."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
provide for a universal early childhood or pre-school education that promotes
effective social, intellectual, and skills stimulation and value-formation for children
from 3-5 years old with the end view of amply preparing them for formal
elementary schooling, and to provide for a standardized pay to the children’s
teachers.

SEC. 3. Framework. To implement the State policy as enunciated in this Act, pre-
school education is hereby institutionalized as part of the compulsory basic
education. The barangay day care centers, established by virtue of R.A. No. 6972,
shall constitute the public sector pre-school institutions.

The government shall provide the necessary funding support for a national: public
sector preschool program. Properly trained day care workers shall be responsible
for early childhood education, integrating health, nutrition, safety, and psycho-
social earnings in the early childhood development program.

Two (2) years after the effectivity of this Act, no student shall be admitted to
Grade 1 without having attended at least one year of pre-school education,
provided that the student passes a prescribed qualifying examination which shall
test this preparedness in satisfying the curriculum for Grade 1.

SEC. 4. Coverage. This Act shall cover initially all five (5) year old children, to be
extended to all 3-4 year olds as more funds become available.

SEC. 5. Implementing Agency. The program shall be implemented by the
barangays where the day care centers are situated with appropriate support from
the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).


The Sanggunian of local government units may also call upon non-government
organizations (NGO) and private volunteers who are responsible members of the
community to assist in the proper implementation of this Act.

SEC. 6. Functions of the DSWD. The DSWD shall:

a. In coordination with the barangays, make an inventory of all existing day
care centers and day care workers, and determine the appropriate number
of day care centers and day care workers in each specific barangay to fully
Provide for the pre-school education of children covered by this Act.

b. In coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), formulate a
standard pre-school curriculum, including the formulation and development
of the teachers’ and pupils’ study materials and general guidelines for the
organization and operation of pre-schools.

c. In coordination with the DepEd, formulate, develop and extend a regular
training program to day care workers to ensure constant updating of their
knowledge in modern trends, methodologies and concepts on early childhood
education

SEC. 7. Information Dissemination. The Philippine Information Agency (PIA),
DSWD, and the Sanggunian of local government units shall ensure an effective

information dissemination campaign on the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 8. Qualifications and Appointment of Barangay Day Care Workers.

a. A barangay day care worker must be of legal age, with good standing in the
community, has obtained a Bachelor's degree in Child Development
Education, Family Life and Child Development, Elementary Education or any
related course, and duly accredited by the DSWD, provided, that the
aforementioned qualifications will not be Prejudicial to incumbent day care
workers; provided further, that the incumbent day care worker who is
without the required educational qualification and accreditation shall obtain
the same during the summer vacation until he/she has complied with the
Prescribed qualifications.

b. A barangay day care worker, duly accredited by the DSWD, shall be
appointed by the barangay captain with the concurrence of the majority of
the Sangguniang Barangay in an appropriate barangay resolution.

SEC. 9. Salary of Day Care Workers. A public preschool teacher shall receive a
monthly basic salary based on the compensation of public school teachers under
the Salary Standardization Law, as amended, in addition to other benefits set by
law.

SEC. 10. Appropriations.

a. The funds for the establishment, maintenance and operation of barangay
day care centers and the salary of day care workers shall be appropriated
from the national and budget shall be included in the General Appropriations
Act.

b. Funds for curriculum development, and the development and extension of
training programs shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act
as part of the budget of the DSWD.


c. The amount needed to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be
appropriated in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its
enactment into law.

SEC. 11. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other
provisions thereof.

SEC. 12. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect after its complete publication in at
least three (3) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,