8 
&lG 
14 :',:::I 
1 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
S E N A T E  
Senate Bill No. 25 
Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Preschool education is the provision of education for children before the 
commencement of statutory education, usually between the ages of two and five, 
&pendent on the jurisdiction. Preschool is also known as nursery school, day care or 
kindergarten 
The following are the areas of development often- the focus in pre-school 
education: 
* 
Creative and aesthetic development 
0 
Physical development 
e 
Mathematical awareness and development 
If a child does not experience going through pre-school, these areas of development 
may be foregone forever, and the child left to fend for himself in a war with sticks and 
knives instead of guns. 
Personal, social and emotional development 
Communication, including talking and listening 
Knowledge and understanding of the world 
The passage of this bill is earnestly sought, as ow children are the future or out 
country. 
Senator 
"ILP 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
Second Regular Session 
1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
8 
AUG 14 ’2 1 ’  
S E N A T E  
Senate Bill No. 2 5 
Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PFU3SCHOOL EDUCATION INTO THE BASIC 
EDUCATION SYSTEM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congvess assembled: 
Section 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as “Preschool Education Act.” 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
provide equal opportunities for all children to avail of free and compulsory preschool 
education that ef€ectively promotes physical, social, intellectual, emotional and skills 
stimulation and values formation to sufficiently prepare them for formal elementary 
schooling. 
Preschool education is vital to the academic and technical development of the Filipino 
child for it is the period where the young mind’s absorptive capacity for learning is at its 
sharpest. 
Sec. 3. Znstirutionalization of Preschool Education. Preschool education is 
hereby institutionalized as part of basic education and shall be made mandatory for all 
five-year old children. It shall be implemented at the start of the next school year 
immediately following the effectivity of this Act. 
Prior to compliance with the mandatory preschooling of five-year old children as 
provided under this Act, the National Government shall continue to support the day care 
program under Republic Act 8980, otherwise known as the Early Childhood Care and 
Development Act, subject to the financial assistance to be provided by the local 
government units and the technical assistance and 
the accreditation system to be 
extended by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in consultation with the 
DepED. 
On the third year following the effectivity of this Act, no child shall be admitted 
to Grade I without having attended at least one (1) year ofpreschool education, subject to 
the qualifications and guidelines to be promulgated and prescribed by the DepED. 
Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. The terms used in this Act are defined as follows: 
(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
BEE - refers to the Bureau of Elementary Education; 
DepED -refers to the Department of Education; 
Preschool Education - shall be understood in this Act to mean one year of 
schooling before Grade I to be made available and compulsory to all five- 
year old children; 


(d) 
Preschool Children - refer to five-year old children enrolled in preschool 
education; 
Other School Fees - refer to those charges which cover other necessary 
costs supportive of instruction, including but not limited to medical and 
dental, athletics, library, and laboratory fees; 
TuifioM 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. 
(e) 
(t) 
Sec. 5. Implementing Agency. The authority to regulate the organization, 
operation and/or implementation of the preschool education program shall be vested upon 
the DepED, through the BEE. 
Sec. 6. Duties, Powers and Functions. The DepED shall have the following 
duties, powers and functions: 
To oversee and supervise the implementation of the preschool education 
program throughout the country; 
To authorize the opening of preschool education classes in all public and 
private schools, including the registration and accreditation of private 
preschool institutions; 
To develop the curriculum for preschool education consistent with the 
universally accepted norms and standards, including values formation, and 
to periodically review such for purposes of upgrading; 
To conceive, develop and extend a regular training program to preschool 
education teachers to ensure constant updating of their knowledge in 
modern trends, methodologies and concepts on early childhood education; 
To prescribe the necessary qualifications for the hiring and accreditation 
of teachers who will handle the preschool education program; and 
To formulate the necessary guidelines and regulatory standards in 
connection with the operation of private preschool institutions. 
Sec. '7. 
Special Training for Preschool Teachers. The DepED shall prescribe 
the standards and qualifications for preschool teachers and afford for their necessary 
special training. 
Sec. 8. Salary of Preschool Teacher. The 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 prescribed by law. 
In the case of private preschool teacher, he/she shall receive the salary and other benefits 
prescribed under the Labor Code of the Philippines. 
Sec. 9. Payment of Tuition and Other School Fees. 
The public preschool 
education program shall be free from tuition and other school fees. 
Tuition and other school fees imposed by private preschool institutions shall be subject to 
the rules and regulations to be promulgated by the Department. 
Sec. 
10. 
Appropriations. 
The 
amount 
of 
Seven 
Billion 
Pesos 
(P7,000,000,000.00) shall be appropriated for the first year of the implementation of this 
Act which shall commence in school year 200912010, Thereafter, the amount necessary 
for the continued implementation of the preschool education program shall be included in 
the annual General Appropriations Act as part of the budget of the DepED. 


Sec. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Department of Education, in 
consultation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of 
Budget and Management, Department of Interior and Local Government and both Houses 
of Congress, shall promulgate the implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) 
days a€ter the effectivity ofthis Act. 
Sec. 12. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
inconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other 
provisions thereof. 
Sec. 13. Repealing Clanse. Pertinent provisions of Republic Act 8980 and all 
other laws, decrees, executive orders and rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent 
with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
Sec. 14. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,