Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session,

House Bill No. 8563

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Pepito M. Pico

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The importance of early childhood education in the formation of the intelligence and
character of a child cannot be overemphasized. In the Philippines, studies have shown that
only 3 out of 10 children from ages 0 to 6 years old have access to day care centers or any
form of early childhood education. Even more, these numbers are even lower in remote areas
where insufficient manpower and resources, difficult terrains, and a lack of appreciation for
childhood education hamper the possibility of providing early learning.

The inaccessibility of day care centers poses a serious problem especially for the
children of middle-class workers and single parents who will most likely be at work during
the day. Because earning income is usually perceived as more urgent, middle-class parents
are often forced to sacrifice the time that they are supposed to allot in educating their
children, to be able to fulfil their responsibilities at work.

Our Constitution mandates that, “the State recognizes the Filipino family as the
foundation of the nation”. However, the State is still unable to provide quality and accessible
early childhood education. By providing day care centers at every baranggay, workers will
have the luxury of leaving their children with a trusted guardian while they are at work. More
importantly, it will allow children to receive the early childhood education and interaction
that they need.

This bill includes in its scope the government, including all its instrumentalities and
also grants use of the day care centers to all employees, whether regular of otherwise. This

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bill also seeks to fulfil the constitutional mandate to assist families in the rearing of their
children and will contribute in ensuring that young children will receive the proper early
learning and stimulation that they need.

EPITO M. PICO
Representative, DIWA Partyclist

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House Bill No.8563

Introduced by DIWA Party-list Representative Pepito M. Pico

AN ACT REQUIRING EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE DAYCARE
FACILITIES FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES' CHILDREN AGED
FIVE (5) YEARS OLD AND BELOW

Be itenactedby the Senate and House of Representatives ofthe Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Day Care Services Act”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
ensure the welfare and development of the youth in recognition of their vital role in nation-
building, and shall promote and protect their physical, intellectual, and social well-being. It
is also the policy of the State to support social services to enable parents to combine family
obligations with work responsibilities, as well as the harmonization of work and family
responsibilities for both men and women, in accordance with the Philippines’ commitment
to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

SECTION 3. All employers, including the national government and any of its political
subdivisions, government owned and/or controlled corporations and charitable and religious
organizations, with at least 300 employees, shall establish a daycare facility for their
employees’ children aged five (5) years and below. The facility shall be handled by qualified
and competent personnel with proven experience in child care.

SECTION 4. The requirement for the establishment of a day care facility shall not be
applicable in case there is a day care facility which is accessible from the employer's
establishment and such employer makes arrangements for the reservation and free use of
such facility for the benefit of his employees during their respective working days.

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SECTION 5. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) shall promulgate
rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, order, rules and regulations, or
portions thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. Should any part or provision of this Act be
declared unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof not otherwise affected
thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

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