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~matt 
-(~fI"t "f t~. fo.O'.ls,V 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
JUl -8 P 2 :53 
SENATE 
S.No. 624 
Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto 
Explanatory Note 
Article XV of the 1987 Constitution recognizes the Filipino family as the foundation of 
the nation and underscores the importance of strengthening its solidarity and actively promoting 
its total development. To wit: 
(a) The right of spouses to found a family in accordance with their religious convictions 
and the demands of responsible parenthood; 
(b) 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; 
(c) The right of the family to a family living wage and income; and 
(d) The right of families or family associations to participate in the planning and 
implementation of policies and programs that affect them. 
It is in this light that this bill is put forward. This proposed measure seeks to grant 
employed parents or legal guardians of schoolchildren three days paid leave to attend school-
related activities. It aims to -encourage parental involvement in the educational system and grant 
employed parents and guardians who are unable to meet with educators because of work conflict, 
the right to an allotment of time during the school year to attend educational pr behavioral 
conferences of their children. 
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The bill ccivers employees who have rendered service for at least six consecutive months 
and whose child/children are attending public or private pre-school, elementary, aud secondary 
schools. The child or children can be biological, adopted or foster child, a stepchild or a legal 
ward of the employee. 
To deter arbitrary use of the school visitation rights by employees, the bill requires that 
leave can only be taken by an employee when he/she has exhausted all accrued vacation leave, 
personal leave, compensatory leave and any other leave that may be granted except sick leave 
and disability leave. 
In addition, the parent or guardian will also be required to submit a documentation of the 
school visitation which shall be provided by the school administrator. Failure to do so subjects 
the employee to the standard disciplinary procedures imposed by the employer for unexcused 
absences from work. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval ofth;~-l<tIl t""ll'O.eamestly sought. 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
~'m~b 
.. 
(~If":t .1 II", Ji;'r"t.,~ 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 JUl -8 P 2 :53 
SENATE 
624. 
S.No. ___ _ 
. Introduced by Senator Ralph G. Recto 
AN ACT 
GRANTING EMPLOYEES THREE DAYS PAID LEAVE TO ATTEND SCHOOL-
RELATED ACTIVITIES OF THEIR CHILDREN 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. -. This Act shall be known as the "School Visitation Rights Act." 
SEC. 2. Declaration. of Policy. 
- It is hereby declared as a policy of the State to 
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encourage parental involvement in. the educational system and grant employed parents and 
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guardians who are unable. to meet with educators because of a work conflict the right to an 
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allotment of time during. ~he school year to attend necessary educational or behavioral 
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conferences at the school their children attend. 
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SEC. 3. Definition afTerms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
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(a) "Employee" means a person who performs services for hire for an employer for at 
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least six (6) consecutive months immediately preceding a request for leave under this Act; 
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(b) 
"Employer" means any of the following: a government agency, officer, or 
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department, local government unit, a school district, an individual, a corporation, a partnership, 
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an association, or a nonprofit organization; 
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(c) "Child" means a biological, adopted or foster child, a stepchild ora legal ward of an 
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employee and who is enrolled In a public or private pre-school, elementary or secondary school; 
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(d) "School" means any public or private pre-school, elementary or secondary school or 
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educational facility located within the country; 
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(e) "School administrator" means the principal or equivalent administrator who is 
responsible for the operations of the school. 
SEC. 4. School conference and activity leave. - An employer must grant an employee 
paid leave of up to three days during any school year which may be taken on any Igiven day, to 
attend school conferences or classroom activities related to the employee's· child if the 
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conference or classroom activities cannot be scheduled during non-work hours: Provided, That 
no leave may be taken by iUi employee unless helshe has exhausted all accrued vacation leave, 
personal leave, compensatory leave and any other leave that may be granted to the employee 
except sick leave and disability leave. 
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Before arranging attendance at the conference or activity, the employee shall provide the 
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employer with a written request for leave at least seven (7) days in advance of the time the 
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employee is required to utilize the visitation right. In emergency situations, no more than 24 
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hours notice shall be required. 
The employee must consult with the employer to schedule the 
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leave so as not to unduly disrupt the operations of the employer. 
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SEC. 5. 
Verification. -Upon completion of school visitation rights by a parent or 
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guardian, the school administrator shall provide the parent or guardian documentation of the 
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school visitation. The parent or guardian shall submit such verification to the employer. 
The 
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Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Labor shall suggest a standard form of 
documentation of school visitation to schools for use as required by this Section. The standard 
form of documentation shall include, but not be limited to, the exact time and date the visitation 
occurred and ended. Failure of a parent or guardian to submit the verification statement from the 
school to his or her employer within two (2) working days of the school visitation subjects the 
employee to the standard 'disciplinary procedures imposed by the employer for unexcused 
absence from work. 
SEC. 6. No diminution of visitation rights. - Nothing in this Act shall prevent an 
employer from providing school visitation rights in excess of those allowed under this Act. The 
rights afforded by this ,Act shall not be diminished by any collective bargaining jct or by any 
employee benefit plan. 
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SEC. 7. Limits on Leave. -- No employer that is subject to this Act is required to grant 
school visitation leave to aniimiployee if granting the leave would result in more than 5% of the 
employer's work force or five percent (5%) of an employer's work force shift taking school 
conference or activity leave at the same time. 
SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -
The Department of Labor and 
Employment and the Civil Service Commission shall issue the implementing rules and 
regulations not later than thirty (30) days from the approval of this Act. 
SEC. 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication either 
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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