SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 
389 
; 
.sttt~t 
14lff';t vI t,. ~"r>h'1j 
'13 JUl-3 P2:26 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Research in the United States shows that investing in quality prekindergarten programs 
will provide savings in the form of reduced need for remedial education, decreased crime rates, 
lower school dropout rates, and decreased welfare dependence. 
High-quality prekindergarten programs help children to succeed academically. Children 
who attended a high-quality prekindergarten program supposedly have higher academic 
. 
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achievement, lower rates of grade retention, are less likely to be placed in special education, and 
. 
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graduate from high school at higher rates than those who did not. Hence, full-day, full-calendar-
. year universal prekindergarten programs would ensure all children three, four, and five years old 
have access to school readiness programs and quality child care. 
However, there is currently a drastic shortage of affordable, quality early education 
programs that are accessible for working families.! 
Thus, this bill seeks to ensure that all children three, four, and five years old have access 
to a high-quality full-day, full-calendar-year prekindergarten program by directing the 
Department of Education to develop a universal prekindergarten program that is voluntary and 
free-of-charge. 2 
.. ~~ 4~ . 
.A--- J~ 
MIRIAM DEF 
SOR sirlTI¥iO 
p' 
I http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill-h II 0-4060. 
2 This bill was originally filed during the Fifteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 
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'ft' 
ru\. 
'stmllti?' 
, 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
,tOlfm of t~. J'ftHf,.t~ 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 JUl.!. 3 P 2 :21> 
SENA'I:F 
S. No. 
;$89 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
u 
1 
AN ACT 
2 
DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCA nON TO DEVELOP A UNIVERSAL 
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PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM TO ENSURE THAT ALL CHILDREN THREE, FOUR, 
4 
AND FIVE YEARS OLD HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY FULL-DAY, FULL-
s 
CALENDAR-YEAR PREKINDERGARTEN EDUCATION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Universal Prekindergarten 
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Act." 
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SECTION 2. Prekindergarten Program. - The Department of Education (DepEd) shall 
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develop high-quality full-day, full-calendar-year universal prekindergarten program for all 
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children three, four, and five years old. In developing the program, DepEd shall consider the 
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following: 
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a., How the program will support children's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical 
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development; 
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b. Reports or studies from representatives of early childhood program p~oviders that 
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sponsor programs addressing children three, four, and five years old. 
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c. Raising awareness of the universal prekindergarten program among parents of all 
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backgrounds and informing them of the specifics of participation in the program. 
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d. A plan to address the shortages of qualified early childhood education teachers, 
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including how to increase snch teachers' compensation to be comparable to that of 
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public school teachers. 
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e. Providing ongoing professional development opportunities to help increase the 
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number of teachers in early childhood programs who meet DepEd's education or 
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credential requirements for prekindergarten teachers. 
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f. How the universal prekindergarten program will meet the needs of children with 
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disabilities, limited English proficiency, or other special needs, including children in 
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the government foster care system and homeless children. 
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g. Transportation to children to and from the universal prekindergarten program. 
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SECTION 3. Requirements. - The Prekindergarten Program shall provide for the 
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following: 
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a. A maximum class size of 20 children; 
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b. A ratio of not more than 10 children for each member of the teaching staff; 
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c. A description of the age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate educational 
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curriculum to be provided that will help children be ready for school and assist them 
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in the transition to kindergarten. 
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d. A description of how students and families will be assisted in obtaining supportive 
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services available in their communities. 
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e. A plan to promote parental involvement in the prekindergarten program. 
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f. 
A description of how teachers will receive ongoing professional development in early 
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childhood development and education. 
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SECTION 4. Reporting. - DepEd shall submit an annual report to the Congress on the 
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implementation and effectiveness of the universal prekindergarten program. 
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SECTION 5. Authorization of Appropriations. - To carry out the provisions of this Act, 
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such amount as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National 
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Treasury. Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continuous operation of the universal 
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prekindergarten program shall be included in the annual appropriation of the DepEd. 
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SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain in 
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full force and effect. 
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SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees or issuances, executive 
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orders, letters of instruction, administrative orders, rules, and regulations, or parts thereof 
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inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
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in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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