FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No.115 8 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
It is the policy of the State to give priority to education, education, science 
and technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, 
accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development. It 
is further provided in Section 1, Article XIV of the Constitution that "the State shall 
protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall 
take appropriate steps to make education accessible to all." 
It is in this light that this bill seeks to provide free public preparatory education 
to all qualified Filipino children to prepare them for formal elementary education. 
Preparatory education plays a vital role in shaping up the values and in 
d~veloping the interest of the child. In fact, educators agree that starting formal 
education at pre-school age has substantial benefits not only to the child, but to 
society as well. 
In view of the foregoing reasons, the immediate approval of this bill is 
earnestly sought. 
, 'f/ 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No.ll5 8 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT 
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JUL 12 1\ CJ :1'5 
INSTITUTIONALIZING FREE PUBLIC PREPARATORY EDUCATION, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
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 "Free Public Preparatory 
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Education Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared the Policy of the 
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State to institutionalize and provide for free public preparatory education to all 
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qualified Filipino children in order to promote their physical, social, intellectual, 
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emotional and skills stimulation and value formation to sufficiently prepare them for 
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formal elementary education. 
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SECTION 3. Definitions -
Free Special Education Classes shall aim to 
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develop the maximum potential and learning competenCies of the disabled person to 
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prepare him for civic efficiency and as valuable asset to the community in the future. 
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a. Free Public Preparatory Education - Means that the children from five (5) 
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to six (6) years old enrolled in day care centers established, administered, 
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maintained and funded by national and local government units, and those 
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public preparatory schools which may be established by law, shall be free 
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from payment of tuition and other school fees. These qualified children 
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shall finish one (1) year of schooling before they are admitted to Grade I. 
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b. Tuition Fee - Refers to the fee representing direct costs of instruction and 
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other related activities and for children's use of instruction and training 
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facilities; 
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c. Other School Fees - Refer to those fees, which cover other necessary 
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costs supportive of instruction. 
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SECTION 4. 
Statement of Objectives 
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The Free Public Preparatory 
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Education Program, hereinafter referred to as the Program, shall be implemented in 
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accordance with the following objectives: 
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a. To make preparatory education compulsory for all five (5) and six (6) 
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years old children as part of the formal education ladder; 
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b. To implement an adequate preparatory education program that will 
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efficiently provide the necessary physical, social, intellectual and 
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emotional activities needed by the preparatory school children; 
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SECTION 5. 
Implementation of Free Public Preparatory Education - The 
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system of free public preparatory education is hereby institutionalized as part of 
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compulsory basic formal primary. It shall commence on the school year immediately 
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following the approval of this. Act. 
In case there s no adequate number of 
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classrooms available for immediate use, the eXisting classrooms in public 
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elementary schools and barangay day care centers shall be used temporarily until 
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the national government provides for sufficient facilities to accommodate the 
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preparatory school children nationwide. 
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In no case shall any pupil be admitted to Grade I without having completed 
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the required preparatory education two (2) years after the effectivity of this Act. 
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SECTION 6. Implementing Agency; Powers and Functions - The Program 
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shall be implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd) through the 
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organization of preparatory school classes in public elementary schools. 
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In pursuance of these mandates, the DepEd shall exercise the following 
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powers and functions: 
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a. Oversee, administer and supervise the implementation of the Program 
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throughout the country; 
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b. Provide properly trained preparatory education teachers and make 
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available all existing facilities of public elementary schools for pre-school 
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use until funds for the construction of pre-school classrooms are made 
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available; 
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c. Authorize the opening of preparatory education classes in all public 
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elementary schools as part of the elementary education ladder, including 
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the registration/accreditation of barangay day care centers that are 
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currently holding preparatory classes; 
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d. Formulate a standard, preparatory education curriculum in order to attain 
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quality, efficiency and access. 
In addition to providing the pre-school 
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children with general skills, knowledge and values, such a curriculum 
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must include reading and arithmetic; 
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e. Provide a regular training program to preparatory education teachers to 
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keep pace with modern trends, methodologies and concepts on early 
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childhood education; 
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f. 
Perform such other duties as may be necessary and relevant to ensure 
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the effective implementation of the program. 
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SECTION 7. Appropriations -
The amount necessary to implement the 
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provision of this Act is hereby authorized to be appropriated in the General 
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Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and thereafter. 
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SECTION 8. 
Repealing Clause -
All laws, executive orders, rules and 
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regulations or any provisions, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed. 
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SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect upon its approval. 
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Approved, 
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