Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

House BiitNo___ 1620

Introduced by REP. AUGUSTO BOBOY SYJUCO, Ph. D.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

On November 23, 1990, the Barangay ~ Level Total Development & Protection of
Children Act was signed into law. This mandates the establishment of a day care center
in every barangay.

The value of early childhood development can be better appreciated when we
examine the rate of failure in the licensure examinations. For every 100 professional
licensure examinees, only 32 are able to pass. Further research revealed that this
performance is exhibited in all levels.

« For every 100 students who enter college, only 48 are able to earn a degree.

« For every 100 1“ year high school students, only 68 are able to graduate.

« For every 100 Grade 1 entrants, only 65 are able to finish Grade 6. It was noted
that 60% of school dropouts in the elementary level occur in Grades 1 & 2.

We believe that a major contributing factor to our poor quality education is the
lack of preparation for our schooling. The gradual acceptance of pre-schools in the
country today underscores the importance of pre- school education.

Child educators agree that starting education at pre-school age has substantial
benefits to the learner and to society. By contributing to better academic performance,
pre-schooling helps reduce the number of repeaters, hence we cut back on educational
expenditure.

Teachers in other levels will be compelled to continuously undergo training so
they could ably respond to the needs of better — prepared students entering elementary.
With improved performance of teachers, we would be offering better quality education to
our students. This, together with enhanced technical/vocational education, will allow us
to generate a more educated labor force that will gear us to be more globally

competitive ;

Vv’

eo
AUGUSTO BOBOY SYJUCO, Ph. D.
2" District, Province of lloilo


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

“© 4620

House Bill No.

Introduced by REP. AUGUSTO BOBOY SYJUCO, Ph. D.

AN ACT. INSTITUTIONALIZING PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION,
INCREASING THE MONTHLY COMPENSATION OF DAY CARE
WORKERS 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 the “Pre-school Development
Act of 2010”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
provide for a universal early childhood or pre-school education that promotes effective
social, intellectual and skills stimulation and value-formation for children from 3 — 5
years old with the end — view of amply preparing them for formal elementary schooling

SEC. 3. Framework. — To implement the State policy as enunciated in this Act,
pre-school education is hereby institutionalized as part of the compulsory basic
education. The barangay day care centers, established by virtue of R.A. No. 6972, shall
constitute the public sector pre-school institutions.

The government shall provide the necessary funding support for a national public
sector pre-school program. Properly trained day care workers shall be responsible for
early childhood education, integrating health, nutrition, safety and psycho-social
earnings in the early childhood development program.

Two years after the effectivity of this Act, no student shall be admitted to Grade 1
without having attended at least one year of pre-school education: Provided, that the
student passes a prescribed examination which shall test preparedness in tackling the
curriculum for Grade 1.

SEC. 4. Coverage. — This Act shall cover initially all five (5) year old children, to
be extended to all 3- 4 year olds as more funds become available.

SEC. 5. Implementing Agency. — The program shall be implemented by the
barangay with appropriate support from the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD)


The sangguniang barangay may also call upon non-government organizations
(NGOs) and private volunteers who are responsible members of the community to
assist in the proper implementation of this Act.

SEC. 6. Functions of the DSWD. — The DSWD shall:

a) In coordination with the barangays, make an inventory of alll existing day
care centers and day care workers, and determine the appropriate
number of day care centers and day care workers in each specific
barangay to fully provide for the pre-school education of children covered
by this Act.

b) In coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), formulate a
standard pre-school curriculum, including the formulation and
development of the teachers’ and pupils’ materials and general guidelines
for the organization and operation of pre-schools.

c) In coordination with the DepEd, formulate, develop and extend a regular
training program to day care workers to ensure constant updating of their
knowledge in modern trends, methodologies and concepts on early
childhood education.

SEC. 7. Information Dissemination. ~ The Philippine Information Agency (PIA),
DSWD and the sangguniang barangay shall ensure an effective information
dissemination campaign on the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 8. Qualifications and Appointment of Barangay Day Care Workers. ~

(a) A barangay day care worker must be of legal age, with a good standing in the
community, has obtained a Bachelor's degree in Child Development
Education, Family Life and Child Development, Elementary Education or any
related course, and duly accredited by the DSWD; Provided, that the
aforementioned qualifications will not be prejudicial to incumbent day care
workers; Provided further, that the incumbent day care worker who is without
the required educational qualification and accreditation shall obtain the same
during the summer vacation until he/she has complied with the prescribed
qualifications.

(b)A barangay day care worker, duly accredited by the DSWD, shall be
appointed by the Barangay Captain with the concurrence of the majority of
the sangguniang barangay.

SEC. 9. Salary of Day Care Workers. — A barangay day care worker shall
receive a monthly salary of not lower than the prevailing minimum wage set by law.

SEC. 10. Funds for the Center, the Program and Day Care Workers —

(a) The funds for the establishment, maintenance and operation of barangay day
care centers and the salary of day care workers shall be appropriated from
the national budget and shalll be included in the General Appropriations Act.

(b) Funds for the curriculum development, and the development and extension of
training programs shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act
as part of the budget of the DSWD.


(c) The amount needed to carry out the provisions of this Act shall be
appropriated in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its
enactment into law.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, rules and regulations and
executive orders contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly

SEC. 12. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect upon its publication in at
least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation

Approved.