NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bili No. 8966

Introduced by Representative Ralph G. Recto

AN ACT
GRANTING EMPLOYEES THREE DAYS PAID LEAVE TO ATTEND SCHOOL-
RELATED ACTIVITIES OF THEIR CHILDREN

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 (3) 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 or behavioral conferences of their children.

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The bill covers employees who have rendered service for at least six (6)
consecutive months and whose child is attending public or private pre-school,
elementary, and secondary schools. The child can be biological, adopted or foster
child, a stepchild or a legal ward of the employee.

To deter the arbitrary use of the school visitation rights by employees, the bill
requires that such leave can only be taken when the employee has exhausted all
accrued vacation leave, personal leave, compensatory leave and any other leaves 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 shall subject the employee to the standard disciplinary
procedures imposed by the employer for unexcused absences from work.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.


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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bi I No. 6966

Introduced by Representative 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
encourage parental involvement in the educational system. Towards this end, the
State shall grant employed parents and guardians who are unable to meet with
educators because of a work conflict the right to an allotment of time during the school
year to attend necessary educational or behavioral conferences in the school attended
by their child or children.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following terms shall
mean:

(a) Employee means a person who performs services for hire for an employer
for at least six (6) consecutive months immediately preceding a request for leave
under this Act;

(b) Employer means a natural or juridical person, who is contractually bound
to provide a salary or wage to an employee in exchange for the performance of work;

(c) Childmeans a biological, adopted or foster child, a stepchild or a legal ward
of an employee and who is enrolled in a public or private pre-school, elementary or
secondary school;

(d) School means any public or private pre-school, elementary or secondary
school or educational facility located within the country; and


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(e) School administratormeans the principal or the equivalent administrator
who is responsible for the operations of the school.

Sec. 4. School conference and activity leave. - An employer must grant an
employee a paid school visitation leave of up to three (3) days during any school year
which may be taken on any given day, to attend school conferences or school
activities related to the employee's child if the conference or activities cannot
be scheduled during non-work hours: Provided, That no leave may be taken unless
the employee has first exhausted all accrued vacation leave, personal leave,
compensatory leave and any other leaves that may be granted to the employee
except sick leave and disability leave.

Before arranging attendance at the conference or activity, the employee shall
provide the employer with a written request for leave at least seven (7) days in
advance of the time the employee is required to utilize the visitation right. In
emergency situations, no more than twenty-four (24) hours’ notice shall be required.
The employee must consult with the employer to schedule the leave so as not to
unduly disrupt the operations of the employer or office.

Sec. 5. Verification. - Upon completion of the school visitation rights by a
parent or guardian, the school administrator shall provide the parent or guardian with
the necessary documentation of the school visitation. The parent or guardian shall
submit such proof of verification to the employer. The Secretary of Education and
the Secretary of Labor and Employment 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. The failure of a parent or guardian to
submit the verification statement from the school to the employer within two (2)
working days of the school visitation shall subject 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
act 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 the school visitation leave to an employee if granting the leave would result
in more than five percent (5%) of the employer's work force or five percent (5%) of
an employer's work force shift attending a 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 for the effective implementation of this Act not later than thirty (30) days
from the approval of this Act.

Sec. 9. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof is declared
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall
remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. — All laws, acts, decrees, executive orders,
issuances, and rules and regulations or parts thereof which are contrary to and
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

Sec. 11. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,