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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
s. ~ b .  530 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 17 provides: 
The State shall give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture and 
sports, to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote 
total human liberation and development. 
Brain development research shows that the first three years of a child's life are critical 
to his brain development and future success. Thus, high quality early learning 
programs are needed in order to develop his language and cognitive skills. 
This bill seeks to establish early learning programs for indigent pre-kindergarten 
children, in order to provide then, with high quality, child-centered, developmentally 
appropriate educational programs. 
n 
MANUEL B. VI 
Senator 


*< ?I' 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 530 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS 
FOR INDIGENT PRE- 
KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN 
Be 
Congress assembled: 
it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
SECTION 1. Short title - This Act shall be known as the "Early Learning Trust Fund 
Act. It 
SECTION 2. Purposes - The purposes of this Act are 
child-centered, developmentally appropriate early learning program; 
the services, a program in which they can enroll their pre-kindergarten children; 
ready to learn how to read; and 
(1) To make widely available to pre-kindergarten children a high-quality, 
(2) To make widely available to parents of pre-kindergarten children who desire 
(3) To provide resources to ensure that all children enter elementary school 
SECTION 3. Definitions - In this Act - 
(I) EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS- The term "early learning programs" means 
programs that provide services that are for children who have not attended 
kindergarten or elementary school. Such programs are designed to provide indigent 
pre-kindergarten children with a high 
quality, 
child-centered, 
developmentally 
appropriate learning program and with resources to ensure that all children enter 
elementary school ready to learn how to read. 
(2) PARENT- The term 'Parent' means a biological parent, all adoptive parent, a 
stepparent, or foster parent of a child, including a legal guardian or other person 
standing in loco parentis. 
(3) SECRETARY- The term Secretary means the Secretary of Education. 
SECTION 4. Early Learning Program- The Secretary shall establish and maintain an 
early learning program that provides learning services in every city or municipality. 
The program shall - 
(A) Be developed pursuant to guideline provided by the educational authorities, and 
experts in early childhood development; and 
(B) Be designed to improve child development through 
(i) Improved access to and increased coordination with health care services; 
(ii) Incresed access to enhanced early learning environments; 
(iii)Increased parental involvement; 
The program shall be designed to service pre-kindergarten children, including 
those with special needs, who shall receive enhanced educational and comprehensive 
services and supports, through parent involvement and education; 


SECTION 5. Assessment - The Secretary shall conduct all evaluation of the 
effectiveness of the early childhood programs established and conduct needs and use 
such resources assessment to, 
(i) Determine where early learning programs are lacking or are inadequate 
within a given city or municipality; with particular attention to poor urban and rural 
areas, and what special services are needed; and 
(ii) Specify which programs might be expanded or upgraded with the use of 
funds received under this Act. 
SEC.6 Appropriations - there is authorized such sums as may be necessary to carry 
out the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 7. Separability Clause - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
Unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or 
inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two 
(2) 
newspdpers of 
general 
circulation. 
Approved.