TI-IIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
) 
'04 
,.j"ii 16 
i3 cj :I? 1 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2 provides: 
Section 17. The State shall give priority to education, science and 
technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism, nationalism, accelarate 
social progress, and promote total human liberation and development. 
The Administrative Code, P.D. No. 442, a.1c.a. the "Labor Code of the Philippines," and 
R.A. No, 8187, a.1c.a. "Paternity Leave Act of 1996," provide for instances when an employee 
can officially talce a leave of absence with pay. 
This bill seeks to allow employees to tale a limited leave to participate in the academic 
school activities of their children or to participate in literacy training. This is in recognition of 
the fact that.parents play a very important role in the advancement of their children's education. 
' 
~ 
~ 
t
.
 
M
m
 
DEFENSOR SANTIAGO 


. 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
TO ALLOW EMPLOYEES TO TAKE SCHOOL INVOLVEMENT LEAVE 
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACADEMIC SCHOOL ACTIVITIES 
OF THEIR CHILDREN OR TO PARTICIPATE IN LITERACY TRAINING 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the “Time for Schools Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to give priority to 
education, science and technology, arts, culture, and sports to promote total human liberation aiid 
development. 
SECTION 3. ‘Definition of Terms -For purposes of this Act, the term: 
(1) “Family literacy program” means a program of services that are of sufficient intensity 
in terms of hours, aid of sufficient duration, to male sustainable changes in a family and that 
integrate all of the following activities: 
~ 
I 
(a) interactive literacy activities between parents and their sons and daughters; 
(b) training for parents 011 how to be the primary teacher for their sons and daughters and 
f U  partners in the education oftlieir sons and daughters; 
(c) parent literacy training; and 
(d) an age-appropriate education program for sons and daughters. 
(2) “Literacy”’ used with respect to an individual, means the ability of the individual to 
speak, read, and write English, and complete and solve problems, at levels of proficiency 
necessary - 
(a) to function on the job, in the family of the individual, aiid in society, 
(b) to achieve the goals of the individual; and 


(c) to develop the knowledge potential of the individual. 
(3) “School” means an elementary school or secondary school, and a child care facility 
operated by a provider who meets the applicable State or local government licensing, 
certification, approval, or registration requirements, if any. 
SECTION 4. Enrillelnent to School Leave. - (A) IN GENERAL - An eligible employee 
shall be entitled to a total of 24 hours of leave during any 12-month period to participate in an 
academic activity of a school of a son or daughter of the employee, such as a parent-teacher 
conference or an interview for a school, or to participate in literacy training under a finlily 
literacy program. 
(B) NOTICE - In any case in which the necessity for leave is foreseeable, the employee 
shall provide the employing agency with not less than 7 days’ notice, before the date of leave is 
to tale effect, of the employee’s intention to take leave. If the necessity for the leave is not 
foreseeable, the employee shall provide such notice as is practicable. 
SECTION 5. Penalties. - Any person, corporation, trust, firm, partnership, association or 
entity found violating this Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder shall be 
punished by a fine not exceeding Twenty-Five thousand pesos (P25,OOO) or imprisonment of not 
less than thirty (30) days or more than six (6) months. 
If the violation is committed by a corporation, trust or firm, partnership, association or 
any other entity, the penalty of imprisonment shall be imposed on the entity’s responsible 
officers, including, but not limited to, the president, vice-president, chief executive officer, 
geiieral manager, managing director or partner directly responsible therefor. 
SECTION 6. Nondirninution Clause. - Nothing in this Act shall be construed to reduce 
any existing benefits of any form granted under existing laws, decrees, executive orders, or any 
contract, agreement or policy between employer and employee. 


SECTION 7. I Separabilily 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. 
I
.
 
I I 
SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, lelter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or incoiisisteiit 
with, the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 9. Effectivity Cluzrse. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved. 
FN: 1714