FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 313 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In the present Philippine public education set up, a child intending to enroll in Grade I is 
expected to have some basic reading, writing and socialization skills, thus, may be 
admitted only when possessing such skills. It is somehow understandable because only 
when a child is armed with the said simple abilities that school authorities could be 
assured of greater efficacy in learning and better absorption of information from a child. 
What is incomprehensible, however, is the setting of that unwritten standard while 
government fails to provide for a free pre-school education. The situation, in effect, is 
making inutile the promise of free el~mentary and secondary education. 
When a child is finally admitted to Grade I despite this deficiency of not undergoing pre-
school, it is possible to find him miserably lagging behind his pre-school educated 
classmates. To remedy the problem, parents are compelled to enroll their kids in private 
pre-schools usually offering preparatory learning at a very high cost. 
Hence, making it even more difficult for the many economically hard-up Filipino 
families to survive and be assured of the best education for their children, at the same. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 313 
10 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING AND PROVIDING FOR A FREE PUBLIC PRE-SCHOOL 
EDUCATION AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Free Public Pre-
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School Education Act", 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
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provide for a free public pre-school education to all qualified children and to promote 
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quality education at all levels. 
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SEC. 3. Institutionalization of Pre-School in Public Elementary Education. -
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Free public pre-school education is hereby institutionalized as part of the formal 
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elementary education. It shall commence on the school year immediately following the 
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approval of this Act. 
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SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall 
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mean: 
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(a) Free Public Pre-school Education - refers to the pre-school education 
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to be offered to all qualified children by public elementary schools 
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nationwide, which shall be free from payment of tnition and other 
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school fees. 
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(b) Tuition Fee - refers to the charge representing costs of instructions. 
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Training and other related activities and for the pupils' use of the 
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instruction and training facilities. 
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(c) Other School Fees -
refer to those charges, which cover other 
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necessary costs supportive of instruction, including but not limited to 
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medical and dental, athletics, library, and laboratory fees. 
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SEC. 5. Determination and Development of Prep Curriculum. - To achieve 
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declared policy of the State, enhance' the learning process, and maximize the development 
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of pre-school pupils, a "Prep Curriculum", designated and fonnulated by the Department 
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of Education, upon consultation if necessary with Parent-Teachers Associations and pre-
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schooling learning centers or organizations and other stakeholders, must be made part of 
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the public elementary education system as a separate curriculum level and shall be 
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considered as a prerequisite to Grade I. 
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SEC. 6. Implementation of Free Public Kindergarten Education. - ll1is Act 
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shall be implemented by the Department of Education, and for that purpose shall, within 
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ninety (90) days from the approval hereof, promulgate the necessary implementing rules 
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and regulations, 
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SEC. 7. Appropriations. - The amount to implement the provisions of this Act 
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shall be charged against the allocation of the Department of Education under the current 
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General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, the amount necessary to carry out and maintain 
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the free public pre-school education shall be included in the annual General 
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Appropriations Act. 
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SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders or parts thereof 
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified 
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accordingly. 
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SEC. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, other provisions not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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