i>£Iltih 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
(~H\I:t j"lf Hp~ ;':;fo'l'hr~ 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
OCT -3 P5 :42 
SENATE 
S. No. 
1804 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article II provides: 
Section 17. The State shall give priority to education, science and 
technology, arts, culture, and sports to foster patriotism, nationalism, accelerate 
social progress, and promote total human liberation and development. 
The Administrative Code, Presidential Decree No. 442 or the "Labor Code of the 
Philippines," and Republic Act No. 8187, or the "Paternity Leave Act of 1996," provide for 
instances when an employee can officially take a leave of absence with pay. 
This bill seeks to allow employees to take a limited leave to participate in the aC\ldemic 
school activities of their children or to participate in literacy training. This is in recognition of the 
fact that parents playa very important role in the advancement of their children's education.' 
• This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
OCT --3 P5 ~2 
SENATE 
S. No. 1804 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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ALLOWING EMPLOYEES TO TAKE SCHOOL INVOLVEMENT LEAVE TO 
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PARTICIPATE IN THE ACADEMIC SCHOOL ACTIVITIES OF THEIR CHILDREN OR TO 
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PARTICIPATE IN LITERACY TRAINING 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION I. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the 'Time for Schools Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to give priority to 
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education, science and teclmology, arts, culture, and sports to promote total human liberation and 
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development. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. -For purposes ofthis Act, the term: 
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(A) 
"Family literacy program" means a program of services that are of sufficient 
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intensity in terms of hours, and of sufficient duration, to make sustainable changes in a family 
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and that integrate all of the following activities: 
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(1) 
(2) 
(3) 
(4) 
Interactive literacy activities between parents and their sons and 
daughters; 
Training for parents on how to be the primary teacher for their sons and 
daughters and full partners in the education of their sons and daughters; 
Parent literacy training; and 
An age-appropriate education program for sons and daughters. 
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, 
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(8) 
"Literacy'" used with respect to an individual, means the ability of the individual 
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to speak, read, and write English, and complete and solve problems, at levels of proficiency 
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necessary -
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(C) 
(1) 
(2) 
(3) 
To function on the job, in the family ofthe individual, and in society; 
To achieve the goals ofthe individual; and 
To develop the knowledge potential of the individual. 
"School" means an elementary school or secondary school, and a child care 
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facility operated by a provider who meets the applicable government licensing, certification, 
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approval, or registration requirements, if any. 
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SECTION 4. Entitlement to School Leave. -
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(A) 
In General. - An eligible employee shall be entitled to a total of twenty-four (24) 
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hours of leave during any twelve (l2)-month period to participate in an academic activity of a 
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son or daughter of the employee, such as a parent-teacher conference or an interview for a 
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school, or to participate in literacy training under a family literacy program. 
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(8) 
Notice. - In any case in which the necessity for leave is foreseeable, the employee 
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shall provide the employing agency with not less than seven (7) days' notice, before the date of 
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leave is to take effect, of the employee's intention to take leave. If the necessity for the leave is 
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not foreseeable, the employee shall provide such notice as is practicable. 
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SECTION 5. Penalties. - Any person, corporation, trust, firm, partnership, association, or 
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entity found violating this Act or the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this Act shall 
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be punished by a fine not exceeding Twenty Five Thqusand Pesos (P25,000.00) or imprisonment 
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of not less than thirty (30) days or more than six (6) months. If the violation is committed by a 
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corporation, trust, firm, partnership, association, or any other entity, the penalty of imprisonment 
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shall be imposed on the entity's responsible officers, including, but not limited to, the president, 
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vice-president, chief executive officer, general manager, managing director, or partner directly 
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responsible for the same. 
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SECTION 6. Non-Diminution Clause. - Nothing in this Act shall be construed to reduce 
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any existing benefits of any form granted under existing laws, decrees, executive orders, or any 
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contract, agreement or policy between employer and employee. 
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SECTION 7. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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