Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS FOR PRE-KINDERGARTEN 
CHILDREN 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Early childhood education, which refers to the learning period starting from the child’s birth to 
the moment they enter kindergarten, is an important time as this is when children learn to interact 
with other people and begin to develop interests. During this period, children develop social and 
emotional skills which will prove to be useful for the rest of their lives. United Nations Educational, 
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) argues that early childhood education “aims at the 
holistic development of a child’s social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs to build a solid 
and broad foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing”. Early childhood education is considered 
to be the foundation of a child’s education. With a better quality of stimulation, support, and 
nurture, children can grow into more successful learners and prepare them for better career 
opportunities later on in life. 
It is ultimately the responsibility of the State to improve the lives of the people not only by creating 
conditions for human development, but also by enhancing human abilities which involves 
improving their health and life expectancy, nurturing their knowledge and skills, and raising their 
standard of living. To this end, this measure seeks to establish an early learning program across 
local government units which shall provide learning services to pre-kindergarten children. This 
early learning program shall be designed to improve child development through (1) improved 
access to and increased coordination with health care services; (2) increased access to enhanced 
early learning environments; and (3) increased parental involvement.  
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
September 16, 2022
1:08 pm
4904


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS FOR PRE-KINDERGARTEN 
CHILDREN 
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 “Early Learning Program Act”. 
SEC. 2. Purposes. – The Purposes of this Act are: 
1) To make widely available to pre-kindergarten children a high-quality child-centered and
developmentally appropriate early earning program
2) To make widely available to parents of pre-kindergarten children who desire the services
a program in which they can enroll their pre-kindergarten children; and
3) To provide resources to ensure that all children enter elementary school ready to learn
how to read and write.
SEC. 3. Definitions – The following terms as used in this Act shall mean: 
1) Early Learning Programs – refer to programs that provide services 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 
and
developmentally-appropriate learning program and with resources to ensure that all
children enter elementary school ready to learn how to read and write;
2) Parent – refers to a biological parent an adoptive parent a stepparent or a foster parent
of a child, including a legal guardian or other person standing in loco parentis;
3) Secretary – refers to the Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).
SEC. 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 under guidance provided by the educational authorities and experts in early
childhood development and
4904


b) Be designed to improve child development through: 
 
i. Improved access to and increased coordination with health care services; 
ii. Increased access to enhanced early learning environments; and 
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 support, through 
parent involvement and education. 
 
SEC. 5. Assessment. – The Secretary shall conduct an evolution of the effectiveness of the 
early childhood programs established and conduct needs and resources assessment, and use 
such an 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. Appropriation. – The amount necessary to effectively carry out the provisions of this 
Act is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. 
 
SEC. 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. 
 
SEC. 8. Repealing Clause – Any law, presidential decree, or issuance of the executive order, 
letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, and amended accordingly. 
 
SEC. 9. Effectivity – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in at least 
two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,