Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metra Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No, 7241

INTRODUCED BY
REP. ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF PARENTS ASSOCIATIONS AND
CREATING FOR THE PURPOSE THE NATIONAL PARENT COUNCIL

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The 1987 Constitution states its utmost recognition of the natural and
primary right of parents in rearing the youth for civic efficiency and upright
moral character. In our efforts to empower parents and parents
associations, this bill proposes an institutionalized role for parents and their
active participation in our educational system.

Education and learning should be holistic. Thus, the need for a
strategic collaboration among parents, teachers, school management, the
community, and the students is a must. Strengthening the role of parents
associations leading to a national level parent council will help our
educational system develop our youth to carry on the task of nation
building.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly

sought. Je

ALFRED VARGAS


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Meteo Alanile
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS

Second Regular Session

House Bill No, 7141

INTRODUCED BY
REP. ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF PARENTS ASSOCIATIONS AND
CREATING FOR THE PURPOSE THE NATIONAL PARENT COUNCIL

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 "National Parent
Council Act.’

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policies. — Pursuant to the Constitutional
mandate that the government shall support the natural and primary right of
the parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the
development of moral character, it is hereby declared the objectives of this
Act:

(a) The right and duty of parents to organize themselves and form
associations for the purpose of ventilating their ideas in relation to the
proper and effective education of their children shall be encouraged.

(b) Parents associations shall be strengthened and given necessary
incentives in order _to serve best the welfare and given outmost
benefits to the children; and

(c) The Department of Education (DepEd) shall give due recognition,
importance and support to parent associations as its partner in
providing accessible and quality education.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. — For purpose of this Act, the term:

(a) "Parents Associations" refer to the organizations composed exclusively
of parents and/or guardians of school children in the primary and


secondary levels established for the purpose of ensuring the welfare of
the school children and students. Existing associations with the
purpose and membership but under different names shall be
considered parent associations under this Act.

(b) "School" refer to both public and private sectarian or non-sectarian
educational institutions.

(c) "City" refers to both chartered and non-chartered cities.

SECTION 4. Coverage. — This Act shall apply to the network of parents
associations established on a per-school basis, organized at the municipality
and provincial levels. As such, parents associations at all levels within a

ipality or city may from a Municipal of Cir parents associations, and
all municipal and City parents associations within a province may form a
Provincial parents association. The organization of these associations shall
enable the parents to perform their role effectively for the benefits and
welfare of the school children.

SECTION 5. Formation and Support of Parent Associations. — School
authorities shall encourage, support and cooperate in the organization of
parents associations.

Further, barangay, municipal, city and provincial officials shall provide the
necessary assistance and support to parent association especially in the
implementation of their school-based activities and projects.

SECTION 6. Incentives. — To encourage parents and enable them to
function productively and efficiently, they shall be accorded the following:

(a) Participation in Local Government Council Meetings and School
Advisory Boards. — There shall be a parent representative to the
Committee on Education or its equivalent in the Sangguniang Bayan.
Sangguniang Panlunsod and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan as well as
to the advisory body of each school, to be elected from among the
members of municipal, city and provincial parent associations,
respectively.

(b) Exemption from Taxes. - All contributions, gifs, donations, requests by
members of the parents associations in favor of duly-approved
projects that from part of the school plans shall be exempted from
taxes.

(c) Accreditation Requirement. — The existence of a dynamic and effective
parents association in a school shall be required by qualified
accrediting agencies as an evaluative criterion for the accreditation of
the school.

SECTION 7. National Parent Council. — To establish an effective and


appropriate body for an effective and continuing coordination between the
Department of Education and the parents associations nationwide, and to
encourage a closer working relationship which will npt only promote the
welfare of the school children but also to that of the community they live in,
there is hereby reacted a National Parent Council, hereafter referred to as
Council, to be composed of representatives elected from among the
Provincial parents Associations.

Officers of the Council shall be elected from among the members.

There shall be an annual general assembly of the members to be
coordinated closely with Office of the Secretary of the DepEd.

SECTION 8. Power and Functions. — The Council shall have the following
powers and functions:

(a) To act as an advisory body to the DepEd and as such shall be
attached to the Office of the Secretary for effective liaison and
coordination;

(b) To participate in the formulation of national guidelines as it refers to
particip gu
policies and procedures governing school fees, visual aids and
practical application for curricular activities;

(co) To assist, thru the municipality and provincial associations, the
appropriate DepEd regional, provincial or municipal office in
monitoring, overseeing and evaluating the implementation of school
infrastructure projects;

(d) To provide nationwide forum wherein the views of parents on relevant
issues can be deliberate upon before these are brought to appropriate
bodies for action;

(c) To be an affective link between the DepEd and all agencies that deaf
with matters pertinent to schools;

(f) To create such specialized committees and appoint members not only
from within the Council but also from the municipal, city pr provincial
parents associations to help address successfully specific concerns;
and

(g) To request cooperation of any barangay, municipal, city, provincial or
national official on any matter deemed necessary to carry out the
provision of this Act.

SECTION 9. National Parents Association Week. — There is hereby
declared a National Parents Association Week to be held during the first
week of February of every year in order to highlight and give recognition to
the achievement and importance of parents associations in their role in


giving accessible and quality education to the children.

Appropriation activities nationwide which will include the holding of the
Annual General Assembly of the National Parent Council shall be
undertaken and drawn up by the Council.

Expenses relevant to these activities, including the organization of an
assembly, secretariat services, and attendance of members, speakers and
guest shall be charged to the budget of DepEd.

SECTION 10. Appropriations. — A regular appropriation of Five Hundred
Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00) shall be included in the annual budget of the
Department of Education exclusively for the implementation of this Act.

SECTION 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Department
of Education (DepEd) shall promulgate the implementing rules and
regulations (IRR) to carry out the objectives of this Act.

SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations, or other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 13. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act
is declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not
affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

SECTION 14. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
following the completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in
a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,