THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THEPHILIPPTNES 
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Introduced bv Senator LUISA “LOI” P. EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 17 provides: 
“The State shall give priority to education, science 
and technology, arts, culture and sports to foster patriotism 
and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote 
total human liberation and development.” 
Brain development research shows that the first three years of a child’s life are 
critical to his brain development and future success. Thus, high quality early learning 
programs are needed in order to develop his language and cognitive skills. 
This bill seeks to establish early learning programs for indigent pre-kindergarten 
children, in order to provide them with high quality, child-centered, developmentally 
appropriate educational programs. 
In consideration thereof, early approval of this bill is earnestly solicited. 
LUISA “LOI” P&EXERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
a 5 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
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S.B. NO. 
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Introduced bv Senator LUISA “LOI” P. EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS FOR INDIGENT PRE- 
KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SEC. 1. Short title. - This Act shall be known as the “Early Learning Trust Fund 
Act ” . 
SEC. 2. Purposes. - The purposes of this Act are- 
(1) to make widely available to pre-kindergarten children a high quality, child 
centered, developmentally appropriate early learning 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. - In this Act -- 
(1) Early Learning Programs - The term ‘‘early learning programs” means 
programs that provide services that are 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, 
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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- The term ‘parent’ means 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) Secretury - The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of the Department of 
Education PepEd). 
SEC. 4. Early learningprogram.. - 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 pursuant to guidance provided by the educational authorities, 
and experts in early childhood development; and 
(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 
(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 supports, through parent involvement and education; 
SEC. 5. Assessment. - The Secretary shall conduct an evaluation 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 
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(ii) specify which programs might be expanded or upgraded with the use of hnds 
received under this Act. 
SEC. 6. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to effectively cany out the 
provisions of this Act is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. 
SEC. 7. SeparabiZi@ CZuuse. - 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 CZguse. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or 
inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
, 
SEC.9. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
G a b i n k  disk3brekindergarten 
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