Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article II, Section 13 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides: 
“The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and shall 
promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social 
well-being.” 
Article XIV, Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides: 
“The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality 
education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such 
education accessible to all.” 
Education is a fundamental human right of every Filipino especially for the helpless and homeless 
children and youth. It plays an important role in their growth, success, and the upliftment of lives. 
Therefore, it is imperative that the government improve the accessibility of preschool, primary 
and secondary education for homeless children and youth. 
The proposed bill seeks to formulate and implement a comprehensive plan in order to give access 
to preschool, primary and secondary education for homeless children and youth by authorizing 
the Department of Education to grant funds. 
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. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
May 1, 2021
3:24 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. JOY MYRA S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT  
TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO PRESCHOOL, PRIMARY, AND SECONDARY EDUCATION OF 
HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTH 
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 “Educational Success for Homeless 
Children and Youth.” 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to recognize the 
vital role of the youth in nation-building. Towards this end, the State shall promote their physical, 
moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. 
It is also the policy of the State to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education 
at all levels, and it shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. 
The State shall ensure that each homeless child and youth has access to the same free 
appropriate public education, including public preschool education, as is provided to other children 
and youth. 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. – In this Act, the term: 
(A)
“Department” means the Department of Education;
(B)
“Enroll; enrollment” includes attending classes and participating fully in school
activities;
(C)
“Homeless children and youth”:
(1)
means individuals who lacked a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime
residence; and includes:
(i)
children and youth who:
(I)
are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing,
economic hardship, or a similar reason;
(II)
are living in emergency or transitional shelters;
(III)
are abandoned in hospitals; or
(IV)
are awaiting foster care placement;
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(ii) 
children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a 
public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular 
sleeping accommodation for human beings; and 
(iii) 
children and youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, 
abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or 
similar setting. 
(D) 
"Local government" refers to the local government of cities and municipalities, as 
defined under the Local Government Code; 
(E) 
"Secretary" means the Secretary of Education; and 
(F) 
"Unaccompanied youth" means a homeless child or youth not in the physical custody 
or a parent or legal guardian. 
 
Sec. 4. Grants for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth. – (A) The Secretary is 
authorized to make grants to local governments to enable such local governments to carry out 
the activities described in this section.  
 
(B) 
In order for a local government to be eligible to receive a grant under this section, the 
local government, in consultation with relevant government agencies, shall submit an 
application to the Secretary, at such time, in such manner, and containing or 
accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require.  
(C) 
Grant funds from a grant made to a local government under this section shall be used 
for the following: 
(1) 
To provide activities for and services to improve the identification of homeless 
children and youth and enable such children and youth to enroll in, attend, and 
succeed in school, including in early care and education programs (especially 
in prekindergarten). 
(2) 
To provide activities and services to improve the identification of homeless 
children and youth and enable such children and youth to enroll in, attend, and 
succeed in school and preschool programs. 
(3) 
To establish or designate an Office of the Coordinator for Education of 
Homeless Children and Youth in the local government to carry out the duties 
described in this Act. 
(4) 
To prepare and carry out the local government plan described in this section. 
 
(D) 
The Coordinator for Education of Homeless Children and Youth established in each 
local government shall – 
(1) 
gather  and make publicly available reliable, valid, and comprehensive 
information – 
(i) 
on the number of homeless children and youth identified in each 
barangay, municipality, city, or province; 
(ii) 
on the nature and extent of the problems homeless children and youth 
have in gaining access to early care and education programs, and to 
public elementary schools and secondary schools; 
(iii) 
on any progress made by the local government in addressing such 
problems and difficulties; and 
(2) 
develop and carry out the local government plan described in this section; 
(3) 
collect data for and transmit to the Senate, at such time and in such manner 
as the Secretary may require, reports containing such information as the 


Secretary determines is necessary to assess the educational needs of all 
homeless children and youth within the territory of the local government; 
(4) 
in order to improve identification of homeless children and youth and to 
improve the provision of comprehensive education and related support services 
to homeless children and youth and their families, and to minimize educational 
disruption, coordinate activities, and collaborate with – 
(i) 
educators, including teachers, administrators, special education 
personnel, child development and preschool program personnel; 
(ii) 
providers of services to homeless children and youth and their families, 
including services of public and private child welfare and social services 
agencies, law enforcement agencies, juvenile and family courts, 
agencies providing mental health services, domestic violence agencies, 
child care providers, and runaway and homeless youth centers; 
(iii) 
providers of emergency, transitional, and permanent housing to 
homeless children and youth, and their families, including public 
housing agencies, shelter operators, operators of transitional housing 
facilities, and providers of transitional living programs for homeless 
youth; 
(iv) 
community organizations and groups representing homeless children 
and youth and their families; and 
(v) 
relevant government agencies, bureaus, and instrumentalities 
(5) 
respond to inquiries from parents and guardians of homeless children and 
youth and unaccompanied youth to ensure that each child or youth who is the 
subject of such an inquiry receives the full protections and services provided 
by this Act. 
(E) 
Local Government Plan. – Each local government shall submit to the Secretary and 
carry out a plan to provide for educational and related support services for all homeless 
children and youth within its territory. Such plan shall include the following: 
(1) 
 description of how such children and youth are (or will be) given the 
opportunity to meet the same challenging student academic achievement 
standards as all students are expected to meet. 
(2) 
A description of the procedures the local government will use, in coordination 
with local educational agencies, to identify all such children and youth and to 
assess their special needs. 
(3) 
A description of procedures and for the prompt resolution of disputes arising 
under this Act. 
(4) 
A description of programs for school and other local educational agency 
personnel (including the liaisons, principals, teachers, enrollment personnel, 
and pupil services personnel) to heighten the awareness of such personnel of 
the specific needs of homeless adolescents, including runaway and homeless 
youth. 
(5) 
A description of procedures that ensure that homeless children and youth are 
able to participate in nutrition programs. 
(6) 
A description of procedures that ensure that – 
(i) 
homeless children have access to public preschool programs; 
(ii) 
homeless youth, including youth separated from public schools, are 
identified and accorded access to appropriate secondary education and 
related support services; 


(7) 
Strategies to address problems with respect to the education of homeless 
children and youth, including enrollment problems related to immunization and 
other required health records and screenings; residency requirements; lack of 
birth certificates, school records, or other documentation; guardianship issues; 
or uniform or dress code requirements. 
(8) 
A description of policies and practices to promote school success for homeless 
children and youth, including by – 
(i) 
ensuring that homeless children and youth have opportunities to meet 
the same challenging student academic achievement standards which 
other students are held; 
(ii) 
ensuring that homeless children and youth are able to participate fully 
in all classes and school activities, including extracurricular activities, 
athletic activities for which they meet skill level requirements, before 
and after school programs, summer school programs, field trips, 
classes, tests, and other activities; and 
(iii) 
ensuring that such policies and practices remove barriers to 
participation related to fees, lack of guardianship, lack of 
transportation, enrollment and participation deadlines, and residency 
requirements. 
 
Sec. 5. Enrollment. – 
(A) 
Public elementary and secondary school shall immediately enroll the homeless child or 
youth, even if the child or youth is unable to produce records normally required for 
enrollment, including previous academic records, records of immunizations and health 
screenings and other required health records, proof of residency or guardianship, or 
o her documentation; has unpaid fines or fees from prior schools or is unable to pay 
fees in the school selected; or has missed application or enrollment deadlines during 
any period of homelessness. 
(B) 
The enrolling school shall immediately contact the school last attended by the child or 
youth to obtain relevant academic and other records. 
(C) 
If the child or youth needs to obtain immunizations or health screenings, or 
immunizations or o her required health records, the enrolling school shall immediately 
enroll the child or youth and refer the parent or guardian of the child or youth, or the 
unaccompanied youth, to the local government health center, clinic, or hospital for 
appropriate immunizations or health screenings. 
(D) 
Information about a homeless child's or youth's living situation shall be treated as a 
student education record, and shall not be released to employers, law enforcement 
personnel, or other persons or agencies not authorized to have such information under 
laws and administrative issuances, paying particular attention to preventing disruption 
of the living situation of the child or youth and to supporting the safety of such children 
and youth who are survivors of domestic violence and unaccompanied youth. 
 
Sec. 6. Preschool Programs for Homeless Children. – Local governments shall identify and 
prioritize homeless children for enrollment and increase their enrollment and attendance in early 
care and educational programs, including through policies such as reserving spaces in preschool 
programs for homeless children; conducting targeted outreach to homeless children and their 
families; waiving application deadlines; providing ongoing professional development for staff 


regarding the needs of homeless children and their families and strategies to serve the children 
and families; and developing the capacity to serve all identified homeless children.  
 
Sec. 7. Prohibition on Segregating Homeless Children and Youth. – In providing a free 
appropriate public education to a homeless child or youth, no local government receiving funds 
under this Act shall segregate such child or youth in a separate school, or in a separate program 
within a school, based on such child's or youth's status as homeless.  
 
Sec. 8. Issuance of Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within ninety (90) days from 
the approval of this Act, the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of 
Interior and Local Government, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and other 
appropriate government agencies and stakeholders, shall promulgate the rules and regulations 
to implement the provisions of this Act. Such rules and regulations shall take effect fifteen (15) 
days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
Sec. 9. Appropriations. – To carry out the provisions of this Act, such amount as may be 
necessary is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. Thereafter, the 
amount necessary for the continuous operation of the Commission shall be included in the annual 
appropriation of the Department of Education.  
 
Sec. 10. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, 
the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions hereof.  
 
Sec. 11. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or portions thereof, 
which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended or modified 
accordingly.  
 
Sec. 12. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
 
 
Approved,