Republic of the Philippines
House of Representative
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Nineteenth Congress
Second Regular Session
HOUSEBILLNo.9845
Introduced by Representative Lianda 8. Bolilia
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article  XV  of the  1987  Constitution  recognizes  the  importance  of the
Filipino family as the foundation for society, and provides for the various rights
of its members. To wit:
(a.)     The  right  of spouses  to  found  a  family  in  accordance  with their
religious convictions and the demands of responsible parenthood;
(b.)     The  right  of  children  to  assistance,  including  proper  care  and
nutrition,  and special protection from all  forms of neglect,  abuse,
cruelty,   exploitation   and   other   conditions   prejudicial   to   their
development;
(c.)     The right of the family to a family living wage and income; and
(d.)     The  right  of families  or  family  associations  to  participate  in the
planning and implementation of policies and programs that affect
them.
To  help  strengthen  the  state's  commitment  to  protecting  these  rights
granted to all Filipinos, I put forward this bill proposing the grant of a three (3)
day paid leave for parents, and legal guardians to attend school related activities
of their children.  Schooling is part of a child's  formative years,  and multiple
academic studies have shown that parental involvement in a child's education


has a positive effect on a child's academic performance].  This representation,
being a parent, believes that having a mechanism that allows for more parental
involvement  in  milestone  events  such  as  graduations,  recognition  days,  and
other school celebrations will help parents assume their responsibilities to their
children and will help foster a healthy parent-child relationship.
One should take note that this bill was drafted with consideration of the
best interests and rights of parents and employers.  As  such, this bill contains
provisions which details the coverage of this proposed bill and the preconditions
for  the  use   of  school   visitation   leaves.   Further,  provisions  requiring  the
development of mechanisms to  verify  the  rightful  usage  of these  leaves,  and
protection against the dimunition of these school visitation rights have also been
provided.
In  consideration  of  the  foregoing,
earnestly sought.
passage  of  this  bill  is
1 (Hara & Burke.1998: Hill & Craft. 2003: Marcon.1999: Stevenson & Baker,1987)


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Nineteenth Congress
Second Regular Session
HOUSEBILLNo.9845
Introduced by Representative Lianda 8. Bolilia
1                                                                   AN ACT
2       GRANTING EMPLOYEES THREE DAYS PAID LEAVE TO ATTEND
3                 SCHOOL-RELATED ACTIVITIES OF THEIR CHILDRHN
4
5      Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  the  House  Of  the  Representatives  Of  the
6      Philippines in congress assembled:
7
8                  SECTION  1.   Sfoorf  I..£/c.  -   This Act  shall  be  known  as  the  "Scfooo/
9      Visitation Rights Act"
10                 SEC. 2.  Dcc/¢ro/I.oH a/PoJJ.c}7. -It is hereby declared as a policy of the
11      State  to  support,  and  to  encourage  parental  involvement  in  the  education
12      system. Towards this end, the state shall grant employed parents and guardians
13      who are unable to meet with educators due to work-related conflicts the right to
14     an allotment of time during the school year to attend necessary education and
15      behavioral conferences in the school attended by their child or children
16                SEC.  3.   Def#I./I.o# a/ rer#as -The following terms used in this Act
17      shall be defined as follows:


1                 (a)  Employee -a persons who performs services for hire for an employer
2                       for  at  least  six  (6)  consecutive  months  immediately  preceding  a
3                       request for leave under this Act;
4                 (b)Employer -a natural or juridicial person, who is contractually bound
6
7(c)
8
10                    (d)
11
to  provide  a  salary  or  wage  to  an  employee  in  exchange  for  the
ool  -  a  public  or  private  pre-school,  elementary,  or  secondary
s¢hool or educational facility located within the country; and
12                 (e) S¢hool Administrator -the principal or equivalent administrator who
13                        is responsible for the operations of the school.
14                  SBC:\`.  4.   School  conif ierence  and Activity  Leave -ALn empkyer rr[ust
15      grant an elhployee a paid school visitation leave of up to three (3) days during
16     any  school  year  which  may  be  taken  on  any  given  day,  to  attend  school
17      conferences or school activities related to the employee's child if the conference
18     or activities cannot be  scheduled during non-work hours:  Provided,  That no
19      leave may be taken unless the employee has first exhausted all accrued vacation
20      leave,  personal  leave,  compensatory  leave  and  any  other  leaves that  may  be
21      granted to the employee except sick leave and disability leave.


1                 Before arranging attendance at the conference or activity, the employee
2      shall provide the employer with a written request for leave  at least seven (7)
3      days in advance  of the time the  employee  is required to utilize the visitation
4     right.  In  emergency  situations,  no  more  than  twenty-four  (24)  hours'  notice
5      shall be required. The employee must consult with the employer to schedule the
6      leave so as not to unduly disrupt the operations of the employer or office.
7                 SEC. 5.   yer!/Zoo/I.o# -Upon completion of the school visitation righs by
8      a  parent  or  guardian,  the  school  administrator  shall  provide  the  parent  or
9      guardian with the necessary documentation of the school visitation. The parent
10      or  guardian  shall  submit  such  proof  of  verification  to  the  employer.  The
11      Secretary  of Education  and  the  Secretary  of Labor  and  Employment  shall
12      suggest a standard form of documentation of school visitation to schools for use
13      as required by this Section. The standard form of documentation shall include,
14      but not be limited to, the exact time and date the visitation occurred and ended.
15      The failur6 of a parent or guardian to submit the verification statement from the
16      school to the  employer within two  (2)  working  days  of the  school  visitation
17      shall subject the employee to the  standard disciplinary procedures imposed by
18     the employer for unexcused absence from work.
19                 SEC,. 6.   NO Dimunition of visitation rights -INothing ±n this ihot shall
20      prevent an employer from providing school visitation rights in excess of those
21      allowed urider this Act. The rights afforded by this Act shall not be diminished
22      by any collective bargaining act or by any employee benefit plan.


1                 SEG  7.   £!.mJ./s o# £c¢re - No  employer that is  subject to this Act is
2      required to grant the school visitation leave to an employee if granting the leave
3      would result in more than five percent (5%) of the employer's work force or five
4     percent (5%) of an employer's work force shift attending a school conference or
5      activity leave atthe same time.
6                 EEC.  8.    Inaplei'nenting  Rules  and  Regulations  -The DapEutrmerfu  o£
7      Labor  and  Employment  and  the  Civil  Service  Commission  shall  issue  the
8     implementing rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act
9     not later than thirty (30) days from the approval of this Act.
10                 SEC. 9. Sep¢r¢bJ./rty c7¢use -If any provision or part hereof is declared
11      unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby
12      shall remain in full force and effect.
13                 SEC.10. Jiepco/..#g C7¢#se -All  laws,  acts,  decrees,  executive  orders,
14      issuances, and rules and regulations or parts thereof which are contrary to and
15      inconsistent   with   this   Act   are   hereby   repealed,   amended   or   modified
16      accordingly.
17                  SEC.11. EJ7rectz.vtry -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
18      complete publication in the official Gazetteor in at least two (2) newspapers of
19      general ciroulation.
20
21                  Approved,