Republic of the Philippines _//
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:/ ~
Quezon City, Metro Manila \

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1875

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative CHING B. BERNOS

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A PARENT EFFECTIVENESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICE
PROGRAM IN EVERY CITY AND MUNICIPALITY AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Parent Effectiveness Service (PES) was first introduced by the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in 1981 with the
release of the PES Handbook developed by then Bureau of Family and Child
Welfare. The PES later became the main component of the Early Childhood
Care and Development (ECCD) which was the focus of UNICEF under the
Country Program for children (CPC) Il. Printing of the PES Manual in book

form was first made in 1987.

With passage of Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as the “Local
Government Code of 1991”, the PES was among the PES was among the
services of the DSWD devolved to the local government units. The devolution,
notwithstanding, the DSWD enriched the manual in 2001 to provide
additional reference guide for local government unit workers and enhance the
methodology, strategies and approaches, and content in facilitating the

conduct of PES in the community.


At present, the implementation and impact of the PES is largely unfelt.
While it remains as a component of the ECCD Act, it is not given the
appropriate attention that it justly deserves. This is notwithstanding the
provision of the ECCD Act directing that the PES, among others, shall
continue to be supported of the ECCD Act directing that the PES, among
others, shall continue to be supported by the LGUs in the form of construction
of basic infrastructure, provision of facilities, materials and equipment, and

compensation for the service providers.

Likewise, although the DSWD continues to incorporate the PES as one
of the materials of Family Development Sessions in connection with the
implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), its focus
and coverage is not as extensive and continuous as that originally envisioned.

The quality and extent of care, attention, and provision for their needs
remain to be cornerstone of our children’s development. Effectively providing
for all these needs depends on the readiness and commitment of parents and
parent substitutes to perform their roles and responsibilities. While child
rearing and development are inherent responsibilities of parenthood, it is
equally the responsibility of the State to defend the right of children to
assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and special protection from
all forms of neglect, cruelty, exploitation, and other conditions prejudicial to

their development.

Support for this bill is therefore earnestly sought.

REP} CHING B. BERNOS
ne District, Abra


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City, Metro Manila

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1875

INTRODUCED BY REP. CHING BERNOS

|
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A PARENT EFFECTIVENESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICE.
PROGRAM IN EVERY CITY AND MUNICIPALITY AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR

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 The Parent
Effectiveness Development Service Act.

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. The State recognizes the sanctity of family
life, protects the family as the basic social institution and foundation of the
nation, strengthens its solidarity, and actively promotes its total development.
It is also the policy of the State to defend 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.

Towards this end, the State shall implement a parent education
development service program designed to enhance and strengthen the role of
parents and parent substitutes as the primary educators and caregivers of
their children, and create an atmosphere conducive to the children's physical,
moral, and intellectual development.



Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act:

a. Child refers to a person below eighteen (18) years of age or a person
18 years or over but is unable to fully take care or protect oneself from
abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation, or discrimination because of
physical or psycho-social disability or condition;

b. Parent substitutes refer to the guardians other than the biological
parents who have custody over a child and are primarily responsible for
the child's care, and its physical, moral, and intellectual development.
They shall also include foster parents, legal guardians, surrogate
pores, and caretakers; and

c. Module refers to a component subject consisting of a carefully
thought out and written material to be taught in a number of sessions
that, together with the other modules, shall form part of the complete
PEDS program

Sec. 4. Parent Effectiveness Development Service (PEDS) Program.
There is hereby established in every city and municipality a PEDS program to
assist nts and parent substitutes in expanding knowledge and
strengthening skills in order to effectively carry out parental duties and
responsibilities. These include the areas of early childhood development,

behavior management of younger and —older_—hildren,
husband-wife relationships, prevention of child abuse, health care, and other
challenges of parenting. The PEDS shall promote the conduct of parenting
skills development using modules to be developed by the Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Education (DepEd), and
the Early Childhood Care and Development Council (ECCDC), consolidated in
the form of PEDS-Manuals and taught in such number of sessions as
prescribed therein. The PEDS modules may include the following dimensions:

a. In-depth analysis of the roles of parents through the identification of
strengths and weaknesses that affect the characteristics of their
personhood, and clarification and alignment of family values and goals
with the role of parents;

b. Detailed understanding of the obstacles and challenges faced by
patents to strengthen parenting skills;

c. Domains of child growth and development and familiarization with
the different learning avenues for children;



d. The importance of the moral and spiritual development of children,
and the development of parenting skills in fostering knowledge and
appreciation about God, love of neighbor, and in deepening faith
through prayer;

e. Overview of the dynamics and characteristics of the Filipino family
to help participants understand the importance of the family and
how these characteristics affect the values and behaviors of children;

f. Preventing child abuse by educating parents about children's rights
and the risk factors or warnings of abuse;

g Parental understanding of child behavior through basic theories and
factors that affect child behavior;

h, Raising awareness on common health and nutrition needs,
disaster management, internet safety, and bullying;

i, Appreciation of practical ideas in managing households — time,
financial, and stress management; and

j. Developing community environmental management efforts to show
the importance of physical environment cleanliness in creating a
household.

The DSWD, DepEd, and ECCDC may expand or reduce the learning areas
covered by the PEDS program as they may deem appropriate, taking into
consideration the lessons learned from prior implementation of similar or
analogous programs as well as the subsequent progress of the PEDS
implementation pursuant to this Act.

See. 5. Coverage. The PEDS shall cover all parents and substitute parents
of children enrolled in all public and private Child Development Centers
(CDCs) as created in Republic Act No. 10410, otherwise known as the “Early
Years Act (EYA) of 2013” and basic education schools.

Sec. 6, Implementation of the PEDS. The PEDS shall be implemented by
the following:

1.The respective social welfare development offices of cities and
municipalities, in cooperation with the ECCDC for CDCs;



2.The DepEd, through its division offices, in coordination with the
local government units (LGUs) for parent substitutes of students
enrolled in basic education; and,

3.The DSWD and DepEd in the case of children who are not enrolled
in public and private CDCs and basic education schools.

Parent effectiveness development sessions shall be conducted for the
parents and substitute parents of all children enrolled in CDCs and in
basic education schools at such schedule and interval to be determined by
the social welfare officer, school principal, or school administrator
concerned, guided by the PEDS Manuals.

The social welfare officers, school principals or school administrators
shall, on an annual basis, prepare and submit to the local chief executive
or the division superintendent concerned, as the case may be, a complete
program and schedule of the parent effectiveness development sessions
covering the child development centers and basic education schools under
their respective jurisdictions.

The social welfare officers, school principals or school administrators
shall, on an annual basis, prepare and submit to the local chief executive
or the division superintendent concerned, as the case may be, a complete
program and schedule of the parent effectiveness development sessions
covering the child development centers and basic education schools under
their respective jurisdictions.

See. 7. Capacity Building. The DSWD, the DepEd, and the ECCDC shall
assist cities, municipalities, and schools in developing the required
competencies of facilitators who shall be deployed to conduct parent
effectiveness development sessions. For this purpose, the DSWD, DepEd, and
ECCDC shall adopt schemes or strategies and draw inputs from other
stakeholders to ensure that the facilitators are properly capacitated.

Sec. 8. Development and Production of PEDS Manuals. The DSWD,
DepEd, and ECCDC shall, within three (3) months from the effectivity of this
Act, develop and produce the PEDS Manuals to be utilized by the facilitators
in conducting the parent effectiveness development sessions.

Sec. 9. Appropriations. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions
of this Act shall be included in the budgets of concerned national government
agencies in the annual General Appropriations Act. The LGUs shall provide


the necessary funds for the implementation of PEDS in their annual budg-
ets.

Sec. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within sixty (60) days
from the effectivity of this Act, the DSWD, in coordination with DepEd, ECCDC,
and Department of the Interior and Local Government, shall promulgate the
implementing rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this
Act.

Sec. 11. Separability Clause. If, for any reason, any part or provision of
this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provi-
sions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

Sec. 12. Repenting Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, executive or-
ders, rules, and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec, 13. Bffectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its pub-
lication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,