SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 JIl -8 All 57 
SENATS79 
S.No.____ 
f 
_______________________ 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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,1':' ' 
Aggressive behavior in early childhood is the single best predictor of aggression in later 
life. In the U.S., studies have shown that children who experienced violence as victims or 
witnesses are at increased risk of becoming violent themselves. 
In the U.S., research has demonstrated that aggression is primarily a learned behavior that 
develops through observation, imitation, and direct experience. Early childhood offers a critical 
period for overcoming ~isk for violent behavior and providing support for pro-so~ial behavior. 
Primary prevention can be effective. When preschool teachers teach young children interpersonal 
problem-solving skills and other forms of conflict resolution, children are less likely to 
demonstrate problem behaviors. Violence prevention programs for very young children yield a 
multitude of benefits - by providing health and stability to the individual child and the child's 
family, and by reducing expenditures for medical care, special education, and involvement with 
the judicial system. 
This bill seeks to provide training in violence prevention to professionals and educators 
who work with children. l 
1 This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 
1 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Sfltl1tl' 
,(itr.;, "I t~, fom.t~rv· 
First Regular Session 
) 
"13 
JUL -8 All '57 
SENATE 
S.No. 
579 
. Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT 
.'" 
2 
TO PROVIDE TRAINING ON VIOLENCE PREVENTION TO PROFESSIONALS WHO 
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WORK WITH CHILDREN 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Violence Prevention Training 
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for Early Childhood Educators Act." 
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SECTION 2. Definition a/Terms. - As used in this Act, the term: 
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(A) "At-risk children" means children who have been affected by violence through direct 
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exposure to abuse, other domestic violence, or violence in the community; 
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(B) "Early childhood education training program" means a program that -
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(1) Trains individuals to work with young children in early- child development 
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programs or elementary schools; 
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(2) Provides professional development to individuals working III early child 
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deVelopment programs or elementary schools; 
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(3) Provides training to become an early childhood education teacher, an 
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elementary school teacher, a school counselor, or a child care provider; and 
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(4) 
Leads to a bachelor's degree or an associate's degree, a certificate for 
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working with young children, such as a Child Psychology degree or an equivalent 
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credential, or, in the case of an individual with such a degree - certificate, or credential. 
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(C) "Violence prevention" means -
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(1) Preventing violent behavior in children; 
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(2) Identifying and preventing violent behavior in at-risk children; or 
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(3) Identifying and ameliorating violent behavior in children who act out 
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violently. 
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(D) "School" means a public elementary school; 
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(E) "Students" mean public elementary students; 
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(F) "DepEd" means the Department of Education; and 
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(G) "Secretary" means the Secretary of Education. 
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SECTION 3. Program Authorized. -
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(A) Grant Authority. - The Department of Education (DepEd) is authorized to award 
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grants to public elementary schools that carry out early childhood education training programs 
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and have applications approved nuder section 4 to enable the school to provide violence 
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prevention training as part of the early childhood education training program. 
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(B) Amount. - The Secretary of Education shall determine the amount of grant nuder this 
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Act. 
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(C) Duration. - The Secretary shall award a grant under this Act for a period of not less 
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than three (3) years and not more than five (5) years. 
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SECTION 4. Application. -
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(A) Application Required. - Each school desiring a grant under this Act shall submit to 
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the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information 
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as the Secretary may require. 
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(B) Contents. - Each application shall -
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(1) Describe the violence prevention training activities and services for which 
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assistance is sought; 
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(2) Contain a comprehensive plan for the activities and s()rvices, including a 
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description of: 
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(a) The goals of the violence prevention training program; 
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(b) The profile of the teachers, counselors, and other child care providers; 
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(c) The curriculum and training described in the plan; and 
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(d) The methods for assessing the success of the violence prevention 
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training program. 
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(3) Contain an assurance that the school has the capacity to implement the plan; 
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and 
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(C) Contain an assurance that the plan was developed in consultation with the 
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government and/or private agencies or non-government organizations that will assist the school 
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in carrying out the plan. 
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SECTION 5. Selection Priorities. - The Secretary shall give priority to awarding grants to 
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schools carrying out violence prevention programs that include one or more of the following 
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components: 
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(A) Preparation to engage in family support, such as parent education, service referral, 
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and literacy training; 
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(B) Preparation to engage in community outreach or collaboration with other services in 
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the community; 
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(C) Preparation to use conflict resolution training with at-risk children; 
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(D) Preparation to work in economically disadvantaged communities; 
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(E) Recruitment of economically disadvantaged students; 
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(F) Carrying out programs of demonstrated effectiveness in the type of training for which 
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assistance is sought. 
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SECTION 6. Appropriations. - Such sums as may be necessary to carry out this program 
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are hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury. 
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1 
SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary is hereby authorized 
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and directed to adopt a system to implement and carry out the provisions of this Act. The 
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Secretary shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, promulgate the rules and 
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regulations necessary to carry out and enforce the provisions of this Act. 
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SECTION 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision shall remain valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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