Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Family is the basic unit of the State. As the first agency to hone and develop the skills 
of our children, parents play a crucial role in the frontline towards teaching basic 
survival skills, reading, writing, and unleashing their children’s full potential.  
Recognizing these and the role of our teachers in the education sector, it is imperative 
to complement these fundamental roles to ensure improved reading skills and 
comprehension of our learners. During the pandemic, it was evident that our learners 
seriously suffered. The World Bank in June 2022 stated that the learning poverty of our 
country is at 90.9%. It is important to note that learners who are not reading at grade-
level are very unlikely to graduate from high school, while those who do are likely to 
succeed in life. Parents can help increase their children’s reading levels, for example, 
by reading with their children thirty minutes a day. Evidence shows that greater parental 
support for children’s literacy success makes a significant difference. One-on-one 
tutoring is a key component of bringing students up to reading at grade-level. 
Furthermore, family involvement is widely recognized to improve student performance. 
By preparing children to learn through their active involvement, parents get to play a 
crucial role in preventing students from falling behind. With proper support and 
teaching, all children can learn to read at grade-level by the end of the third grade.   
The purpose of this bill is to support effective programs that assist parents who want 
to help their children become successful readers. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
September 28, 2023
1:05 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
AN ACT 
SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO 
PARENTS WHO WANT TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN BECOME SUCCESSFUL 
READERS 
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 “Parents as First Teachers 
Challenge Grant Act”.  
SECTION 2. Purpose. – The purpose of this Act is to support effective and proven 
efforts that provide assistance to parents who want to help their children become 
successful readers by the end of the third grade. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – For the purpose of this Act, the term: 
(A)
“Eligible child” means an individual eligible to attend preschool, kindergarten, or
first, second, or third grade; and
(B)
“Secretary” means the Secretary of Education.
SECTION 4. Grants for National or Regional Networks. – The Secretary is 
authorized to award at least two (2) grants to non-profit community groups or 
organizations, or consortia thereof per region, to enable such agencies, groups, 
organizations, or consortia to create successful programs or activities that help a 
parent – 
(A)
Be a good teacher to the parent’s eligible child; and
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(B) Assist the parent’s eligible child in attaining reading skills while assisting the 
eligible child to learn to read. 
 
 
SECTION 5. Recipient Criteria. – In order to receive a grant under section 4, a group, 
organization, or consortium shall establish a training institute and comprehensive 
counseling program, where such group, organization or consortium will work with 
parents to improve their eligible children’s reading. 
 
SECTION 6. Applications. – 
(A) In General. – Each entity desiring a grant under this Act shall submit an 
application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such 
information as the Secretary may require. 
 
(B) Applications for Grants for National or Regional Networks. – Each application 
submitted for a grant under Section 4 shall— 
(1) 
Demonstrate the likelihood that the proposed program or activity will have 
a substantial regional or national impact; 
(2) 
Demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of the proposed program or activity; 
and  
(3) 
Describe how the proposed activity will be coordinated with private sector 
programs and activities, and government programs and activities that 
provide support for parents of eligible children. 
 
(C) Applications for Grants for Successful Programs or Activities. – Each 
application submitted under paragraph (A) for a grant under paragraph (B) shall— 
(1) 
Describe a program or activity that is capable of successful expansion or 
replication;  
(2) 
Contain evidence of community support for the proposed program or activity 
from the private sector, a school, and another entity;  
(3) 
Contain information demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of the proposed 
program or activity; and  
(4) 
Provide an assurance that the applicant will coordinate the proposed 
program or activity with government programs and activities that provide 


 
 
support for parents of eligible children. 
 
SECTION 7. Authorization of Appropriations. – 
(A) 
Appropriations. – There shall be appropriated an amount of Twenty Five Million 
Pesos (P 25,000,000.00) to carry out the provision of this Act during the fiscal year in 
which the same is enacted into law, as well as for each succeeding fiscal year 
thereafter.  
 
(B) 
Entitlement. – Subject to paragraph (A), each entity receiving a grant under this 
Act for a fiscal year shall be entitled to payments for such a year under the grant. 
 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause. – 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. 
 
SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. – 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. 
 
SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
 
Approved,