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

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3114

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative CHING 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 through the release of the PES Handbook,
developed by the then Bureau of Family and Child Welfare. It later became a key
component of the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) program, which was
supported by UNICEF under Country Program for Children (CPC) II. The PES Manual
was first printed in book form in 1987.

Following the enactment of Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code
of 1991, the PES was among the programs devolved by the DSWD to local government
units (LGUs). Despite devolution, the DSWD continued to enrich the PES Manual,
releasing an updated version in 2001 to enhance the methodology, strategies, and
content for use by local implementers in facilitating PES sessions in communities.

However, despite its institutional foundations, the implementation and impact of
the PES remain largely unfelt. While it is included as a component of the ECCD Act, it
does not receive the level of attention and support it rightfully deserves. This is despite
provisions in the ECCD law mandating that LGUs continue to support the program
through the construction of basic infrastructure, provision of facilities, materials, and

equipment, and compensation for service providers.


‘The DSWD has also integrated PES materials into Family Development Sessions
under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). However, its coverage is limited
and does not reflect the comprehensive and sustained approach originally envisioned
for PES.

The quality of care, support, and developmental opportunities that children
receive during their formative years is critical. Meeting these needs depends greatly on
the readiness, knowledge, and commitment of parents and parental substitutes to fulfill
their roles. While child-rearing is an inherent responsibility of parents, the State also
bears the duty to uphold the rights of children to proper care, nutrition, and protection
from neglect, abuse, exploitation, and all forms of harm.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

SOIfD NORTH Party-List


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3114

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative 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 “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 A

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 parents, 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 parents 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 children, 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 parents to
strengthen parenting skills;

¢. 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;


¢. 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.

Sec. 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:

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

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

c. 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.

Sec. 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 budgets.

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.

4


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

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

Sec. 13. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,