Law Summary
Declaration of Policy and Objective
- Recognizes sanctity of family life and protects the family as basic social institution.
- Promotes participation of families in policies affecting them.
- Defends children's rights to care, health, education, and protection from abuse.
- Objective is to clarify scope and implementation of PES Program to enhance parenting knowledge and skills.
Coverage
- Applies primarily to fathers, mothers, and parent-substitutes with direct care, custody, and parental authority.
- Includes biological parents, adoptive parents with proper legal orders, and parent-substitutes like foster parents, legal guardians, surrogate parents, and care providers.
- Priority given to vulnerable groups such as solo parents, adolescent parents, parents of children at risk, in conflict with law, victims of abuse, emergencies, child labor, disabilities, OFW children, and indigenous communities.
Definitions
- Provides detailed definitions critical to the Act, including terms like "Adolescent," "Child," "Child Abuse," "Parent-Substitute," "PES Facilitator," "PES Module," and organizations involved.
- Defines behavior management, child development concepts, and specifies the role of various officials and agencies.
Establishment and Objectives of PES Program
- Established to strengthen knowledge and skills of parents and substitutes in fulfilling parental duties.
- Focuses on fostering positive parent-child relationship, protecting child rights, advancing education, enhancing self-awareness, and developing parental values.
- Modules cover husband-wife relations, child development, health care, behavior management, child abuse prevention, and other parenting challenges.
- Conducted and supervised by trained PES Facilitators under Local Social Welfare and Development Offices (LSWDOs).
PES Modules
- Developed by DSWD with relevant agencies including DepEd, ECCD Council, DOH, DOJ, DILG.
- Modules can be adapted by LGUs to local contexts considering indigenous culture and child’s best interest.
- Core principles include understanding parental roles, Filipino family dynamics, parenting challenges, child development, child safety, behavior building, health and nutrition, home/physical environment management, disaster preparedness, and adolescent investment.
- Annual program evaluation and updating by DSWD.
PES Facilitators
- Selection based on qualifications such as relevant degree, experience with children and families, clear background, and interpersonal skills.
- Trained and supervised by LSWDO.
- Roles include facilitating sessions, assessing participants, adapting teaching methods, coordinating resources, organizing support groups, monitoring progress, referrals, and community coordination.
Implementation of PES Program
- Implemented by cities and municipalities through LGUs and LSWDOs.
- Modules developed and rolled out in sessions prescribed by DSWD and LGUs.
- Includes public awareness, baseline assessments, session plans, diverse teaching methodologies, home visits, and use of distance learning modalities.
- Sustainability promoted through incentives, community support, and partnership with private and civil organizations.
- Considered full compliance with parent education requirements under other laws such as RA 10410.
Monitoring and Evaluation
- LGUs prepare and submit annual program schedules and reports.
- DSWD leads program review and evaluation workshops.
- Impact evaluation conducted every three years starting 2027.
Program Framework and Research
- DSWD to develop analytical framework linking parent effectiveness with child development.
- Ongoing research with coordinated agencies to improve program design and implementation.
- LGUs tasked with continuous evaluation and reporting.
Capacity Building and Advocacy
- Training and technical assistance provided by DSWD, DepEd, DOH, DOJ, DILG, and LGUs.
- PES Facilitators receive ongoing capacity development for effective delivery.
- Advocacy campaigns through media and community engagements.
- Integrates with national celebrations and local government plans.
Implementing Agencies and Roles
- Multi-sectoral implementation involving national agencies, LGUs, NGOs, and private organizations.
- DSWD leads program development, technical assistance, module development, database management, and policy recommendations.
- DepEd integrates educational content; DOH supports health components; DOJ ensures legal safeguards; DILG recognizes outstanding LGUs.
- LGUs manage local implementation, facilitator supervision, incentives, and feedback mechanisms.
- Families and communities encouraged to actively participate.
Appropriations and Final Provisions
- Initial funding from existing agency appropriations; subsequent funding from national budget and LGU allocations.
- Provisions on separability, repealing inconsistent laws, and effectivity 30 days after publication.
- Filing with University of the Philippines Law Center.