Senator Win Gatchalian wants to strengthen the involvement of parents in children’s education, growth, and development.
Gatchalian said the new law or Republic Act No. 11908 known as the Parent Effectiveness Service (PES) Program Act, which he principally authored, establishes the PES Program to assist all parents and parent-substitutes in strengthening their knowledge and skills in responding to their parental duties and responsibilities amid the challenges of innovation, social media, and changes in values.
The law aims to encourage parents and parent-substitutes to fully support their children’s cognitive development, most importantly their skills in reading, mathematics, and science. It also helps prevent child abuse by educating parents about the rights of the children and familiarizing them with risk factors of warning signs of abuse in children, according to Gatchalian.
The PES Program, which shall primarily cover mothers and fathers of children and parent-substitutes, will be implemented in every city and municipality through their respective social welfare and development offices and government units. LGU officers shall prepare an annual complete program covering all barangays of their respective jurisdictions and should prioritize parents and parent-substitutes with vulnerable children such as children at risk, children in conflict with the law, and children who have been exposed to or involved in violence in homes and communities. Solo parents, adolescent parents, and their parents or parent-substitutes will also be prioritized under the law.
Aside from child development and keeping children safe from abuse, the PES Program also consists of modules on the challenges of parenting, health and nutrition, building the child’s positive behavior, keeping a healthy physical environment for the child, and keeping children safe in times of disasters.
“Sa pamamagitan ng Parent Effectiveness Service, matutulungan natin ang mga magulang na magampanan nang mahusay ang kanilang tungkulin sa kanilang mga anak. Ang mga magulang ang ating unang guro at nananatiling mahalaga ang kanilang papel sa edukasyon ng mga kabataan, kaya dapat natin silang tulungang maging epektibo sa kanilang papel,” said Gatchalian.
The law was inspired by Valenzuela City’s Nanay-Teacher Program. The program was implemented with the help of Synergeia Foundation and started as part of Gatchalian’s education advocacy when he was Mayor of Valenzuela City.
Source: http://www.senate.gov.ph
