SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian sought the full enforcement of the Parent Effectiveness Service Act or Republic Act 11908 to strengthen parents’ involvement in education.

The Parent Effectiveness Service Act, which Gatchalian authored and co-sponsored, establishes the Parent Effectiveness Service Program to strengthen the knowledge and skills of parents and parent-substitutes in protecting and promoting children’s rights, fostering positive early childhood development and advancing children’s educational progress.

The law was inspired by Valenzuela City’s Nanay-Teacher Program, which was implemented with the help of Synergeia Foundation.

The program was part of Gatchalian’s education advocacy when he was still the mayor of Valenzuela City.

“Ang ating mga magulang ang ating mga unang guro at nagpapatuloy ang kanilang mahalagang papel sa edukasyon ng ating mga kabataan. Kaya naman mahalagang matulungan natin ang ating mga magulang na magampanan ng epektibo ang kanilang tungkulin sa pagpapalaki ng mga mabubuting mamamayan,” Gatchalian said.

Under the law, cities and municipalities will implement parent effectiveness sessions through their respective social welfare and development offices and local government units.

The program shall prioritize parents and parent-substitutes with vulnerable children, including those who have children at risk, children in conflict with the law, and children who have been exposed to violence.

Solo-parents and adolescent parents will also be given priority.

The program’s modules shall cover principles such as challenges of parenting, keeping children safe from abuse, building the child’s positive behavior, health and nutrition, keeping a healthy physical environment, keeping children safe in times of disaster, and investment in adolescents.