Legal Bases of Parents-Teachers Association (PTA)

Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) is a mechanism for effecting the role of parents

(who would otherwise be viewed as outsiders) as an indispensable element of
educational communities. Rather than being totally independent of or removed
from schools, a parent-teacher association is more aptly considered an adjunct of
an educational community having a particular school as its locus. It is an “arm” of
the school. Given this view, the importance of regulation vis-a-vis investiture of
official status becomes manifest. According a parent-teacher association official
status not only enables it to avail itself of benefits and privileges but also establishes
upon it its solemn duty as a pillar of the educational system. – G.R. No. 188720,
February 23, 2016 – QUEZON CITY PTCA FEDERATION, INC., Petitioner, v.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY JESLI A.
LAPUS, Respondent.

Legal Bases of Parents-Teachers Association (PTA)

The Department of Education (DepEd) through its subordinate rule-making

power issued DepEd Order No. 54 s of 2009 as amended by DepEd Order No.
83, s of 2010, or the “Revised Guidelines Governing Parents-Teachers
Associations (PTAs) at the School Level.

Outline

I. The Philippine Constitution

II. Batas Pambansa Blg. 232

III. EO 292 (Administrative Code)

IV. Republic Act 9155

V. The Family Code

VI. The Child and Youth Welfare Code

VII. Constitutionality of DepEd Order No. 54, s. 2009

VIII. Some queries previously raised to the Legal Service

The 1987 Philippine Constitution

ARTICLE XIII
 Role and Rights of People’s Organizations

SECTION 15. The State shall respect the role of independent people’s

organizations to enable the people to pursue and protect, within the
democratic framework, their legitimate and collective interests and
aspirations through peaceful and lawful means.

People’s organizations are bona fide associations of citizens with

demonstrated capacity to promote the public interest and with identifiable
leadership, membership, and structure.

SECTION 16. The right of the people and their organizations to effective and
reasonable participation at all levels of social, political, and economic
decision-making shall not be abridged. The State shall, by law, facilitate the
establishment of adequate consultation mechanisms.

Batas Pambansa Blg. 232 (Education Act of 1982)

II. THE EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY (Section 7)

Every educational institution shall provide for the establishment of

appropriate bodies through which the members of the educational community
may discuss relevant issues and communicate information and suggestions for
assistance and support of the school and for the promotion of their common
interest…

Representatives from each sub-group of the educational community shall sit

and participate in these bodies, the rules and procedures of which must be
approved by them and duly published.

The Family Code

Article 209:

It is mandated that the natural right and duty of the parents shall include the
caring for and rearing them for civic consciousness and this can only be
achieved through shared responsibility between teachers and parents.

Article 220:

The parents and those exercising parental authority shall have with the
respect to their unemancipated children or wards the following rights and
duties:
(5) To represent them in all matters affecting their interests;

Republic Act 9155 (Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001)

Sec. 7. Powers, Duties and Functions

E. School Level

(10) Establishing school and community networks and encouraging the active
participation of teachers organizations, non-academic personnel of public
schools, and parents-teachers-community associations;

Section 5 – Shared Governance

(c) The principle of accountability and transparency shall be operationalized

in the performance of functions and responsibilities at all levels

(d) The communication channels of field offices shall be strengthened to

facilitate flow of information and expand linkages with other government
agencies, local government units and non-governmental organizations for
effective governance.

The Child and Youth Welfare Code

Article 77:

Parent-Teacher Associations – Every elementary and secondary school shall

organize a parent-teacher association for the purpose of providing a forum for
the discussion of problems and their solutions, relating to the total school
program, and for insuring the full cooperation of parents in the efficient
implementation of such program.

All parents who have children enrolled in a school are encouraged to be active
members of its PTA, and to comply with whatever obligations and
responsibilities such membership entails.

Parent-Teacher Association all over the country shall aid the municipal and
other local authorities and school officials in the enforcement of juvenile
delinquency control measures, and in the implementation of programs and
activities to promote child welfare.

DepEd Orders Related to Parents-Teachers Associations (PTAs)

 DepEd Order No. 83 s. 2010 (Amendments to Deped Order No. 77, S. 2009
[Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections of the Parents-Teachers Associations
(PTAS) at the School Level and Their Federations])

DepEd Order No. 77, s. 2009 (Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections of the
Parents-Teachers Associations (PTAs) at the School Level and Their
Federations

DepEd Order No. 54, s. 2009 (Revised Guidelines Governing PTAs at the

School Level)

G.R. No. 188720, February 23, 2016 – QUEZON CITY PTCA

FEDERATION, INC., Petitioner, v. DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION, REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY JESLI A.
LAPUS, Respondent.

Is DepEd Order No. 54, s. 2009 (Revised Guidelines Governing PTAs at

the School Level) unconstitutional?

Grounds:

1. That DepEd Order No. 54, s. 2009 undermines the independence of

PTAs as independent voluntary organizations as it effectively amends the
constitutions and by-laws of existing PTAs; and
2. It violates the constitutional rights to organize and to due process
(cessation of recognition of existing PTCAs and of their federations effective
school year 2009-2010)

Legal Bases for the issuance of DepEd Order No. 54, s. 2009
(Revised Guidelines Governing PTAs at the School Level)

I. The Philippine Constitution

II.Batas Pambansa Blg. 232

III. EO 292 (Administrative Code)

IV. Republic Act 9155

V. The Child and Youth Welfare Code

 I. Purpose of Deped Order No. 54, S. 2009
 to provide a forum for the discussion of issues and solutions related to
the total school program and to ensure full cooperation of parents in its
efficient implementation;
 to address the increasing reports of malpractices by officers or
members of PTAs; and
 to ensure transparency and accountability.

II. Rule-making power of DepEd

Administrative Code of 1987

Section 7. Powers and Functions of the Secretary.-

The Secretary shall:

(4) Promulgate administrative issuances necessary for the efficient

administration of the offices under the Secretary and for proper execution of
the laws relative thereto…

Governance of Basic Education Act (RA 9155)

Sec. 7. Powers, Duties and Functions. – The Secretary of the Department of

Education shall exercise overall authority and supervision over the operations
of the Department.

Requisites and Due Process

 Completeness Test and Sufficient Standard Test

 Publication with the University of the Philippines Law Center; and
 Public participation

Chapter 2 of Book VII of the Administrative Code:

SECTION 9. Public Participation.—(1) If not otherwise required by law, an

agency shall, as far as practicable, publish or circulate notices of proposed
rules and afford interested parties the opportunity to submit their views prior
to the adoption of any rule.

SUPREME COURT’S DECISION:

DepEd Order No. 54, s. 2009 is constitutional. The establishment of these
rules and requirements is a valid exercise of police power as public interest is
involved in the conduct of the PTAs seeking for recognition.

“In pursuit of public interest, the state can set

reasonable regulations—procedural, formal, and
substantive—with which organizations seeking state
imprimatur must comply.”

SUPREME COURT:

… requisites to the acquisition of legal personality and

the exercise of rights and privileges that are accorded to
an officially recognized organization, are not
incompatible with the right to form associations.

Philippine Association of Free Labor Unions v. Secretary of Labor; 136 Phil.

289 (1969)

SUPREME COURT:

“A parent-teacher association is a mechanism for

effecting the role of parents as an indispensable element
of educational communities… It is an “arm” of the
school… Accordingly, a parent-teacher association
official status not only enables it to avail itself of
benefits and privileges but also establishes upon it its
solemn duty as a pillar of the educational system.”

Can a guardian of a learner be elected as a PTA officer?

According to DepEd Order 54, s. 2009, membership in the Parents-Teachers

Associations (PTA) is limited to parents, or in their absence, the respective
guardians of the duly enrolled students, and teachers in a given school.

The term “guardian” is defined as any of the following:

a) an individual authorized by the biological parent/s to whom the care and

custody of the student has been entrusted;

b) a relative of the student within the fourth degree of consanguinity or

affinity provided that said relative has the care and custody over the child;
c) an individual appointed by a competent court as the legal guardian of the
student; or

d) in case of an orphan, the individual/institution who has the care and

custody of the student.

On the other hand, DepEd Order No. 83, s. 2010 limits the definition of a
guardian to one who is duly appointed by the court.

This means that in the absence of parents, only the respective court-appointed
guardians of duly-enrolled students are eligible to be elected as officers in the
Homeroom and School PTAs.

Thus, the broader definition of guardian under DO 54 pertains to membership

in the PTA, while the more confined definition of a court-appointed guardian
under DO 83 is for purposes of officership in the PTA.

Can a school head be elected as a President of PTA of another

school?

According to DepEd Order 77, s. 2009 provides:

10. A teacher-member cannot hold any position in the school PTA except as a
member of the BOD or as Secretary.

Title IV, Section 1d of DepEd Order 54, s. 2009, otherwise known as the
Revised Guidelines Governing Parents-Teachers Associations, states:

IV. Board of Directors and Officers

d. The School Head shall not serve as a member of the Board of Directors but
as adviser to the PTA.

“It can be gleaned from the above mentioned provisions that the prohibition
of a Principal to act as a President of the PTA is applicable only to the school
where such Principal is functioning as the School Head.”

Are all schools required to organize a PTA?

Article 77 of the Child and Youth Welfare Code provides that every elementary
and secondary school shall organize a parents-teacher association for the
purpose of providing a forum for the discussion of problems and their
solutions, relating to the total school program, and for insuring the full
cooperation of parents in the efficient implementation of such program. All
parents who have children enrolled in a school are encouraged to be active
members of its PTA, and to comply with whatever obligations and
responsibilities such membership entails.

Is the DepEd Guidelines on PTAs applicable to both public and

private schools?

The DepEd Guidelines is silent on its application to private schools. Its

structure however seems to be more aligned with the public school system and
is therefore mandatory for all public schools under the DepEd.

While private schools are mandated by law to organize a parents-teachers

association, they have the flexibility to adopt its own guidelines pertaining to
recognition, organization, membership, and privileges of PTAs in their
respective educational community. Such policy however shall not be
unreasonable and should have passed the scrutiny of the parents. The DepEd
Guidelines and the relevant provisions of the Youth and Child Welfare Code
apply suppletorily to the school’s PTA guidelines should there be any.

Who may be members of the PTAs under DepEd Guidelines?

Only parents and court appointed guardians of duly enrolled students may be
members of the PTA.

A teacher-member refers to homeroom advisers, subject teachers, and non-

teaching personnel.

Can a school have more than one PTA under the DepEd
Guidelines?

There shall be only one PTA that will operate in a school which shall be
recognized by the School Head upon formal notification in writing by the
elected Board of Directors.
Revised Guidelines for the Preparation of the
Gender and Development (GAD) Agenda
Files: 

PCW MC 2018-04 Revised Guidelines for the Preparation of the Gender and Development (GAD) Agenda

PCW MC 2018-04 Annexes

19 September 2018
Date

Heads of Executive Departments, Agencies, Bureaus, Offices, State

Universities and Colleges, Government Owned and/or Controlled Corporations,
To:
Legislative and Judiciary Branches, Constitutional Bodies and Other National
Government Instrumentalities

Revised Guidelines for the Preparation of the Gender and

Subject: 
Development (GAD) Agenda
 

1. BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

In accordance with the Magna Carta of Women (MCW) and the Philippines’
commitment to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE), the
Guidelines for the Preparation of Annual GAD Plans and Budgets (GPBs) and GAD
Accomplishment Reports (ARs) was issued by the Philippine Commission on
Women, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the
Department of Budget and Management (DBM). The guidelines provide the
procedures for the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of GAD
plans and budgets of agencies and identify the setting of the GAD agenda as one
of the steps in formulating the GAD plan. The GAD agenda shall be the basis for
the annual formulation of programs, activities and projects (PAPs) to be included in
the GPBs of agencies. It will provide agencies with direction in setting and
monitoring their GAD initiatives towards the achievement of their GEWE goals.

The development of the GAD Agenda shall be guided by the desired GEWE
outcomes and goals embodied in the MCW and other women or gender-related
laws relevant to the agency’s mandates; the Philippine Plan for Gender Responsive
Development (PPGD) 1995-2025 and term plans on GEWE; and  various
international GAD-related commitments such as the United Nations Convention on
the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (UN CEDAW), the
Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA), and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
It shall also be anchored on the priorities and thrusts of the government as
expressed in the Philippine Development Plan and various sectoral plans.  (See
Annex A)
2. PURPOSE

This Memorandum Circular provides the guidelines and procedures in the

formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the multi-year GAD
Agenda as basis for the annual GAD Plans and Budgets of agencies.

3. GENERAL GUIDELINES

3.1. The GAD Agenda is the agency’s strategic framework and plan on
gender mainstreaming, and achieving women’s empowerment and gender
equality. It shall:

3.1.1.    serve as basis in identifying programs, activities, and projects

to be undertaken to achieve the GAD goals and outcomes;

3.1.2.    provide the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework for

assessing GAD results and outcomes that shall be the basis for
strengthening the mainstreaming of a GAD perspective in the agency’s
operations and programs; and

3.1.3. be formulated in a participatory, consultative and inclusive

process. It shall consider the results from consultations with women
target beneficiaries as well women’s groups/organizations working on
the sector and other concerned stakeholders, and the identified gaps
resulting from gender analysis.

4. CONTENT AND TIMEFRAME OF THE GAD AGENDA

The GAD Agenda is a two-part document consisting of the GAD Strategic

Framework (GADSF) and the GAD Strategic Plan (GADSP). The GADSF outlines the
agency’s GAD Vision, Mission and Goals anchored on the mandate of the agency,
while GADSP defines the strategic interventions, indicators, and targets to be
pursued to achieve GAD goals over a period of time.

The timeframe of the GAD Agenda is six years.

5. STEPS IN FORMULATING THE GAD AGENDA (See Annex B)

5.1. Organizing the Planning Team

5.1.1. The Head of Agency or GAD Focal Point System (GFPS)

Chairperson shall issue, if necessary, an office memorandum for the
preparation of the GAD Agenda.

5.1.2. For agencies with sub-units, the GFPS of the central office (CO)
shall ensure the representation and participation of regional offices,
staff bureaus, and other sub-units of the agency in the planning team.
Attached agencies and bureaus independent from their parent agency
shall also issue an office memorandum and shall prepare their
respective GAD Agenda.
 5.1.3. The agency may also seek the support of external GAD
practitioners or sectoral experts from women or GAD-related civil
society organizations, members of the PCW Gender Resource Pool,
representatives of Regional GAD Resource Centers, to serve as
resource persons or consultants for the preparation of the GAD
Agenda.

5.2. Conducting Gender Analysis

5.2.1. The agency, led by the GFPS, shall conduct gender analysis
based on the following:

5.2.1.1. results of the application of gender analysis tools such

as the Gender Mainstreaming Evaluation Framework (GMEF),
Harmonized Gender and Development Guidelines (HGDG),
Participatory Gender Audit (PGA) and other gender analysis
tools;

5.2.1.2. analysis of sex-disaggregated data and/or relevant

information;

5.2.1.3. review of GAD-related mandates and policies

(international and local);

5.2.1.4. review of sectoral and Gender Equality and Women’s

Empowerment (GEWE) plans and GAD-related indicators; and

5.2.1.5. issues and recommendations gathered from

consultations with women’s groups/organizations working on
the sector and other concerned stakeholders.

5.2.2.    After collating the results of the gender analysis, the agency
should be able to come up with a summary list of gender issues.

5.2.3. The gender issue could be client-and/or organization-focused.

5.2.3.1. A client-focused gender issue refers to gap/s arising

from the unequal status of women and men stakeholders
(customers, clients, beneficiaries) of a particular agency
including the extent of their disparity over access to benefits
from and contribution to a policy, program, projects and/or
services of the agency.

5.2.3.2. An organization-focused gender issue, on the other

hand, points to the gap/s in the capacity of the organization to
integrate a gender dimension in its programs, systems or
structure.

5.3. Setting the Agency’s GAD Vision and Mission (See Annex D)
The GAD vision shall be formulated to reflect the agency’s projected
direction to achieve its gender equality and women’s empowerment based
on its mandate, priorities and thrusts. The GAD Mission should articulate the
agency’s purpose based on its mandate in relation to achieving  gender
equality and women’s empowerment.
 5.4. Formulating the GAD Goals

Based on the results of gender analysis, the agency shall set 3-5 GAD goals that it
can achieve during the timeframe set.

5.5. Prioritizing Gender Issues and/or GAD Mandates per GAD Goal

5.5.1. The gender issues shall be prioritized according to what the

agency can achieve within the timeframe of the GAD Agenda.

5.5.2. In prioritizing the gender issues to be addressed, the agency

may consider the following criteria:

5.5.2.1. Strategic– aligned with the priorities of the

administration and sectoral plans;

5.5.2.2. Relevant – aligned with the agency’s mandate under

the MCW and other GAD-related policies and plans; affects a
significant number of stakeholders;

5.5.2.3. Urgent – immediate action or attention is necessary to

respond to a pressing gender issue/concern

5.5.3. Aside from priority gender issues, the agency may directly cite
specific GAD mandates emanating from GAD-related laws or plans that
it needs to implement.

5.6. Outlining the GAD Outcomes, Indicators, Baseline Data, and Targets per
GAD Goal

5.6.1. Based on the priority gender issues/GAD mandates, formulate

the GAD Outcomes/Result Statements to be achieved within the
timeframe of the GAD Agenda. The statement should provide a sense
of progress toward reaching the goal.

5.6.2. Identify the indicators to measure the progress towards the

attainment of the GAD outcome/result. An indicator can be qualitative
or quantitative, and is composed of a unit of measure, a unit of
analysis and a context.

5.6.3. Provide the baseline data.

5.6.4. Set annual targets for each indicator.

5.7. Translating the GAD Outcomes into GAD Programs, Projects, and/or
Activities

5.7.1. Identify/ Develop specific GAD programs, projects, and/or

activities aligned with identified strategies with corresponding
estimated budget, to achieve the desired GAD outcomes.

5.7.2. Fill out the GAD Strategic Plan template (Annex E).
6. OPERATIONALIZATION

6.1. The head of agency shall approve the GAD Agenda and issue a policy
ensuring its implementation by the agency’s sub-units.

6.2. The GFPS shall ensure that the GAD Agenda is disseminated to the
agency’s sub-units, such as staff bureaus, regional or field offices.

6.3. In the formulation of the agency’s annual GAD Plan and Budget, the
entries in the GAD agenda such as the, gender issue, GAD outcome,
indicator, target, activities, and budget for the specified year shall be
reflected in the annual GPB.

6.4. To measure the progress made in achieving the GAD Goals, the agency
shall identify its annual targets, and move from program, project, and/or
activity completion and outputs in the first year or two, to results in terms of
achieving the GAD outcomes towards the end of the GAD agenda
timeframe.  It shall monitor and evaluate progress made in achieving these
targets in its GAD Annual Accomplishment Reports.

6.5 GAD programs, projects, and/or activities, may be modified, as

necessary, in order to attain the GAD outcomes and goals.

6.6 The agency may also adjust the GAD Agenda to include emerging gender
issues and corresponding outcomes and programs, projects, and/or activities
that may not have been included at the onset of the planning period.

7. MONITORING & EVALUATION

7.1. A review after three years and an end-term evaluation of the GADSF
and GADSP shall be conducted by the GFPS and reports shall be prepared
and submitted to PCW.

7.2. The 3-year progress report shall reflect the status of accomplishments
based on the analysis of the desired results and outcomes, as well as
variances. (See Annexes C & F)

7.3. The end- term report shall reflect the overall assessment of the
implementation of the GAD agenda based on the goals and desired
results/outcomes. It shall also reflect the variances, including unintended
results, and the reasons for such, as well as  the recommendations and
lessons learned. Agencies shall submit together with the end-term report, a
narrative of its GAD accomplishments, which may include success stories
and good practices.

7.4. The result of the evaluation may serve as basis in formulating its GAD
Agenda for the next planning period. (See Annexes C & G).

8. SUBMISSION

The GAD Agenda, progress and end- term reports shall be submitted by agencies
to PCW for the purpose of monitoring, evaluation, reporting of GEWE results and
as necessary, provision of technical assistance on its implementation.
9. TRANSITORY PROVISION

Agencies are encouraged to prepare their GAD Agenda upon the effectivity of this
guidelines for calendar years (CY) 2020-2025.  Agencies with existing GAD Agenda
shall review and recalibrate, as necessary, their GAD Agenda in line with these
Guidelines.

10. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE

This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately.