Section 4Sec./Art. 4

Definition of Terms. As used in thisAct:

(a)Childrefers to a person below eighteen (18) years of age or a person over eighteen (18) years but is unable to fully take care or protect oneself from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation, or discrimination because of physical or psychosocial disability or condition;

(b)Modulerefers to a component subject consisting of a written material to be taught in a specifiednumberof sessions that, together with other modules, shall count towards the completion of the PES Program;

(c)PES Programrefers to a program on the provision and expansion of knowledge and skills of parents and parent-substitutes on parenting to be able to respond to parental duties and responsibilities on 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. It assists parents and parent-substitutes to develop and strengthen their knowledge and skills so they can assume the major educational role in their child's growth and development;

(d)Parent-Substituterefers to a person other than the biological parent who has custody over a child and is primarily responsible for his/her care, and physical, moral and intellectual development, such as foster care parents, legal guardians and care providers:Provided, That surrogate parents and care providers shall secure a certification from the proper office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) confirming him/her as a parent-substitute; and

(e)Surrogate Parentrefers to any adult member of the family or extended family or a caregiver who chose toactas a substitute parent to a child not legally under his/her parental authority or care.