1. Items la and 20 of DepEd Order No. 77, s. 2009 are to be amended and are stated as follows:

WHEREAS, Items la and 20 of DepEd Order No. 77, s. 2009 provide:
“1. Pursuant to DepEd Order No. 54, s. 2009 on the Revised Guidelines Governing Parents-Teachers Associations (PTAs) at the School Level, the following shall be observed by public elementary and secondary schools every school year:
a. The organization of Homeroom PTAs and election of their officers from among the parents/guardians shall be held within fifteen (15) days from the start of the school year;”
“20. Immediate dissemination of this Memorandum is desired.”
WHEREAS, guardians, as defined in DepEd Order No. 54, s. 2009, are generally allowed to become members of the Homeroom and School PTAs;
WHEREAS, it is necessary to classify guardians for purposes of their officership in the Homeroom PTAs and the School Level PTAs to establish their genuine authority and responsibility pursuant to their role as substitute parents of schoolchildren in accordance with law;
WHEREAS, only court-appointed guardians provide competent evidence of guardianship with genuine and ascertainable authority and responsibility to function as substitute parents of their student-wards;
WHEREAS, there is also a need to amend Item 20 of DepEd Order No. 77, s. 2009 to conform to the nature of this issuance;
WHEREFORE, the same Items la and 20 of DepED Order No. 77, s. 2009 are hereby amended and shall read as follows:
“1. Pursuant to DepEd Order No. 54, s. 2009 on the Revised Guidelines Governing Parents-Teachers Associations (PTAs) at the School Level, the following shall be observed by public elementary and secondary schools every school year:
a. The organization of Homeroom PTAs and election of their officers from among the parents/court-appointed guardians of duly enrolled students shall be held within fifteen (15) days from the start of the school year;”
“20. Wide dissemination of and strict compliance with this Order is directed. ”

2. Immediate dissemination and strict implementation of this Order is directed.