Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 8980)
The short title of Republic Act No. 8980 is the "ECCD Act."
The policy of the State is to promote the rights of children to survival, development, and special protection, recognizing childhood's special nature and needs, and to support parents as primary caregivers and first teachers.
The ECCD System covers children from birth to age six (6) years old.
Objectives include improving infant and child survival rates, enhancing physical and cognitive development, supporting parents as primary caregivers, facilitating smooth educational transition for children, enhancing capabilities of service providers, supporting disadvantaged communities, preparing children for formal education, early identification of developmental disorders, and improving public and private ECCD program standards.
The ECCD System includes center-based programs (like day care, preschools, kindergarten, health centers) and home-based programs (like play groups, family day care, parent education, home visits).
ECCD Service Providers include professionals and volunteers such as day care workers, teachers, midwives, social workers, health workers, nutrition scholars, parent effectiveness volunteers, child development workers, and family day care providers.
The Council promulgates policies and guidelines, sets program standards, develops professionalization systems for service providers, coordinates ECCD programs among agencies, monitors service delivery, evaluates program impacts, and mobilizes resources to support ECCD nationwide.
Agencies include the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), Department of Health (DOH), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Justice (DOJ), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and National Nutrition Council (NNC).
It includes the Provincial Governor as Chairperson, Division Superintendent of DECS, Provincial Planning and Development Officer, Budget Officer, Health Officer, Director of DILG, Social Welfare and Development Officer, Treasurer, President of the Provincial League of Municipal Mayors, and two NGO representatives involved in ECCD.
ECCD programs are financed through a combination of public funds (national and local government) and private funds, including cost-sharing by LGUs, counterpart funds from national agencies, donor support, and contributions from families within affordable limits.