Early Childhood Care and Development Act

Policy, purpose, and national system

The State promotes children’s rights to survival, development and special protection, recognizes the nature of childhood, and provides developmentally appropriate experiences to address children’s needs under Section 2.
The State supports parents in their roles as primary caregivers and children’s first teachers under Section 2.
The State recognizes the age from zero (0) to eight (8) years as the first crucial stage of educational development under Section 2.
The age zero (0) to four (4) years is assigned to the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council, while responsibility for helping develop children age five (5) to eight (8) years rests with the Department of Education (DepED) under Section 2.
The Act requires the institutionalization of a National System for Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) that is comprehensive, integrative and sustainable, with multisectoral and interagency collaboration at national and local levels under Section 2.
The National ECCD System must include inclusion of children with special needs and provide for reasonable accommodation and accessible environments for children with disabilities, and must advocate respect for cultural and linguistic diversity, including use of Filipino Sign Language as the visual language of the deaf community under Section 2.
The System must be anchored on complementary strategies for ECCD, including service delivery for children age zero (0) to four (4) years, educating parents and caregivers, encouraging active involvement of parents and communities, and raising awareness to improve quality of life for young children and families under Section 2.

Defined terms and coverage age range

Section 4(a) defines Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) System as the full range of health, nutrition, early education and social services development programs for basic holistic needs of young children age zero (0) to four (4) years, promoting optimum growth and development.
ECCD System programs include:
- Section 4(a)(1) center-based programs, including the day care service established under Republic Act No. 6972 (“Barangay Level Total Development and Protection of Children Act”), referred to as the child development service, and other center/community/church-based early childhood education programs, workplace-related child care and education, child-minding centers, health centers and stations.
- Section 4(a)(2) home-based programs, including neighborhood-based play groups, family child care programs, parent education and home visiting programs.
Section 4(b) defines ECCD Service Providers as professionals, paraprofessionals, and volunteer caregivers directly responsible for the care and education of young children age zero (0) to four (4) years through centers and home-based programs, including (but not limited to) day care workers (child development workers), child development teachers, teacher-aides, rural health midwives, social workers, community health workers, barangay nutrition scholars, parent effectiveness service volunteers, and family day care providers.
Section 4(c) defines ECCD Curriculum as developmentally appropriate educational objectives and practices, organized learning experiences, recommended learning materials and appropriate assessment for children age zero (0) to four (4) years, implemented through center and home-based programs; it consists of national program goals and guidelines, instructional objectives, and age-appropriate, individually appropriate and culturally relevant content.
Section 4(d) defines Parent Education as formal and alternative means of providing parents information, skills, and support systems to assist them as primary caregivers and educators, linked to center, home and media-based child care and education programs.

ECCD system framework and expansion

The ECCD System must implement the National ECCD Program in accordance with quality standards for accreditation under Section 5.
A National ECCD Monitoring and Evaluation Framework must be established under Section 5.
The ECCD System includes the following components under Section 5:
- ECCD Curriculum:
  - It focuses on children’s total development, taking into account age, individual, and socio-cultural appropriateness.
  - It promotes complementary and integrative services for health, nutrition, early childhood education, sanitation and cultural activities.
  - It uses the child’s first language as the medium of instruction.
- Parent Education and Involvement, Advocacy and Mobilization of Communities:
  - It harnesses and develops parents’ strengths as ECCD providers at home, active partners of stakeholders, advocates for community concerns affecting children, and pillars of support for local and national ECCD programs through community organization efforts.
- Human Resource Development Program:
  - It establishes mechanisms for systematic professionalization of ECCD service providers through enrolment in educational programs in site-based or distance education modes.
  - It includes pre-service or in-service training, including continuing education programs.
  - It develops a registration and credential system in the ECCD System.
- ECCD Management:
  - It consists of continuing processes of planning, implementation, supervision, financial management, monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
  - It encourages active involvement and builds capabilities of service providers, parents, and local government officials to sustain the program.
The National ECCD System applies to all provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays determined by the ECCD Council to achieve universal ECCD coverage for children age zero (0) to four (4) years under Section 6.

Implementing authority and operational structures

The implementation of the National ECCD System is the responsibility of the ECCD Council under Section 7.
ECCD Council responsibilities under Section 7(a) include:
- Establishing national standards.
- Developing policies and programs.
- Ensuring compliance with them.
- Providing technical assistance and support to ECCD service providers in consultation with coordinating committees at provincial, city, municipal and barangay levels.
Annual workshop coordination under Section 7(a) requires the DepED, DSWD, DOH, NNC, and ULAP to meet annually to prepare work and financial plans to coordinate technical assistance and support for the National ECCD Program.
The annual coordination must follow implementing guidelines for integrated service delivery, including:
- DepED recognizes the National ECCD Program as the foundation of the learning continuum and promotes it for all children age zero (0) to four (4) years.
- DepED, DSWD, DOH and NNC provide continuing professional development program support, supplementary learning materials, reference materials, and supplemental nutrition and health care services.
Local Government Unit responsibilities under Section 7(b):
- LGUs must include allocations from their Special Education Fund (SEF) and Gender and Development (GAD) Fund, in addition to other local funds, for:
  - Support the implementation of their ECCD Program.
  - Organize and support parent cooperatives to establish community-based ECCD programs.
  - Provide counterpart funds for continuing professional development of ECCD public service providers.
  - Provide facilities for conducting their ECCD Program.
Families and communities must support local ECCD programs through participation in community-based projects covering health, nutrition, social development and early childhood education for children age zero (0) to four (4) years under Section 7(c).

ECCD Council organization and functions

The ECCD Council must be strengthened to ensure the State’s focus on building a strong foundation for children’s development and learning in the early years age zero (0) to four (4) years, to support holistic development programs and to ensure sustained interagency and multisectoral collaboration under Section 8.
The ECCD Council is attached to the DepED under Section 8.
The ECCD Council is organized as follows under Section 9:
- ECCD Governing Board composed of:
  - Secretary of the DepED as ex officio Chairperson.
  - Executive Director of the ECCD Council as Vice Chairperson.
  - Secretary of the DSWD as member.
  - Secretary of the DOH as member.
  - Executive Director of the NNC as member.
  - President of the ULAP as member.
  - One private individual who is an ECCD practitioner and expert, appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Board as member.
- The Governing Board must meet once a month or upon the call of the Chairperson or three (3) members of the Board under Section 9.
- Council Secretariat:
  - An ECCD Council Secretariat led by an Executive Director.
  - The Secretariat provides support services for coordination and monitoring of implementation of council policies and plans, subject to the Compensation and Position Classification System and existing civil service rules and regulations under Section 9(b).
The ECCD Council’s functions under Section 10 include:
- Promulgating policies and implementing guidelines for ECCD programs in consultation with stakeholders, including regional level when appropriate, consistent with national policy and program frameworks in the Act.
- Establishing ECCD program standards reflecting developmentally appropriate practices and interfacing with the kindergarten curriculum of the DepED.
- Developing a national system for recruitment, registration, accreditation, continuing education, equivalency, and credentialing of ECCD service providers, supervisors and administrators.
- Developing a national system of awards and recognition for deserving ECCD program implementers and service providers.
- Promoting, encouraging and coordinating DepED, DSWD, DOH and NNC ECCD programs and monitoring delivery of services to ECCD beneficiaries nationwide.
- Evaluating and assessing the impact and outcome of ECCD programs nationwide through an effective information system.
- Developing a national system for early identification, screening and surveillance of young children age zero (0) to four (4) years.
- Developing support mechanisms that maximize public and private resources for ECCD program implementation, giving priority to needy and high-risk children from poor communities.
- Providing funds to poor and disadvantaged communities for establishment and expansion of public ECCD programs, improvement of physical facilities, and hiring of ECCD service providers.
- Promoting and encouraging private sector initiatives for establishing ECCD programs.
- Providing guidelines for solicitations from local and international civic organizations and requesting private foundations to supplement available resources.
- Performing other functions the ECCD Council deems necessary.

Financing, appropriations, reports, and rules

The initial implementation of the Act is charged against current year appropriations of DepED, DSWD, DOH and NNC under Section 11.
Continued implementation funding must be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) under Section 11.
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) must contribute PHP 500,000,000.00 per year for five (5) years from its gross income to fund:
- Establishment of National Child Development Centers, and
- Conversion of existing Day Care Centers into Child Development Centers in various LGUs,
  upon approval of the Act under Section 11.
The contribution must be directly remitted in four (4) quarterly installments to a special account of the ECCD Council under Section 11.
ECCD programs must be financed through a combination of public and private funds under Section 12.
All public ECCD program providers must prioritize children age zero (0) to four (4) years from families in greatest need who can least afford private ECCD programs under Section 12(a).
The DepED, DSWD and DOH must support the implementation of the National ECCD System by providing financial and technical support packages to ECCD programs under Section 12(a).
LGUs must be encouraged to support public ECCD programs in their localities, and additional funds may be generated from intergovernmental donors and government financial institutions to support public programs including the urban poor under Section 12(b).
An ECCD Program Contracting Scheme fund for accredited private providers at the community levels must be established under Section 12(b).
The ECCD Council must monitor fees and contributions collected for both public and private ECCD programs to ensure these are affordable and within reasonable limits under Section 12(c).
Families are encouraged to contribute their time and services to support ECCD programs under Section 12(c).
The ECCD Council must submit annual physical and financial reports to Congress at the close of each calendar year under Section 13.
The annual report must include a detailed account of proceedings and accomplishments during the year, recommendations to improve the National ECCD System, and ensuring achievement of universal coverage of ECCD benefits to all children age zero (0) to four (4) years within five (5) years under Section 13.
The ECCD Council must formulate and issue necessary implementing rules and regulations within sixty (60) days after the Act’s effectivity, in consultation with appropriate government agencies and nongovernment organizations under Section 14.

Repeal, separability, and application timeframe

Republic Act No. 8980 is repealed under Section 15.
All laws, decrees, executive orders, presidential proclamations, rules and regulations, or parts thereof that are contrary to or inconsistent with the Act are repealed or modified accordingly under Section 15.
If any portion of the Act is declared unconstitutional, other parts and provisions not affected must remain in full force and effect under Section 16.