Legal Mandate and Bases
- Presidential Decree No. 603 (The Child and Youth Welfare Code) requires that Day Care Service and other substitute parental arrangements be subjected to accreditation and licensing by the Department of Social Welfare.
- Republic Act No. 6972 (Barangay Level—Total Development and Protection of Children Act) requires the Department of Social Welfare and Development to formulate criteria for the selection, qualifications, training, and accreditation of barangay day care workers, and to set standards for implementing the child development and protection program.
- Executive Order No. 340 directs national government agencies and GOCCs to provide day care services for employees’ children under five years old, and tasks the DSWD to license and accredit the services, facilities, and day care workers.
Purpose and Rationale
- The order supports the important role of children in nation building and affirms children’s rights to survive, be protected, develop, and participate in their development.
- The order recognizes the need for protection and assistance to children and supports the development of day care as supplementary parental care.
- Day Care Service is for 0 to 5 year old children whose parents have difficulty fully taking care of children due to work or other reasons.
- The order establishes minimum standards and accreditation guidelines to ensure quality in delivering day care services through accreditation of Day Care Workers and Day Care Centers.
Key Definitions for Accreditation
- A Day Care Center (DCC) is a community or workplace facility where children 3 to 5 years old receive care during part of the day.
- A Day Care Worker (DCW) is a provider of substitute parental care and early childhood care and development activities for 3 to 5-year old children, trained and accredited for the purpose.
- Accreditation is the process of ensuring that minimum standards of day care services are met.
- An Accreditation Certificate is the recognition given to day care centers that have met the minimum standards set by the DSWD for day care center implementation.
- An Identification Card is given to day care workers who have been trained and have met the minimum standards set by the DSWD for day care service implementation.
- Authorized DCC/DCW Accreditors are the LGU Social Welfare Officers, volunteers, or selected government staff trained in Early Childhood Care and Development and in conducting accreditation assessment of DCC/DCW.
- Authorization to accredit is issued by Field Directors, is valid and renewable every three (3) years, and may be revoked for a cause.
Coverage and Applicability
- The following are subject to accreditation:
- DCCs run by LGUs, NGAs, GOCCs, POs, or NGOs that have a DSWD license.
- DCWs managing any of the DCCs covered above.
Accreditation Process and Outputs
- All requests for DCC/DCW accreditation assessment must be forwarded to the DSWD Field Offices.
- Assessment must include:
- Interviews with members of the parents committee.
- Records review covering technical, administrative, and program aspects.
- Observation of session.
- Assessment of DCC facilities and program materials.
- Accreditation outputs are issued after favorable assessment by authorized accreditors with supporting documents:
- Accreditation Certificates for DCCs and Identification Cards for DCWs are issued by DSWD Field Directors.
- Issuance is in accordance with the standard rating scheme.
- Accreditation validity depends on star rating:
- Five (5) star rating: accreditation is valid for five (5) years.
- Four (4) star rating: accreditation is valid for four (4) years.
- Three (3) star rating: accreditation is valid for three (3) years.
- For low ratings:
- For 2 stars and 1 star: accreditation certificates are not issued; the DCC/DCW is provided technical assistance until standards are met.
Roles: DSWD Central Office vs Field Offices
- DSWD Central Office—Standards Bureau must:
- Continue development/enrichment of standards.
- Ensure compliance through conduct of program audit and provision of technical assistance.
- Maintain national data on accredited DCC/DCW.
- DSWD Central Office—SWADI/CPDD must:
- Develop/review training.
- Design and conduct trainor’s training on ECD/ECCD.
- DSWD Field Offices, in coordination with PSWDOs/C/MSWDOs, must:
- Identify DCC accreditors based on set criteria and issue the corresponding authority.
- Monitor annual target conduct for accreditation of DCC/DCW.
- Review duly accomplished accreditation instruments submitted by authorized accreditors.
- Issue accreditation certificates to DCCs and IDs to DCWs.
- Oversee efficiency of the accreditation assessment and provide technical assistance to P/C/MSWDO.
- Submit updates and monitoring reports to the Standards Bureau.
Suspension and Revocation Grounds
- Accreditation may be suspended or revoked if:
- Children are being abused/exploited, neglected, and/or duly exposed to danger.
- The center is used for immoral purposes.
- There is repeated deviation from policies and procedures.
Accreditation Benefits for Day Care Workers
- Accreditation benefits for DCWs include:
- Eligibility to receive a monthly allowance from the LGUs.
- Participation in capability building activities of the DSWD.
- Access to national and international ECD networks.
- Invitation/recommendation for national and international conferences, consultations, or dialogues regarding ECD policies and services.
- Subsidy for program implementation when available.
Supersession and Separability
- The order supersedes DSWD issuances that are inconsistent with DSWD Department Order No. 11, s. 2000.