Guidelines for EO 340 Day Care Services

Legal basis and policy rationale

The circular is promulgated to implement Executive Order No. 340, specifically Section 3 No. 1 thereof.
Executive Order No. 340 directs National Government Agencies and Government Owned and Controlled Corporations to provide day care services for under-five children of their employees.
The policy is that the State supports parents’ natural and primary right and duty in rearing children for civic efficiency, development and moral character.
The circular grounds day care in constitutional mandates on the role of youth in nation building and protection of children from abuse and exploitation, including the State’s duty to assist parents in child-rearing.
The circular treats the day care center as instituted for total development and protection of children under Republic Act 6972.
The circular anchors workplace employee welfare in the Administrative Code of 1987, requiring employee welfare to be integrated into an agency’s career and personnel development plan.
The day care center is treated as an employees’ benefit and welfare facility in the workplace, particularly in government entities.

Key definitions of program terms

“Children” are the children of employees who are below five years old.
“Day Care Service” is supplemental parental care for under-five children providing socially, mentally, psychologically and physically stimulating activities, serving as support for parents to concentrate on work while children are cared for.
Day Care Service must be made available from eight in the morning to five in the afternoon from Monday to Friday.
“Day Care Center” provides care for 3–5 years old children by an accredited day care worker.
“Child Minding” provides day care for two months to below 3 year old children, with a service provider-to-children ratio of 1:6.
Services of a nurse or midwife may be preferred for the two months to below 3 year old group to work with the day care worker.
“Workplace-Based Day Care Center” is a center located within the compound of the government office or building, and it may be shared by two or more government offices if functions and responsibilities in the maintenance and other operating expenses are clearly delineated.
“Employee Selected Day Care Center” is a center chosen by employees to provide day care for their children, including a barangay day care center near employees’ residences, based on a mutually agreed decision between employee and management.
“National Government Agencies” are government-funded agencies national in scope, including departments, councils, commissions, and their regional as well as local offices.
“Government Owned and Controlled Corporations” are institutions performing business functions created by special law with their own corporate charter.

Coverage, objectives, and service types

The guidelines govern the establishment and operation of workplace-based and employee-selected day care services for eligible employees’ under-five children under EO 340.
The service is directed to support parents’ child-rearing while parents are at work through day care arrangements.
For children, the objectives include providing proper care and nutrition to make them physically fit.
For children, the objectives include opportunities for intellectual, social, moral, spiritual, emotional and physical development in a safe and healthy venue toward positive child development.
For children, the objectives include developing strong socio-cultural and nationalistic values and positive attitudes toward the Almighty, self, family, community and society.
For children, the objectives include substitute parenting and protection from neglect, abuse and exploitation while parents are at work.
For parents, the objectives include enhancing productivity in the workplace by giving emotional security and confidence through appropriate care for children while parents work.
For parents, the objectives include providing enrichment activities on Early Childhood Care and Development through parent sessions and participation in day care center activities.
The program contemplates two service forms based on age grouping: day care centers (3–5 years old) and child minding centers (2 months to below 3 years old).

Establishing the day care service

The HRDS (Human Resource Development Service) or PDS (Personnel Development Service) or equivalent unit gathers data to determine the need for day care service, including an updated family profile and a survey on need and willingness to avail.
A project proposal with the requirements for establishing the center is presented by HRDS to top level management for approval.
Parent-employee counterpart arrangements (including food, children’s personal utensils and comfort kits) are spelled out in day care parents’ guidelines for implementation.
Where survey results show at least 5 children aged 2 months to less than 3 years old and parents are willing to bring children to the workplace-based center, a child minding center is provided aside from the day care center for 3–5 years old children.
Child minding and day care centers may be in the same room or building if appropriate dividers are used and specific work assignments are given to each group.

Selecting sites and required facilities

For workplace-based day care, the Administrative Officer together with HRDS/PDS identifies possible locations safeguarded for children’s health, safety and comfort.
A workplace-based day care center should be located preferably on the ground floor, and if not available, it must be properly secured to prevent children from falling.
The workplace-based center must be built on safe ground away from fire hazards and other dangerous and unhealthy surroundings.
The workplace-based center must have adequate space, facilities and furniture appropriate for children.
For employee selected centers, government employees may avail of barangay-based day care centers accredited by DSWD.
Where employee need exists, the government agency enters into a Memorandum of Agreement with the local government, with agency and employee-parent counterpart in the service stipulated in the agreement.
Both day care and child minding centers must have: toilet and washing facilities appropriate for children; potable water, electricity and proper ventilation; firefighting equipment/devices; an area for outdoor activities; and a shelf for first aid medicines and supplies out-of-reach of children.
Day care centers must additionally provide an indoor space with a minimum of four square meters to allow a minimum degree of movement per activity, with a slight smaller space preferred over a big one so children can touch one another in play.
Day care centers must provide a space or shelf for each child to contain personal belongings or items used in the center.
Child minding centers must additionally provide a minimum of one (1) square meter per child for independence of movement.
Child minding centers must have an area for food preparation and paraphernalia for babies’ feeding.
Child minding centers must have ample space encouraging parents to breastfeed babies or have meals together with children.

Staffing, training, and accreditation

Initial screening of day care workers is done by HRDS.
Applicants must be screened against the following criteria: age between 18–45 (single or married); at least two years of college education; good moral character; experience working with pre-school children; residence near the office; completion of training related to Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) or Early Child Communication; willingness to render full-time service; willingness to sign a contract to serve for at least 1 year and to continue based on satisfactory performance; and being physically and mentally fit.
The HRDS arranges and recommends the day care worker for training under the Municipal/City Social Welfare and Development Officer (M/CSWDO).
On-the-job training is conducted with the day care worker trainer at the nearest resource center.
The agency may tap DOH, DECS, and other NGOs for trainings for day care workers and for parents.
The HRDS requests accreditation from the DSWD-Field Office once the DCW has undergone training and handled sessions with children in the center.
The DSWD-FO conducts assessment and forwards the instruments to the Bureau of Child and Youth Welfare (BCYW).
The BCYW issues a Certificate of Accreditation if both the day care worker and the center meet the standards.

Operational rules and parent involvement

Top management is responsible to provide the allowance and salary of the DCW and the DCW-Assistant.
Top management must ensure the DCW is trained in ECD and accredited by the DSWD-Field Office.
Top management must provide a place that is safe and comfortable for children.
Parents must ensure children are bathed/cleaned before being brought to the center.
Parents must bring necessary items to the child minding center, including diapers/clothes, medicines, vitamins, nursing bottles, etc.
Parents must make an arrangement regarding food with the parents involved in the child minding center service (through the required coordination mentioned in the guidelines).
A Parents Committee is organized to assist in operating the day care center from among parents of children or volunteers from the agency.
The Parents Committee acts as a consultative and support group for the day care service.
The Parents Committee initiates preparation/production of program materials for activities in the center.
The Parents Committee sponsors provisions/materials needed for day-to-day child activities.
The Parents Committee orients other parents/employees on the day care service, including responsibilities and expectations.

Records and monitoring mechanisms

Centers keep Technical Records including: intake sheet; initial and semi-annual profile; parents’ consent; weekly program activity guide; day care session plan; child development checklist; initial and semi-annual health record; growth monitoring chart; and profile of day care children.
Centers keep Administrative Records including: memorandum of agreement; registration list/daily attendance; monthly financial statement; outgoing and incoming communications; certificate of accreditation; and inventory list of program materials and supplies.
Monitoring and evaluation of day care center implementation are conducted by DSWD-Field Offices.
Every six months, an updated list of accredited day care centers in the workplace is submitted to the BCYW/Central Office.
Technical assistance is provided by the DSWD-Field Office and BCYW to help government offices establish centers and maintain standards.
The BCYW conducts an audit to determine the extent of implementation of EO 340 and the effectiveness of the service to children.
The BCYW audit schedule is: six months after issuance of the IRR EO 340 for establishment of the service; one year after IRR issuance for accreditation of centers; and once a year thereafter for adherence to accreditation standards.
Accreditation must be renewed every three years or every change of day care worker, whichever comes first.

Program standards for facilities and materials

The centers apply basic principles in arranging toys and equipment focusing on health, comfort, beauty, friendliness in familiar things, curiosity and challenge in what is new.
The centers set specific areas for spiritual community and family-oriented activities, including parlor games, feeding, rest, storytelling, music, arts and crafts.
Appendices A & B provide illustrative floor plans for day care and child minding centers.
Day care centers must provide chairs and tables of proper height and proportion, with tables that can seat at least 6 children recommended for interaction, and chairs enabling children to relax and maintain good posture.
Child minding centers provide cribs for babies depending on number of babies accommodated.
High chairs for toddlers and walkers for infants are identified as most useful.
Suggested minimum program materials for day care include category-based materials for spiritual activities, playhouse/family life, community living, crafts and occupation, feeding, music appreciation, arts and craft, storytelling, and outdoor play equipment.
Suggested minimum program materials for child minding include age-appropriate toys and learning materials for motor/physical development, language development, social development, cognitive development, feeding, and family life/playhouse introduction.
Toys for child minding must not be too small (not less than 3 cm in diameter), must not have detachable parts that might choke children when put into the mouth, must not have sharp points or edges, and must be unbreakable and made of non-toxic materials.
Child minding feeding preparations include cups, saucers and plates; feeding bottles; sets of teaspoon and forks with blunt edges; glasses; thermos and hot water; and a gas stove for sterilizing bottles and boiling water.