Senator Win Gatchalian pressed the need to bridge persisting gaps in early childhood care and development (ECCD) to address the country’s education crisis.
The Second Congressional Commission on Education’s (EDCOM II) Final Report found that participation rates among three- to four-year-olds stand at 21%, with more than 4,600 barangays lacking a child development center. It also noted that the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Supplemental Feeding Program has yet to reach over 200,000 children.
To address these findings, Gatchalian called for the full and effective implementation of the Early Childhood Care and Development System Act (Republic Act No. 12199), which mandates local government units to deliver ECCD programs and services.
“The 2026 national budget puts a strong focus on early childhood care and development. We’ve set aside P2.46 billion under the Local Government Support Fund to upgrade daycare centers in fourth- and fifth-class municipalities into child development centers, and to hire more child development workers,” said Gatchalian, chair of the Senate Finance Committee.
The DSWD’s Supplementary Feeding Program, which covers three to five-year old children enrolled in Child Development Centers (CDCs) and Supervised Neighborhood Play (SNP), received P9.6 billion. The allocation will increase the number of feeding days from 120 to 180.
Pagpapatatag ng Early Childhood Care and Development Isinusulong ni Gatchalian
Isinusulong ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang pagtugon sa mga kakulangan sa early childhood care and development (ECCD) sa bansa, isang hakbang na aniya’y mahalaga sa pagsugpo sa krisis ng edukasyon sa bansa.
Ayon sa Final Report ng Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), lumalabas na 21% lamang ang participation rate ng mga batang nasa tatlo hanggang apat na taong gulang, at nasa 4,600 ang bilang ng mga baranggay na walang child development center. Dagdag pa ng Komisyon, 200,000 na bata pa ang hindi naaabot ng Supplementary Feeding Program ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Upang matugunan ang mga hamong ito, binigyang diin ng senador ang pangangailangan para sa ganap at epektibong pagpapatupad ng Early Childhood Care and Development System Act. Mandato ng naturang batas sa mga local government units ang paghahatid ng mga programa at serbisyong may kinalaman sa ECCD.
“Tinututukan ng 2026 national budget ang early childhood care and development. Naglaan tayo ng P2.46 bilyon sa ilalim ng Local Government Support Fund upang i-upgrade ang mga daycare centers ng fourth- at fifth-class municipalities bilang mga child development centers. Magagamit din natin ang pondong ito para sa hiring ng mga child development workers,” ani Gatchalian, Chairman ng Senate Committee on Finance.
Naglaan din ng P9.6 bilyon para sa Supplementary Feeding Program na saklaw ang mga tatlo hanggang limang taong gulang na mga batang naka-enroll sa mga Child Development Center (CDC) at Supervised Neighborhood Play (SNP). Sa taong ito, aabot na sa 180 araw ang dating 120 feeding days.
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Photo by Mark Cayabyab / OS WIN GATCHALIAN
