Senator Win Gatchalian lauded the Senate’s third and final reading approval of a bill that seeks to improve the quality and delivery of early childhood care and development (ECCD) services.
To achieve universal ECCD access to all children below five years old, the Early Childhood Care and Development Act (Senate Bill No. 2575), which Gatchalian sponsored and co-authored, expands the application of the National ECCD System to all provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays. The ECCD System covers the full range of health, nutrition, early childhood education, and social services development programs that provide for the basic holistic needs of children below five years of age and promote their optimum growth and development.
“Mahalagang reporma ang pagpapatatag sa ECCD dahil dito nakasalalay ang pagkakaroon ng matatag na pundasyon ng ating mga kabataan. Kailangang maabot natin ang bawat batang wala pang limang taon, tugunan ang kanilang mga pangangailangang pangkalusugan, at tiyakin ang kanilang kahandaang pumasok sa ating sistema ng edukasyon,” said Gatchalian, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.
The proposed measure mandates every city and municipality to create an ECCD Office, which shall be under the administrative supervision of the mayor. These offices shall manage the implementation of ECCD programs, including the supervision of child development teachers (CDTs) and child development workers (CDWs).
The Early Childhood Care and Development Act also seeks the professionalization of CDTs and the reskilling and upskilling of incumbent CDWs. Incumbent CDWs shall complete mandatory reskilling and upskilling training programs on ECCD or early childhood education and pass a certification by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), which shall provide the assessments and certifications free of charge. The TESDA shall provide such assessment and certification free of charge. The ECCD Council shall provide the reskilling and upskilling programs.
The bill strengthens the ECCD Council to ensure the State’s focus on building a strong foundation for the development and learning of children below five years of age. The ECCD Council shall be attached to the Department of the Interior and Local Government. The Secretaries of Education and of the Interior and Local Government shall serve as Co-Chairpersons of the ECCD Council’s Governing Board, while the ECCD Council Executive Director shall serve as Vice-Chairperson.
