Republic Act No. 12199

This Act shall be known as the "Early Childhood Care and Development System Act".

It is hereby declared the policy of the State to safeguard and promote the right of every child to holistic well-being, growth, and dedicated care, reorganizing the age-appropriate stages of development. The State commits to creating nurturing environments for children that ensure a healthy and sustainable program for nutrition, age-appropriate development, and special protection will full recognition of the nature of childhood, as well as the necessity to provide developmentally appropriate experiences to address their needs. The State shall also support parents and parent-substitutes in their roles as primary caregivers and as their children's first teachers. Further, the State hereby recognizes the age from zero (0) to eight (8) years as the first crucial stage of educational development. Without limiting the primary right and duty of parents to rear their children, the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council shall be responsible for children below five (5) years of age, while the responsibility to help develop children in the formative years between age five (5) to eight (8) years shall be with the Department of Education (DepEd) consistent with Republic Act No. 10533 or the "Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013".

Towards this end, the State shall institutionalize an ECCD System, as defined in Section 4 of this Act, that is comprehensive, integrative, and sustainable, even during times of emergency, that involves multisectoral and interagency collaboration at the national and local levels in government; among the public and private sectors and non-government organizations (NGOs); and professional associations and academic institutions.

Pursuant to Republic Act No. 11650 or the "Instituting a Policy of Inclusion and Services for Learners with Disabilities in Support of Inclusive Education Act", the ECCD System shall promote the inclusion of children with disabilities, where they shall be accorded the services stipulated under the law and provided with reasonable accommodation and accessible environments, and advocate respect for cultural and linguistic diversity.

The ECCD System shall be anchored on complementary strategies that include service delivery for children below five (5) years of age, educating and training parents and parent-substitutes on responsible caregiving, encouraging the active involvement of parents and communities in ECCD programs, and raising awareness about the important efforts that improve the quality of life for young children and families.

The ECCD System shall pursue the following objectives:

As used in this Act:

The ECCD System shall be implemented in accordance with Philippine laws and regulations, and policies set forth by the ECCD Council. It shall include the delivery of complementary and integrated programs and services for good health, adequate nutrition, quality early childhood education, safety and security, responsive caregiving, opportunities for learning, well-being, sanitation, and cultural activities.

The ECCD System shall include the following components:

The ECCD System shall apply to all provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays to achieve universal ECCD access for all children below five (5) years of age.

The ECCD Council shall be strengthened to ensure the State's focus on building a strong foundation for the development and learning of children below five (5) years of age, to support the full range of health, nutrition, early childhood education, and social development programs for the child;s holistic development, and to sustained interagency and multisectoral collaboration.

The ECCD Council, which shall be attached to the DILG, shall be composed of the following:

The ECCD Council Secretariat, to be headed by an Executive Director, shall be organized to provide administrative and technical support services for the coordination and monitoring of the implementation of policies and plans formulated by the ECCD Council. The Executive Director shall be appointed by the President, upon the recommendation of the ECCD Council. The Executive Director shall have a fixed term of five (5) years, unless earlier removed for cause, and may be eligible for reappointment for another term. The Executive Director shall have the rank, privileges, and emoluments of an Executive Director V. The ECCD Council shall fix the staffing pattern of the Secretariat and determine the qualifications, functions, and compensation scheme for the positions to be created, subject to existing laws, rules, and regulations.

The ECCD Council shall carry out the objectives of the ECCD System by performing the following functions:

Every province, city, and municipality shall create an ECCD Office, and design and implement its own organizational structure and staffing pattern taking into consideration its service requirements and financial capability, subject to the standards and guidelines prescribed by the Civil Service Commission (CSC). The ECCD Office, which shall be under the administrative supervision of the local chief executive, shall manage the delivery of the programs and services under the ECCD System within its jurisdiction and its daily operations, including the supervision of CDTs and CDWs in the performance of their duties and responsibilities.

The ECCD Office shall closely collaborate with the local councils for the protection of children and local school boards to ensure the coordination and harmonization of plans, programs, and activities, and facilitate a seamless transition of children under five (5) years of age to a classroom setting, with the utmost welfare of the child as the paramount consideration.

The ECCD Office shall also require the CDTs and CDWs to coordinate with the barangay health workers and barangay nutrition scholars for the monitoring of the nutrition and health of children under five (5) years of age, and the delivery of ECCD programs and activities pertinent to nutrition and health, including the delivery of ECCD programs and services under various laws. The ECCD Office shall participate in the development of the local nutrition action plan and render technical support to the LGU and the NNC, and shall harmonize its local nutrition database with the national nutrition information system as provided under Section 6 of Republic Act No. 11037.

Professionalization of CDTs; National Competency Assessment of CDWs; Certification, Reskilling, and Upskilling of Incumbent CDWs; Scholarships for Continuing Education. - There shall be at least one (1) CDT and one (1) CDW for every CDC, and every province, city, and municipality shall create plantilla positions for CDTs and CDWs pursuant to Section 7(b)(5) of this Act.

The guidelines for the salary grades (SGs), eligibility and qualifications, and duties and responsibilities, among others, shall be issued by the local chief executive in consultation with and as approved by the CSC and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM): Provided, That the SGs shall not be lower than SG 11 for CDTs, SG 10 for CDWs with an associate degree, and SG 8 for other CDWs: Provided, further, That a CDT shall be a holder of any bachelor's degree, preferably with units in early childhood education, and has passed the Board Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (BLEPT): Provided, furthermore, That a CDW shall be a holder of at least an associate degree in early childhood education, at least a senior high school graduate and has passed the national competency assessment for CDWs, or a high school graduate who has finished two (2) years of tertiary education and has passed the same assessments by the TESDA for CDWs: Provided, finally, That a CDT r a CDW (a) must not have been convicted by final judgment of an offense or crime involving moral turpitude;

Incumbent CDW shall complete mandatory reskilling and upskilling training programs on ECCD or early childhood reskilling and upskilling training programs on ECCD or early childhood education to be provided by the ECCD Council, and pass a certification by the TESDA for CDWs.

The TESDA shall provide such assessment and certification free of charge.

The ECCD Council, in collaboration with the CHED or the TESDA, or both, shall ensure the availability of ECCD training programs across the country, the formulation of degree and associate programs in early childhood education, and the recognition of prior learning and credit transfer mechanisms.

Further, the ECCD Council, in collaboration with the CHED, shall develop a scholarship program for the continuing education of CDWs who shall complete their bachelor's degrees and be required to take the BLEPT within an agreed period of time. The scholars shall be required to fulfill an obligation to return service in the CDCs for such reasonable period as may be determined by the ECCD Council.

ECCD programs shall be financed through a combination of public and private funds. All public ECCD program providers shall prioritize children below five (5) years of age from families who are in greatest need and who can least afford private ECCD programs;

The DILG shall incorporate ECCD indicators into the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) assessment criteria under the social protection and sensitivity programs, health compliance and responsiveness, and programs for sustainable education, as provided under Section 7(c), (d), and (e) Republic Act No. 11292 or "The Seal of Good Local Governance Act of 2019", to promote and recognize LGUs commitment to ECCD. The DILG, together with the ECCD Council, shall jointly develop the indicators and formulate incentives and programs to support LGUs.

Partnership between the government and the private sector catering to the diverse needs of children below five (5) years of age shall be encouraged. Any donation from the private sector in favor of public CDCs for the provision of the necessary educational assistance, facilities, materials, and other appropriate support and related services for children below five (5) years of age shall be entitled to the benefits and incentives provided under Section 5 of Republic Act No, 8525 or the "Adopt-a-School Act of 1998", allowing an additional deduction from the gross income equivalent to fifty percent (50%) of such expenses. Valuation of assistance other than money shall be based on the acquisition cost of the property has already been used. They may also be entitled to the benefits of the firsth paragraph of Section 6 of Republic Act No. 8525.

The ECCD Council, at the close of each calendar year, shall submit annual physical and financial reports to Congress, giving a detailed amount of its proceedings and accomplishments during the year. On the fifth (5th) year of the implementation of this Act and every five (5) years thereafter, the ECCD Council shall conduct a mandatory review and submit a report to Congress with recommendations for the adoption of measures that will improve the ECCD System and ensure achievement of universal access of ECCD benefits to all children below five (5) years of age. In its report, the ECCD Council shall provide comprehensive information on the baseline data, targets, and the success indicators related to its implementation.

A Joint Congressional Oversight Committee (JCOC) is hereby created to oversee, monitor, and evaluate the implementation and impact of this Act. The JCOC shall be composed of six (6) members each from the Senate and the House of Representatives and shall include the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education and the Chairperson of the House Committee on Basic Education and Culture, as Co-Chairpersons; the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Local Government and the Chairperson of the House Committee on Local Government; the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality and the Chairperson of the House Committee on the Welfare of Children; the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education and the Chairperson of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education; the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance and the Chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations, and one (1) member each from the Minority of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Upon the effectivy of this Act, the DBM and the CSC are hereby mandated to review the qualification requirements for the current plantilla positions of Day Care Worker I (DCW I) and Day Care Worker II (DCW II), and revise such plantilla position titles and qualification standards to integrate the provisions of this Act including education, certification, experience, training, and eligibility, among others.

The amount needed for the initial implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the ECCD Council and other agencies concerned. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).

For LGUs, the same shall be charged against their respective local budgets.

Allocations from the Local Government Support Fund under the annual GAA shall include a line-item allocation to support the establishment of CDCs and the hiring of CDTs and CDWs, including addressing other human resource needs, in fourth (4th) and fifth (5th) class municipalities.

To enable LGUs to implement the provisions of this Act, the personal services limitations under Section 325(a) and 331(b) of Republic Act No. 7160 or the "Local Government Code of 1991" shall not be applicable to the expenses appropriated for the compensation of CDTs and CDWs.

The ECCD Council, in consultation with appropriate government agencies and relevant NGOs, shall formulate and issue the necessary rules and regulations within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act. The IRR issued pursuant to this section shall take effect thirty (3) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

If any part or provision of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in force and effect.

Republic Act No. 10410 or the "Early Years Act (EYA) of 2013" is hereby repealed. All references to Republic Act No. 10410 shall hereafter refer to this Act.

All other laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, administrative orders, rules, and regulations, issuances or parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

Notwithstanding the non-issuance of the IRR, this Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

| (SGD.) FRANCIS "CHIZ" G. ESCUDERO President of the Senate | (SGD.) FERDINAND MARTIN G. ROMUALDEZ Speaker of the House of Representatives |