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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
)
)
S E N A T 
S. B. No*1^54
23 m2A P3 59
received BY;
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT 
SYSTEM, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 6, 9, AND 11 OF 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10410, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "EARLY YEARS ACT 
OF 2013", AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 1, Article XIV of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the 
"State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all 
levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all."
In line with the Constitutional mandate, Republic Act No. 10410, or the Early 
Years Act of 2013, was enacted recognizing the age from zero (0) to eight (8) years 
as the first crucial stage of educational development and, thus, institutionalizing a 
National System for Early Childhood Care and Development that focuses on providing 
and implementing programs that provide for the basic holistic needs of young children 
to ensure their optimum growth and development.
The National Child Development Center (NCDC) is one of the key components 
of the National System for Early Childhood Care and Development and is the 
community-based flagship program of the Early Childhood Care and Development 
(ECCD) Council that serves as the venue for the implementation of ECCD activities, 
particularly the Early Learning Program and the Family Support Program. The NCDC's 
goals are to introduce best practices of the integrated early childhood care and 
development services to children aged zero (0) to four (4), to serve as a laboratory 
for conducting research and innovations about ECCD that will promote the continuing 
education and/or professionalizing of ECCD service providers, and to become the 
resource center for the community to enhance parenting skills and capabilities.


At the end of 2022, the ECCD Council has established 878 NCDCs nationwide 
representing a coverage of only 51 percent of all provinces, cities, and municipalities 
in the country. Such intervention is primarily financed by contributions of the Philippine 
Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to the ECCD Council as mandated by 
Section 11 of R.A. No. 10410, which have amounted to at least Php2.5 billion to date.
However, PAGCOR's mandatory contributions to the ECCD Council has ended 
last 2018 as the said provision provided that the transfers shall only be given for a 
period of five (5) years. The ECCD Council also reported that some of the funds for 
NCDCs were used for COVID-19 response in previous years.
Hence, it is clear that the extension of PAGCOR's contributions would enable 
the ECCD Council to fully accomplish its targets. In addition, the ECCD Council has 
proposed other amendments, particularly the creation of a Provincial Early Childhood 
Care and Development Office (PECCDO) in every province and the inclusion of the 
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the Governing Board of 
the ECCD Council to strengthen local government support and coordination towards 
the effective delivery of ECCD programs and services.
To fully realize the rights of Filipino children to be provided with early education, 
health care, nutrition, and social services, we earnestly seek the swift approval of this 
measure.
SONNY ANGARA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
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23 JRN24 P3S9
RECEIVLD BV.
SENATE
S. B. No. 1754
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT 
SYSTEM, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 6, 9, AND 11 OF 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10410, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "EARLY YEARS ACT 
OF 2013", AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Section 6 of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10410, or the Early Years Act
2 
of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
3 
"SEC. 6. Expanding the ECCD System. - The National ECCD System shall
4 
henceforth apply to all provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays as may
5 
be determined by the ECCD Council to achieve universal ECCD coverage for all
6 
children from age zero (0) to four (4) years.
7 
TO ENSURE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ECCD PROGRAMS AND
8 
PROJECTS IN ALL PROVINCES, PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS ARE
9 
ENCOURAGED TO CREATE A PROVINCIAL EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE
10 
AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE (PECCDO) TO ENSURE THE
11 
IMPLEMENTATION OF ECCD PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS OF THE
12 
PROVINCE."


1 
SEC. 2. Section 9 of Republic Act (R.A.) No. 10410, or the Early Years Act of
2 
2013, is amended to read as follows:
3 
"SEC. 9. Organization of the ECCD Council. - The ECCD Council shall be
4 
composed of the following.
5 
(a) ECCD Governing Board. - The ECCD Governing Board shall be
6 
composed of:
7 
(1) Secretary of the DepED, as ex officio Chairperson;
8 
(2) Executive Director of the ECCD Council, as Vice Chairperson;
9 
(3) Secretary of the DSWD, as member;
10 
(4) Secretary of the DOH, as member;
11 
(5) SECRETARY OF THE DILG, AS MEMBER;
12 
[(5)] (6) Executive Director of the NNC, as member;
13 
[^] (7) President of the ULAP, as member; and
14 
[(7)] (8) One (1) private individual who is an ECCD practitioner and
15 
expert shall be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the
16 
Board, as member.
17 
XXX
18 
(b) X X x"
19 
SEC. 3. Section 11 of R.A. No. 10410, or the Early Years Act of 2013, is
20 
amended to read as follows:
21 
"SEC. 11. Appropriations. - The amount needed [for the initial
22 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current-year's
23 
appropriations of the DepEd, the DSWD, the DOH and the NNC for the purpose.


1 
Thorcaftor, such sums-as may be necessary] for the continued implementation
2 
of this Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).
3 
In addition, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation shall
4 
contribute an amount of [Five hundred million pesos (-P500>0Q0,Q00.00)] ONE
5 
BILLION PESOS (Pl/000/000/000.00) per year for ANOTHER five (5)
6 
years from its gross income to fund the establishment of National Child
7 
Development Centers and the conversion of existing Day Care Centers into
8 
Child Development Centers in various LGUs upon approval of this Act. Said
9 
amount shall be directly remitted in four (4) quarterly installments to a special
10 
account of the ECCD Council."
11 
SEC. 4. Repealing Clause. - All other laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive
12 
orders, presidential proclamations, issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof
13 
which are contrary to or inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act are hereby
14 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
15 
SEC. 5. Elfectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
16 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,