Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

15" CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3507

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Reps. SALVADOR H. ESCUDERO III, JUAN EDGARDO M. ANGARA
and THELMA Z. ALMARIO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is a commitment of the Government of the Philippines to achieve the universal
aspirations of all 192 United Nations member states for Education for All (EFA) and the
Millenium Development Goals by Year 2015. The six (6) internationally agreed EFA goals
aimed at meeting the learning needs of all children, youth and adults include the following: (1)
Expanding and improving comprehensive early childhood care and education, especially for the
most vulnerable and disadvantaged children and (2) ensuring that by 2015 all children,
particularly girls, children in difficult circumstances and those who belong to ethnic minorities,
have access to, and complete, free and compulsory primary education of good quality.

The Department of Education (DepEd) National EFA Committee identified the following
as one of six most critical tasks that will yield the desired educational outcomes by Year 2015:
To make expansion of Early Child Care and Development (ECCD) coverage yield more EFA
benefits.

In 2004, the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines Education Committee
suggested a model learning system consisting of the following five (5) cycles of educational
development:

No. I ~ Ages 0 to 6 : Foundation cycle
No. 2— Ages 6 to 12 : Elementary education cycle

No. 3 — Ages 12 to 18 : Secondary education cycle

No. 4 ~ Ages 18 to 24 : Higher education cycle

No. 5 ~ Ages 24 and above : Continuing education cycle

The Early Childhood Care and Development Council has been implementing a National
System for Early Childhood Care and Development that consists of a “full range of health,
nutrition, early education and social services programs that provide for the basic holistic needs of
young children from conception (0) to age six (6), and to promote their optimum growth and
development”. The “Early Childhood Care and Development Act of 2000” or R.A. 8980 must
be revisited and certain provisions amended for the purpose of strengthening the strategic role of
the ECCD Council in fostering a comprehensive, integrative and sustainable multi-sectoral and
inter-agency collaboration for early childhood care and development of the 0 to 6 years old
among national government agencies, local government units, non-governmental organizations,
families and communities; and among the private sectors, professional associations and academic
institutions.

The National Statistical Coordination Board projected a population of about 13 M for the
0 to 6 years old age group --- approximately 14% of the total country’s population of 95 M. But


in 2009, only 1 of every 4 or approximately 3,234,399 of this age group were provided early
childhood care and development in the country’s day care centers and in DepEd pre-schools.

It is during the early years from 0 to 6 when the leaming pathways to the brain (which is
the core on which all future learning is based) are formed. Yet nearly every country in the world
spends well under 10 percent of its education budget on the years when S0 percent of educational
development takes place.

This bill is introduced for the State to adopt a policy recognizing the early years from
conception (0) to age six (6) as the First Cycle of Educational Development and ai
provisions of R.A. 8980 on the basis of the experiences of its implementation since

In view of the foregoing. passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

(Lo eas

SALVADOR H. ESCUDERO III JUAN EDGARDO M. ANGARA
Representative Representative
1" District. Sorsogon Lone District. Aurora

cA
uur | Waar
THELATA Z. ALMARIO
Representative
2" District, Davao Oriental


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

15 CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3507

Introduced by Reps. SALVADOR H. ESCUDERO III, JUAN EDGARDO M. ANGARA
and THELMA Z. ALMARIO.

AN ACT
RECOGNIZING THE EARLY YEARS FROM 0 TO 6 YEARS OLD AS THE FIRST
CYCLE OF EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND FOR THIS PURPOSE
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8980, STRENGTHENING THE EARLY
CHILDHOOD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Be it enacted by Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title — This Act shall be known as the “Early Years Act of 2010.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy ~ It is hereby declared a policy of the State to promote the
rights of children to survival, development and special protection with full recognition of the
nature of childhood and its special needs; and to support parents in their roles as primary
caregivers and as their children’s first teachers. The State shall institutionalize a National
System for Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) that is comprehensive, integrative
and sustainable, that involves multi-sectoral and inter-agency collaboration at the national and
local levels among government, service providers, families and communities; and among the
public and private sectors, non-government organizations; professional associations, and
academic institutions. This System shall promote the inclusion of children with special needs
and advocate respect for cultural diversity. It shall be anchored on complementary strategies for
ECCD that include service delivery for children from conception to age six (6), educating
parents and caregivers, encouraging the active involvement of parents and communities in
ECCD programs, raising awareness about the important efforts that improve the quality of life
for young children and families. It is also the policy of the State to recognize the early years
from conception (0) to age six (6) as the first cycle of educational development during which
fifty percent (50%) of the child’s ability to learn is developed from which shall be formed the
main leaming pathways in the brain that shall be the basis for future learning.

SEC. 3. Objectives. — The objectives of the National ECCD System are:
a) To achieve improved infant and child survival rates by ensuring that adequate
health and nutrition programs are accessible to young children and their

parents from the prenatal period throughout the early childhood years:

b) To enhance the physical, social, emotional, cognitive, psychological, spiritual
and language development of young children;


©) To enhance the role of parents as the primary caregivers and educators of
their children especially from conception (0) to six (6) years;

qd

To facilitate a smooth transition from care and education provided at home to
community or school-based setting and to primary school;

©)

To enhance the capabilities of service providers and their supervisors to
comply with quality standards for various ECCD program

f) To enhance and sustain the efforts of communities to promote ECCD
programs and ensure that special support is provided for poor and
disadvantaged communitis

To ensure that young children are adequately prepared for the formal learning
system and that both public and private schools are responsive to the
development needs of these children;

g

hy

To establish an efficient system for early identification, prevention, referral
and intervention for giftedness and development disorders and disabilities in
children from conception (0) to six (6) years; and

i) To improve the quality standards of public and private ECCD programs
through, but not limited to, a registration and credential system for ECCD
service providers.

SEC. 4. Definitions. — For purposes of this Act:

a) “Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) System” refers to the full
range of health, nutrition, early education and social services programs that
provide for the basic holistic needs of young children from conception (0) to
age six (6), and to promote their optimum growth and development. These
include:

1) Center-based programs, such as the day care service established under
R.A. 6972, public and private pre-schools, kindergartens or school-
based programs, community or churchObased early childhood
education programs initiated by non-government organizations or
people's organizations or people’s organizations, workplace-related
child care and education programs, child-minding centers, health
centers and stations; and

2

Home-based programs, such as the neighborhood-based play groups,
family day care programs, parent education and home visiting
programs.

b) “ECCD Service Providers” include the various _ professionals,
paraprofessionals, and volunteer caregivers who are directly responsible for
the care and education of children from conception (0) to six (6) years through
the various center and home-based programs. ‘They include but are not
limited to, day care workers, teachers, teacher-aiders, rural health midwives,
social workers, community health workers, barangay nutrition scholars, parent
effectiveness service-volunteers, child development workers, and family day
care providers.

°)

“ECCD Curriculum” refers to the age-appropriate and developmentally
appropriate educational objectives, programs of activities, organized learning
experiences and recommended learning materials for children that are


implemented by service providers through center and home-based programs
It shall consist of national program goals and guidelines, instructional
objectives, and content outlines integrating local learning experiences and
indigenous learning materials.

d) “Parent Education” refers to the various formal and alternative means of
providing parents with information, skills, and support systems to assist them
in their roles as their children’s primary caregivers and educators. These
include public and private parent education programs linked to center, home
and media-based child care and education programs.

SEC. 5. System Framework and Components. — The
following components:

ECCD System shall include the

a) ECCD Curriculum --- which focuses on children’s total development
according to their individual needs and socio-cultural background. It shall
promote the delivery of complementary and integrative services for health
care, nutrition, early childhood education, sanitation, and cultural activities.
It shall use the childs first language as the medium of instruction.

b) Parent Education and Involvement, Advocacy and Mobilization of
Communities --- which harness and develop parents’ strengths as providers
of ECCD programs at home, active partners of other stakeholders. advocates
for community concems that affect children, and pillars of support for local
and national ECCD programs through community organization efforts.

©) Human Resource Development Program --- which established mechanisms
for the systematic professionalization of ECCD service providers, through
enrollment in educational programs in site-based or distance education
modes, through pre-service or in-services training including continuing
education program, whereby a registration and credential system shall be
developed in the ECCD System.

d) ECCD Management --- which focuses on a continuing process of planning,
implementation, supervision, financial management, monitoring, evaluation
and reporting. It shall encourage the active involvement and build the
capabilities of service providers, parents and local government officials to
sustain the program, and it shall be guided by the principles of devolution as
stipulated in the Local Government Code of 1991 and the principle of shared
governance in the Governance of Basic Education Act (R.A. 9155) of 2001.

©) Quality Standards and Accreditation --- which ensures that each component
in the ECCD System complies with national quality standards established by
the ECCD Council linked to an accreditation process.

SEC. 6. Expanding the ECCD System. --- The National ECCD System shall be
expanded to all provinces, cities/municipalities and barangays as may be determined by the
ECCD Council in order to achieve universal coverage of all children from conception (0) to six
(6) years over a five-year period.

SEC. 7. Implementing Arrangements and Operational Structures. --- The implementation
of the National ECCD System shall be the joint responsibility of the ECCD Council and the local
government units, non-government organizations, and private organizations that are accredited to
deliver the services or to provide training and technical assistance.

a) Responsibilities of the ECCD Council — The ECCD Council shall be
responsible for developing policies and programs, providing technical


assistance and support to the ECDD service providers in consultation with
coordinating committees at the provincial, city/municipal and barangay levels
and monitoring of ECCD service benefits and outcomes. The Department of
Education (DepEd), the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD), the Department of Health (DOH), the National Nutrition Council
(NNC) and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) shall
jointly prepare annual ECCD work plans that will coordinate their respective
technical assistance and support for the National ECCD Program. ‘They shall
consolidate existing program implementing guidelines that ensure consistency
in integrated service delivery within the National ECCD System.

1) The DepEd shall promote the National ECCD Program in schools.
ECCD programs in public schools shall be under the joint
responsibility of their respective school principal/school-head and
parent-teachers associations (PTAs) within the standards set forth in
the National ECCD System and under the guidance of the
city/municipal ECCD Coordinating Committees for the effective and
equitable delivery of ECCD services. It shall also make available
existing facilities of public elementary schools for ECCD classes.

2) Private pre-schools shall be registered by the Council upon the
recommendation of the city/municipal ECCD Coordinating
Committees. NGO-initiated community, church, home, and
workplace-based service providers shall be registered by the Council
upon the recommendation of the city/municipal ECCD Coordinating
Committees. These public and private ECCD service providers shall
operate within the standards set forth in the National ECCD System
and under the guidance of the city/municipal Coordinating
Communities for the effective delivery of ECCD services.

b) Responsibilities of Local Government Units — Local government units
(LGUs) shall be primarily responsible for:

1) Implementing the National ECCD Program by providing basic public
ECCD services;

2) Supporting the organization of parent cooperatives to initiate the
establishment of ECCD programs;

3

Ensuring that service providers of public ECCD programs under their
supervision shall be justly compensated, that adequate funds are
available, and their working conditions are conducive to fulfill national
quality standards; and,

4

Providing counterpart funds for the training and continuing education
of ECCD public service providers, and supporting the operations of
provincial, city/municipal and barangay ECCD Coordinating
Committees.

©) Responsibilities of Families and Communities - The families and
communities shall support the local ECCD programs by participating in
various projects for the overall development of their children from conception
(0) to six (6) years.

SEC. 8. Strengthening the Early Childhood Care and Development Council. — To ensure
the State’s focus on building a strong foundation for the learning and development of children
during the early years from conception (0) to six (6) years; support the full range of health,


nutrition, early education and social services programs for the child’s holistic development; and
ensure sustained inter-agency and multi-sectoral collaboration among the provincial,
city/municipal and barangay ECCD Coordinating Committees, the Early Childhood Care and
Development Council is hereby strengthened.

a) Organization

b

c)

d

[he Early Childhood Care and Development Council shall be
composed of a Governing Board and a Secretariat. The ECCD Governing
Board shall be headed by a Chairman with the salary grade and emoluments
of a cabinet secretary to be appointed by the President.

Composition of the Governing Board --- The following shall be members of
the ECCD Governing Board:

1) Department of Education (DepEd)

2) Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
3) Department of Health (DOH)

4) National Nutrition Council (NNC)

5) Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP)

In addition, one (1) private individual who is an ECCD practitioner and expert
shall be appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Board who
shall serve for a term of two (2) years subject to one (1) reappointment,

‘The heads of the concerned departments, agencies and institutions shall as
much as possible attend the meetings of the Board. In their absence they must
designate a permanent representative with a rank not lower than an
undersecretary or its equivalent who may attend and participate at meetings of
the Board. The Board shall meet once a month or as ofien as necessary,

ECCD Secretariat - There shall be established an ECCD Secretariat headed
by an Executive Director who shall be appointed by the President upon
recommendation of the Board. He/she shall have the rank, privileges, and
emoluments of a Career Executive Service Officer I. There shall be created
two (2) permanent positions of Deputy Executive Director to be appointed by
the Board, one of whom shall be concemed with ECCD programs and
activities and the other with general administrative services of the ECCD
Council. The Executive Director and the Deputy Executive Directors shall be
assisted by senior technical staff to be seconded from the DepEd, DSWD,
DOH, NNC and ULAP who shall serve for a period of at least two (2) years,
subject to renewal and shall be entitled to whatever additional remuneration
the law allows for such secondment.

Functions --- The ECCD Council shall implement the National Early
Childhood Care and Development System and perform the following
functions:

1) Promulgate policies and implementing guidelines for ECCD programs
in consultation with stakeholders at various levels, including the
regional level when appropriate, consistent with the national policy
and program frameworks;

2) Establish ECCD program standards that reflect developmentally
appropriate and culturally relevant practices for ECCD programs,
which shall interface with the primary school curriculum of the
DepEd:


3) Develop a national system for the recruitment, registration, continuing
education and equivalency, and credential system of ECCD service
providers, supervisors and administrators to improve and
professionalize the ECCD sector and upgrade quality standards of
public and private ECCD programs;

4

Develop and implement a system of awards and recognition to
deserving ECCD program implementers and service providers:

2

Promote, encourage and coordinate the conduct of ECCD programs in
national government agencies and monitor the delivery of services to
the ECCD program beneficiaries;

6)

Evaluate and assess the impact and outcome of various ECCD
programs nationwide through an effective information system;

7

Develop and establish a national system for early identification,
screening, surveillance of early childhood disabilities. developmental
problems, and giftedness;

8

Develop and implement various support mechanisms that maximize
the public and private resources for implementing ECCD programs,
giving priority to the needy and high-risk children from poor
communities;

9

Provide counterpart funds to poor and disadvantaged communities for
the establishment and expansion of public ECCD programs,
improvement of physical facilities and for hiring of ECCD provid

10) Promote and encourage private sector initiatives for the establishment
of ECCD programs;

11) Provide guidelines for ECCD Coordinating Committees at the
provincial, city/municipal and barangay levels for the conduct of
solicitations and requests for assistance from local and international
civic organizations, private philanthropic foundations to supplement
available resources.

SEC. 9. Reconstituting the ECCD Coordinating Committees. ~ The ECCD coordinating
committees established at the provincial, city/municipal and barangay levels shall be
reconstituted and perform the following functions:

a) The Provincial ECCD Coordinating Committee shall be composed of the
provincial governor as chairperson and members representing the DepEd,
DSWD, DOH, NNC and ULAP. The Provincial ECCD Coordinating
Committee shall be under the Provincial Development Council and shall
perform functions similar to the ECCD Council as appropriate including other
functions that may be provided in the Implementing Rules and Regulations of
this Act. There shall be organized a secretariat to coordinate and monitor the
effective implementation of ECCD programs in the province. It shall be
headed by a provincial ECCD Officer. who shall be appointed by the
Governor, upon the recommendation of the Provincial ECCD Coordinating
Committee. He/she shall have a rank, privilege and emolument of a
Department Head. Such sums as may be necessary for the salaries,
allowances and other benefits of the Provincial ECCD Officer shall be
provided by the province.


b) The City/Municipal ECCD Coordinating Committees shall be composed of
the city/municipal mayor as chairperson and members representing the
DepEd, DSWD, DOH, NNC and ULAP. The city/municipal ECCD
Coordinating Committee shall be under the city/municipal development
council and shall perform functions similar to the ECCD Council as
appropriate including other functions that may be provided in the
Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act. There shall be organized a
secretariat to coordinate and monitor the effective implementation of ECCD
programs in the city/municipality. It shall be headed by the city/municipal
ECCD officer, who shall be appointed by the city/municipal mayor, upon
recommendation of the City/Municipal ECCD Coordinating Committee.

c

‘The Barangay ECCD Coordinating Committees shall be composed of the
Barangay Captain as chairperson and members representing the DepEd,
DSWD, DOH, NNC and ULAP. The barangay ECCD Coordinating
Committee shall be under the barangay development council and shall be
responsible for the proper and effective implementation of public ECCD
programs and maintenance of database system at the barangay level. ‘There
shall be organized a secretariat to coordinate and monitor the effective
implementation of ECCD programs in the barangay. It shall be headed by a
Barangay Councilor, who shall be appointed by the Barangay Captain, upon
recommendation of the Barangay ECCD Coordinating Committee.

SEC. 10. Financing ECCD Programs. — ECCD programs shall b ¢ financed through a
combination of public and private funds. All public ECCD providers shall prioritize children
from conception (0) to six (6) years from families who are in greatest need and who can least
afford private sector ECCD programs.

a) Public support for ECCD programs. ~ The government shall support public
ECCD programs through cost-sharing arrangements that shall involve the
LGUs, and counterpart funds from the national government agencies for
technical assistance and support. Additional funds may be generated from
intergovernmental donors and financial institutions by the appropriate
government agencies through the NEDA to support the public programs in all
municipalities including the urban poor. Funds shall be accessible to qualified
LGUs through the Municipal Development Fund or other financing
mechanisms as prescribed by the Department of Budget and Management
(DBM). The ECCD Council may establish a trust fund to assist LGUs in the
expansion and upgrading of ECCD programs.

‘There shall be established a fund for an ECCD Program Contracting Scheme
with accredited private providers at the community levels.

Primary health care programs, pre-natal and post-natal care, growth
monitoring and promotion, and supplementary nutrition programs. shall
continue to be funded through the LGUs with technical support and additional
resources from the DOH.

The DSWD shall provide technical assistance for the Day Care Program,
Parent Effectiveness Service, Child-Minding Centers, Family Day Care and
Parent-Child Development Programs that shall continue to be supported by
the LGUs in the form of construction of basic infrastructure, provision of
facilities, materials and equipment, compensation for service providers.

The kindergarten program in public and private schools and in day care
centers shall continue to be supported by the DepEd in cooperation with the
PTAs, where applicable, by providing teacher training, supplementary


leaming materials and reference materials including for the early education
component of the ECCD programs.

‘The DepEd. DSWD, DOH, NNC and ULAP shall support the implementation
of the National ECCD Program and shall include in their respective annual
general appropriations beginning the fiscal year following the approval of this
‘Act, the necessary funding to achieve the goal of universal coverage for all
children from conception (0) to six (6) years within a five-year period and
sustain the Program from thereon. The work and financial plans of the
DepEd, DSWD, DOH, NNC and ULAP shall be coordinated with the ECCD
Council.

b)

Support for ECCD Programs. ~ Support for ECCD programs can be solicited
from local and international civic organizations, and private philanthropic
foundations to supplement available resources.

Workplace-based or related ECCD programs shall be supported by
corporations and employees in the form of physical facilities and recurrent
operating costs. The operating costs incurred for employer or corporate~
sponsored ECCD programs can be deducted from taxable income and/or avail
of the tax benefits under the “Adopt-A-School” Law; provided that the
employer or corporation will not charge user fees.

c

Costs to be shouldered by Families. ~ The Council shall monitor user fees and
contributions allowed for both public and private programs to ensure that
these are affordable and within reasonable limits.

User fees for public programs should be limited to monthly contributions
intended to subsidize recurrent costs. Parents are encouraged to contribute
their time and services especially in cases where they are unable to afford the
regular contributions.

SEC. 11, Appropriations. ~ For the implementation of this Act the amount of Five
Hundred Million Pesos (PhpS00,000,000.00) per year for five (5) years is hereby appropriated
for the National ECCD Program of the ECCD Council effective upon approval of this Act that
shall be utilized to support the goal of achieving universal ECCD coverage for all children from
conception (0) to six (6) years. Said amount shall be funded from the gross income of the
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and shall be directly remitted in four (4)
quarterly installments to a special account of the ECCD Council. Thereafier, such sums as may
be necessary for the operations of the Council shall be included in the General Appropriations
Act.

An initial annual appropriation in the amount of One Hundred Million Pesos
(Php100,000,000.00) shall be provided to support the operations of the ECCD Council upon
approval of this Act.

Expenses for ECCD programs and technical support packages provided by the DepEd,
DSWD, DOH and NNC shall be specified as separate line items in their respective annual
budgets in the General Appropriations Act. Their annual ECCD workplans shall be the basis for
these budgets and shall be released directly to their regional or provincial offices whenever
applicable.

SEC. 12. Annual Report. — The Council shall, at the close of each calendar year, submit
an annual report to Congress, giving a detailed account of its proceedings and accomplishments
during the year and making recommendations for the adoption of measures that will improve the
National ECCD System and ensure achievements of universal ECCD coverage for all children
from conception (0) to six (6) years within a five-year period.


SEC. 13. Separability Clause. ~ If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional
the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of other provisions thereof.

SEC. 14. Repealing Clause. — Pertinent provisions of all laws, decrees, executive orders,
presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof contrary or inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Council in consultation with
appropriate government agencies and nongovemmment organizations shall formulate and issue the
necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act within ninety (90) days after
the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 16. Effectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation:

Approved,