• r 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
) 
) 
) 
COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 31 
·11 
MAY -5 P 5 :54 
Submitted jointly by the Committees on Education, Arts and Culture; Youth, Women and 
Family Relations; Finance; and Local Government on _----'-M-"-A-"-Y_~___'5____"'2.:..01:.!f ____ _ 
Re: Senate Bill No. 2 S 0 ~ 
Recommending its approval in substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 839, 1518, 2567, and 2613. 
Sponsor: Senator Angara. 
MR. PRESIDENT: 
The Committees on Education, Arts and Culture; Youth, Women and Family 
Relations; Finance; and Local Government, to which were referred Senate Bill No. 839, 
introduced by Senator Ejercito Estrada, entitled: 
"AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMS FOR INDIGENT 
PRE-KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN" 
Senate Bill No. 1518, introduced by Senator Defensor Santiago, entitled: 
"AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM TO HELP IMPROVE THE PHILIPPINE 
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM BY PROVIDING GRANTS TO STATE EDUCATONAL 
INSTITUTIONS FOR THE INCLUSION OF AT LEAST ONE YEAR OF EARLY 
EDUCATION PRECEDING THE YEAR A CHILD ENTERS KINDERGARTEN" 


Senate Bill No. 2567, introduced by Senator Angara, entitled: 
"AN ACT 
RECOGNIZING THE EARLY YEARS FROM 0 TO 6 AS THE FIRST CYCLE OF 
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8980 FOR THIS 
PURPOSE, STRENGTHENING THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT 
COUNCIL, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES" 
and Senate Bill No. 2613, introduced by Senator Defensor Santiago, entitled: 
"AN ACT 
PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 
PRINCIPALS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT" 
have considered the same and have the honor to report them back to the Senate with the 
recommendation that the attached bill, Senate Bill No. 
2802 , prepared by the 
Committees, entitled: 
"AN ACT 
RECOGNIZING THE EARLY YEARS FROM ZERO (0) TO SIX (6) AS THE FIRST 
CYCLE OF EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND FOR THIS PURPOSE 
STRENGTHENING THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, 
RENAMING THE DAY CARE CENTER AS CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER, AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES" 
be approved in substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 839, 1518,2567, and 2613 with Senators 
Ejercito Estrada, Defensor Santiago and Angara as authors. 


f~ ~. ~"""" 
PIA S. C4.VETA 
Committee on Youth, 
men and Family Relations 
Member, Committees n Education, Arls and Culture; 
Finance; and Local Government 
R. M~COS, JR. 
Committee on L cal Government 
Member, Com {ttees on Education, Arts and Cufture; 
Youth, Women nd Family Relations; and Finance 
Chairpersons: 
tvt ~ 
EDGARDO J. ANGARA 
Committee on Education, Arts and Culture 
Member, Committees on Youth, Women and 
Family Relations; Finance; and Local Government 
Co m ee on Finance 
M m er, Committee on Education, Arts and Culture 
Vice-Chairpersons: 
MANNY B. VI LAR 
Committee on YO$' Women and Family Relations 
Member, Committ es on Education, Arts and Culture; 
Finance; and Loc Government 
-----
~::::::=s 
~~C;;':~A 
Committees on Education, Arts and Culture; 
and Youth, Women and Family Relations 
Member, Committees Finance; 
and Local Government 


FRANCIS "CHIZ" G. ESCUDERO 
Committees on Finance; and Local Government 
MIRIAM DEFENSOR SANTIAGO 
Committee on Finance 
Members: 
----~?2--L 
/ ""-
-:~~=,,~,-... ----
' 
/- ----
- ~----~- ---------------
~---~.:::;-;::::;; 
/' 
/;::'::::::::::;u~IGUEL F. ZUBIRI 
L~ 
Committees on Education, Arls and Culture; 
Youth, Women and Family Relations; Finance; 
and Local Government 
Commit! 
n Education, Arts and Culture; 
and Finance 
ONG REVILLA, JR. 
mmittees on Education, Arts and Culture; 
Finance; and Local Government 


/1t~7 
JOKER P. ARROYO 
Committees on Education, Arts and Culture; 
Finance; Local Govemment 
""-.:~ ANGILINAN 
cation, Arts and Culture; 
ommittees on Education, Arts and Culture; 
Youth, Women and Family Relations; 
and Local Government 
pAC) 
MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID 
Committees on Education, Arts and Culture; 
Youth, Women and Family Relations; Finance; 
and Local Government 
t./::::::~A III 
Committees on Education, Arts and Culture; 
and Finance 
~~ 
ANTONIO "SONNY" F. TRILLANES IV 
Committees on Education, Arts and Culture; 
Youth, Women and Family Relations; 
and Local Government 


JINGGOY EJERCITO-ESTRADA 
President Pro-Tempore 
Hon. JUAN PONCE EN RILE 
Senate President 
Senate of the Philippines 
Pasay City 
Ex-Officio Members: 
Minority Leader 
t ik\ 
VICENTE C/ SOTTO III 
Majority Leader~ 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 2802 
) 
) 
) 
'11 
MAY -5 P5 :54 
Prepared jointly by the Committees on Education, Arts and Culture; Youth, Women and 
Family Relations; Finance; and Local Government with Senators Ejercito Estrada, 
Defensor Santiago and Angara as authors 
AN ACT 
RECOGNIZING THE EARLY YEARS FROM ZERO (0) TO SIX (6) AS THE FIRST 
CYCLE 
OF 
EDUCATIONAL 
DEVELOPMENT 
AND 
FOR 
THIS 
PURPOSE 
STRENGTHENING THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT 
COUNCIL, RENAMING THE DAY CARE CENTER AS CHILD DEVELOPMENT 
CENTER, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. -
This Act shall be known as the Early Years Act 
2 
(EYA). 
3 
SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
4 
promote the rights of children to survival, development and special protection with full 
5 
recognition of the nature of childhood and its special needs; and to support parents in 
6 
their roles as primary caregivers and as their children's first teachers. 
7 
The State shall institutionalize a National System for Early Childhood Care and 
8 
Development (ECCD) that is comprehensive, integrative and sustainable, that involves 


2 
1 
multi-sectoral and inter-agency collaboration at the national and local levels among 
2 
government; among service providers, families and communities, and among the public 
3 
and private sectors, nongovernment organizations; professional associations, and 
4 
academic institutions. 
5 
This System shall promote the inclusion of children with special needs and 
6 
advocate respect for cultural and linguistic diversity. 
It shall be anchored on 
7 
complementary strategies for ECCD that include service delivery for children from 
8 
zero (0) 
to age six (6), educating parents and caregivers, encouraging the active 
9 
involvement of parents and communities in ECCD programs, raising awareness about 
10 
the important efforts that improve the quality of life for young children and families. 
11 
It shall also be the policy of the State to recognize the early years from zero (0) to 
12 
age six (6) as the first cycle of educational development. 
13 
SEC 3. Objectives. - The objectives of the National ECCD System are: 
14 
a) To achieve improved infant and 
child 
survival 
rates 
by ensuring that 
15 
adequate health and nutrition programs are accessible to young children and their 
16 
parents from 
the prenatal period throughout the early childhood years; 
17 
b) To enhance the physical, social, emotional, cognitive, psychological, spiritual 
18 
and language development of young children; 
19 
c) To 
enhance 
the 
role of parents 
and 
other caregivers as the primary 
20 
caregivers and educators of their children especially from zero (0) to six (6) years; 
21 
1.) To facilitate a smooth transition from care and education provided at home to 
22 
community or school-based setting and to kindergarten and primary school; 


3 
1 
2.) To enhance the capabilities of service providers and their supervisors to comply 
2 
with quality standards for various ECCD programs; 
3 
3.) To enhance and sustain the efforts of communities to promote ECCD programs 
4 
and ensure that special support is provided for poor, disadvantaged and linguistic 
5 
minority communities; 
6 
4.) To ensure that young children are adequately prepared for the formal learning 
7 
system and that both public and private schools are responsive to the development 
8 
needs of these children; 
9 
5.) To establish an efficient system for 
early 
identification, prevention, referral, 
10 
and intervention for giftedness and development disorders and disabilities in children 
11 
from zero (0) to six (6) years; and 
12 
6.) To improve the quality standards of public and private ECCD programs through, 
13 
but not limited to, a registration and credential system for ECCD service providers. 
14 
SEC 4. Definitions. - For purposes of this Act: 
15 
a) Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) System refers to the full range 
16 
of health, nutrition, early education and social development programs that provide for 
17 
the basic holistic needs of young children from zero (0) to age six (6), and to promote 
18 
their optimum growth and development. These programs include: 
19 
1) 
Center-based programs, such as the day care service established under 
20 
Republic Act No. 6972 hereinafter referred to as the child development service, public 
21 
and private pre-schools, kindergarten or school-based programs, community or church-
22 
based early childhood education programs initiated by non-government organizations 


4 
1 
or people's organizations, workplace-related child care and education programs, child 
2 
minding centers, health centers and stations; and 
3 
2) 
Home-based programs, such as the neighborhood-based play groups, 
4 
family child care programs, parent education and home visiting programs. 
5 
b) ECCD Service Providers include the various professionals, paraprofessionals, 
6 
and volunteer caregivers who are directly responsible for the care and 
education 
of 
7 
young 
children from zero (0) to six (6) years through the various center and home-
8 
based programs. They include, but are not limited to, day care workers hereinafter 
9 
referred to as child development workers, child development teachers, teacher-aiders, 
10 
rural health midwives, social workers, community health workers, barangay nutrition 
11 
scholars, parent effectiveness service volunteers, and family child care providers. 
12 
c) ECCD Curriculum refers to the age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate 
13 
educational objectives, programs of activities, organized learning 
experiences and 
14 
recommended learning 
materials for 
children that are implemented by service 
15 
providers 
through center and home-based programs. It shall consist of national 
16 
program goals 
and guidelines, instructional objectives, and content outlines 
17 
integrating local language, local learning experiences and indigenous learning 
18 
materials. 
19 
d) Parent Education refers to the various formal and alternative means of providing 
20 
parents with information, skills, and support systems to assist them in their roles as 
21 
their children's primary caregivers and educators. These include public and private 


5 
1 
parent education programs linked to center, home and media-based child care and 
2 
education programs. 
3 
SEC 5. System Framework and Components. - The ECCD System shall include 
4 
the following components: 
5 
a) ECCD Curriculum - which focuses on children's total development according to 
6 
their individual needs and socio-cultural background. It shall promote the delivery of 
7 
complementary and integrative services for health care, nutrition, early childhood 
8 
education, sanitation and cultural activities. It shall use the child's first language as 
9 
the medium of instruction. 
10 
b) Parent Education and Involvement, Advocacy, and Mobilization of Communities 
11 
- which harness and develop parents' strengths as providers of ECCD programs at 
12 
home, active partners of other stakeholders, advocates for community concerns that 
13 
affect children, and pillars of support for local and national ECCD programs through 
14 
community organization efforts. 
15 
c) Human Resource Development Program - which establishes mechanisms for 
16 
the systematic professionalization of ECCD service providers, through enrollment in 
17 
educational programs in site-based or distance education modes, through pre-service 
18 
or in-service training including continuing education programs, whereby a registration 
19 
and credential system shall be developed in the ECCD System. 
20 
d) ECCD Management -
which focuses on a continuing process of planning, 
21 
implementation, supervision, financial management, monitoring, evaluation and 
22 
reporting. 
It shall encourage the active involvement and build the capabilities 


6 
1 
of service 
providers, 
parents 
and local 
government 
officials to sustain 
the 
2 
program, and it shall be guided by the principles of decentralization as stipulated in 
3 
the Local Government Code of 1991 and the principles of shared governance in the 
4 
Governance of Basic Education Act of 2001. 
5 
e) Quality Standards and Accreditation - which ensures that each component in 
6 
the ECCD 
System 
complies with national quality standards to be established by 
7 
the ECCD Council linked to an accreditation process. 
8 
SEC 6. - Expanding the ECCD System. - The National ECCD System shall be 
9 
expanded to all provinces, cities/municipalities and barangays as may be determined 
10 
by the ECCD Council to achieve universal ECCD coverage for all children from zero (0) 
11 
to six (6) years over a five-year period. 
12 
SEC 7. - Implementing Arrangements and Operational Structures. -
The 
13 
implementation of the National ECCD System shall be the 
responsibility of the 
14 
ECCD Council. 
15 
a) Responsibilities of the ECCD Council 
The ECCD Council 
shall be 
16 
responsible for developing policies and programs, providing technical 
assistance 
17 
and 
support to the ECCD service providers, and monitoring of ECCD service benefits 
18 
and outcomes. 
19 
The Department of Education (DepED), the Department of Social Welfare and 
20 
Development (DSWD), the Department of Health (DOH), the National Nutrition Council 
21 
(NNC) and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) shall jointly prepare 


7 
1 
annual ECCD work plans that will coordinate their respective technical assistance and 
2 
support for the National ECCD System. 
3 
They shall consolidate existing program implementing guidelines that ensure 
4 
consistency in integrated service delivery within the National ECCD System. 
5 
1) The 
DepEd shall promote the 
National 
ECCD System in 
schools. 
6 
ECCD 
programs in public schools shall be the responsibility 
of their respective 
7 
school principal/school-head within the 
standards set forth in the National ECCD 
8 
System. It shall also make available existing facilities 
of public elementary 
schools 
9 
for ECCD classes. 
10 
2) Private pre-schools, NGO-initiated community, church, home, and 
11 
workplace-based service providers shall be registered by the ECCD Council. 
12 
These public and 
private ECCD service providers shall operate within 
the 
13 
standards set forth in the National ECCD system. 
14 
b) Responsibilities of Local Government Units - Local government units 
(LGUs) 
15 
shall be primarily responsible for: 
16 
1) 
Implementing the National ECCD System by providing basic public ECCD 
17 
programs; 
18 
2) 
Supporting the organization of parent 
cooperatives 
to initiate the 
19 
establishment of ECCD programs; 
20 
3) 
Ensuring that service providers of public ECCD programs under 
their 
21 
supervision shall be justly compensated, that adequate funds are available, and their 
22 
working 
conditions are conducive to fulfill national quality standards; and 


8 
1 
4) 
Providing funds for the training and continuing education of public ECCD 
2 
service providers. 
3 
c) 
Responsibilities of Families and 
Communities - The families and 
4 
communities shall support the local 
ECCD programs 
by participating in 
various 
5 
projects for the overall development of their children from zero (0) to six (6) years. 
6 
SEC 8. Strengthening of the ECCD Council. - The ECCD Council shall be 
7 
strengthened to ensure the State's focus on building a strong foundation for the 
8 
learning and development of children during the early years from zero (0) to six (6) 
9 
years and support the full range of health, nutrition, early education and social 
10 
development programs for the child's holistic development; and ensure sustained inter-
11 
agency and multi-sectoral collaboration. 
12 
Organization - The ECCD Council shall be composed of a Governing Board and 
13 
a Secretariat. The ECCD Governing Board shall be headed by a Chairman with the 
14 
salary grade and emoluments of a cabinet secretary to be appointed by the President. 
15 
a) Composition of the ECCD Governing Board. The following shall be members of 
16 
the ECCD Governing Board: 
17 
1) Department of Education (DepED) 
18 
2) Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 
19 
3) Department of Health (DOH) 
20 
4) National Nutrition Council (NNC) 
21 
5) Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) 


9 
1 
In addition one (1) private individual who is an ECCD practitioner and expert shall 
2 
be appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Board. 
3 
The heads of the concemed departments, agencies and institutions shall as 
4 
much as possible attend the meetings of the Board. 
In their absence they must 
5 
designate a permanent representative with a rank not lower than an Undersecretary or 
6 
its equivalent who may attend and participate at meetings of the Board. 
7 
The Board shall meet once a month or as often as necessary. 
8 
b) Council Secretariat -- There shall be established an ECCD Secretariat headed 
9 
by an executive director to be appointed by ttie President upon recommendation of the 
10 
Board. He/she shall have the rank, privileges, and emoluments of a Career Executive 
11 
Service Officer I. 
12 
Nothing herein shall prejudice any right vested prior to the enactment of this Act. 
. 13 
There shall be created two (2) permanent positions of Deputy Executive 
14 
Directors to be appointed by the Board, one of whom shall be concemed with ECCD 
15 
programs and activities and the other with general administrative services of the ECCD 
16 
Council. 
17 
The Executive Director and the Deputy Executive Directors shall be assisted by a 
18 
designated ECCD Focal Person from the DepED, DSWD, DOH, NNC and ULAP and 
19 
by technical staff as may be necessary to achieve the goals and objectives of the 
20 
National ECCD System. 


10 
1 
C) Functions of the 
ECCD 
Council -
The ECCD Council shall implement 
2 
the National Early Childhood Care and Development System and perform the following 
3 
functions: 
4 
1. Promulgate policies and implementing guidelines for ECCD programs in 
5 
consultation with stakeholders, including the regional level when appropriate, 
6 
consistent with the national policy and program frameworks as defined in this Act; 
7 
2. Establish ECCD program standards that reflect developmentally appropriate 
8 
and culturally relevant practices for ECCD programs, which shall interface with the 
9 
kindergarten and primary school curriculum of the DepED; 
10 
3. Develop a national system 
for the 
recruitment, 
registration, continuing 
11 
education 
and 
equivalency, and 
credential 
system of ECCD 
service 
12 
providers, supervisors and administrators to improve 
and 
professionalize 
the 
13 
ECCD sector and upgrade quality standards of public and private ECCD programs; 
14 
4. Develop 
a national system of awards 
and 
recognition 
to deserving 
15 
ECCD 
program implementers 
and 
service providers; 
16 
5. Promote, encourage and coordinate the various ECCD programs of the 
17 
DepED, DSWD, DOH and NNC and monitor the delivery of services to the ECCD 
18 
program beneficiaries nationwide; 
19 
6. Evaluate and assess the impact and outcome of various ECCD programs 
20 
nationwide through an effective' information system; 
21 
7. Develop and establish a national system 
for early identification, screening, 
22 
surveillance of early childhood disabilities, developmental problems, and giftedness; 


11 
1 
8. Develop and implement various support mechanisms that maximize 
the 
2 
public and private resources for implementing ECCO programs, 
giving 
priority 
to 
3 
the needy and high risk children from poor communities; 
4 
9. Provide funds to poor and disadvantaged communities for the establishment 
5 
and expansion of public ECCO programs, improvement of physical facilities 
and for 
6 
hiring of ECCO service providers; 
7 
10. Promote and encourage private sector initiatives for the establishment of 
8 
ECCO programs; 
9 
11. Provide guidelines for the conduct of solicitations and 
requests 
for 
10 
assistance from 
local and international civic organizations, private 
philanthropic 
11 
foundations to 
supplement available resources; and 
12 
12. Perform such other functions as the ECCO Council may deem necessary. 
13 
SEC 9. Financing ECCD Programs. - ECCO programs shall be financed through 
14 
a combination of public and private funds. All public ECCO program providers shall 
15 
prioritize children from zero (0) to six (6) years from families who are in greatest need 
16 
and who can least afford private ECCO programs. 
17 
a) The OepEO, OSWO, DOH, NNC and ULAP shall support the implementation of 
18 
the National ECCO System and shall include in their respective annual general 
19 
appropriation beginning the fiscal year following the approval of this Act the necessary 
20 
funding to achieve the goal of universal coverage of ECCO programs to all children 
21 
from zero (0) to six (6) years within a five year period and sustain the Program from 
22 
thereon. 


12 
1 
b) Public support for ECCD programs -
The government shall support public 
2 
ECCD programs that shall involve the LGUs, and funds from the national government 
3 
agencies for technical assistance and support. 
4 
Additional funds may be generated from intergovernmental donors and financial 
5 
institutions by the appropriate government agencies through the NEDA to support the 
6 
public programs in all municipalities including the urban poor. 
7 
There shall be established a fund for an ECCD Program Contracting Scheme 
8 
with accredited private providers at the community levels. 
9 
c) ECCD Council support for ECCD programs. The ECCD Council members shall 
10 
support ECCD programs through funds for technical assistance and support. 
11 
The DepED shall provide technical assistance and resources to support the 
12 
kindergarten program in the private schools; and the kindergarten program in child 
13 
development centers as may be deemed necessary by the ECCD Council; and the 
14 
early education component of ECCD programs for children aged zero (0) to four (4) 
15 
years, by providing teacher training, supplementary learning materials and reference 
16 
materials as may be deemed necessary by the ECCD Council. 
17 
The DSWD shall provide technical assistance and resources to support the child 
18 
care program, parent effectiveness 
service, child minding centers, family child care 
19 
and parent-child development programs that shall continue to be funded by the LGUs 
20 
for the construction of basic infrastructure, provision of facilities, materials and 
21 
equipment, compensation for the service providers. 


13 
1 
The DOH shall provide technical assistance and resources to support the health 
2 
care programs, growth monitoring and promotion, and supplemental nutrition programs 
3 
that shall continue to be funded by the LGUs. 
4 
The Work and Financial Plans of DepED, DSWD, DOH, NNC and ULAP shall be 
5 
coordinated with the ECCD Council. 
6 
d) Support for ECCD Programs - Support for ECCD programs can be solicited from 
7 
local and international civil organization and private philanthropic foundations to 
8 
supplement available resources. 
9 
Workplace-based or related ECCD programs shall be supported by corporations 
10 
and employees in the form of physical facilities and recurrent operating costs. The 
11 
operating costs incurred for employer or corporate-sponsored ECCD programs can be 
12 
deducted from taxable income. 
Provided, that the employer or corporation will not 
13 
charge user fees. 
14 
e) Costs to be shouldered by families - The Council shall monitor user fees and 
15 
contributions allowed for both public and private ECCD programs to ensure that these 
16 
are affordable and within reasonable limits. 
17 
User fees for public programs should be limited to monthly contributions intended 
18 
to subsidize recurrent costs. 
Parents are encouraged to contribute their time and 
19 
services especially to cases where they are unable to afford the regular contributions. 
20 
SEC 10. Appropriations. - For the implementation of this Act the amount of 
21 
Five Hundred Million Pesos (j'>500,000,000.00) per year for five (5) years is hereby 


• 
14 
1 
appropriated for the National ECCD Program of the ECCD Council effective upon 
2 
approval of this Act that shall be utilized to support the goal of achieving universal 
3 
ECCD coverage for all children from zero (0) to six (6) years. Said amount shall be 
4 
funded from the gross income of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation 
5 
and shall be directly remitted in four (4) quarterly installments to a special account of 
6 
the ECCD Council. 
7 
Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the operations of the Council 
8 
shall be included in the General Appropriations Act. 
9 
An initial annual appropriation in the amount of Five Hundred Million Pesos 
10 
(1'"500,000,000.00) shall be provided from to support the operations of the ECCD 
11 
Council upon approval of this Act. 
12 
Expenses for ECCD programs and technical support packages provided by the 
13 
DepED, DSWD, DOH and NNe shall be specified as separate line items in their 
14 
respective annual budgets in the General Appropriations Act. 
Their annual ECCD 
15 
workplans shall be the basis for these budgets. 
16 
SEC 11. 
Annual Report. - The ECCD Council shall, at the close of each 
17 
calendar year, submit an annual report to Congress, giving a detailed account of its 
18 
proceedings and accomplishments during the year and making recommendations for 
19 
the adoption of measures that will improve the National ECCD System and ensure 
20 
achievement of universal coverage of ECCD benefits to all children from zero (0) to six 
21 
(6) years within a five-year period. 


15 
1 
SEC 12. 
Separability Clause. -
If any provisions of this Act is declared 
2 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other 
3 
provision thereof. 
4 
SEC 13. 
Repealing Clause. - Pertinent provisions of all laws, decrees, 
5 
executive orders, presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof 
6 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or 
7 
modified according. 
8 
SEC 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Council in consultation 
9 
with appropriate government agencies and nongovernment organizations shall 
10 
formulate and issue the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this 
11 
Act within ninety (90) days after the effectivity of this Act. 
12 
SEC 15. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
13 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
14 
circulation. 
15 
Approved,