FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
3206 
s. No. ______ ~ 
__ _ 
Prepared by the Committees on Education, Arts and Culture; Youth, Women 
and Family Relations; and Finance with Senators Angara, Cayetano (P.) and 
Drilon as author 
AN ACT 
RECOGNIZING THE EARLY YEARS FROM ZERO (0) TO AGE EIGHT (8) 
AS THE FIRST CRUCIAL STAGE OF EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 
STRENGTHENING THE EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT 
COUNCIL, AND 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: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Early Years Act 
2 
(EYA) of 2012". 
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 
5 
with full recognition of the nature of childhood and as well as the need to 
6 
provide developmentally appropriate experiences to address their needs; and 
7 
to support parents in their roles as primary caregivers and as their children's 
8 
first teachers. 
9 
The State shall institutionalize a National System for Early Childhood 
10 
Care and Development (ECCD) that is comprehensive, integrative and 
11 
sustainable, that involves multi-sectoral and inter-agency collaboration at the 
12 
national and local levels among government; among service providers, 
13 
families and communities, and among the public and private sectors, 
1 


nongovernment organizations; professional associations, and academic 
2 
institutions. 
3 
This System shall promote the inclusion of children with special needs, 
4 
and advocate respect for cultural and linguistic diversity. It shall be anchored 
5 
on complementary strategies for ECCD that include service delivery for 
6 
children from zero (0) to age eight (8), educating parents and caregivers, 
7 
encouraging the active involvement of parents and communities in ECCD 
8 
programs, raising awareness about the important efforts that improve the 
9 
quality of life for young children and families. 
10 
It shall also be the policy of the State to recognize the years from zero 
11 
(0) to age eight (8) as the first crucial stage of educational development of 
12 
which the years from zero (0) to age four (4) shall be the responsibility of the 
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ECCD Council. 
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SEC. 3. Objectives. - The objectives of the National ECCD System are: 
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a) To achieve improved infant and child survival rates by ensuring that 
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adequate health and nutrition programs and services are accessible to 
17 
infants and young children and their parents, from the prenatal period 
18 
and throughout the early childhood years; 
19 
b) 
To 
enhance the 
physical-motor, 
socio-emotional, 
cognitive, 
20 
language, psychological and spiritual development of young children; 
21 
c) To facilitate a smooth transition from care and education provided at 
22 
home to community or school-based setting and to Kindergarten; 
23 
d) To ensure that young children are adequately prepared for 
24 
the formal learning system that begins at Kindergarten; 
2 


e) To establish an efficient system for early identification, prevention, 
2 
referral and intervention for the wide range of children with special 
3 
needs from zero (0) to age four (4); 
4 
f) To upgrade and update the capabilities of service providers and their 
5 
supervisors to comply with quality standards for various ECCD 
6 
programs; 
7 
g) To reinforce the role of parents and other caregivers as the primary 
8 
caregivers and educators of their children especially from zero (0) to 
9 
age four (4); 
10 
h) To enhance and sustain the efforts of communities to promote 
11 
ECCD programs and ensure that special support is provided for the 
12 
poor, disadvantaged, and linguistic minority communities, migrant 
13 
families and children with special needs to include those with 
14 
disabilities and giftedness; 
IS 
i) To improve the quality standards of public and private ECCD 
16 
programs through, but not limited to, a registration and credential 
17 
system for ECCD service providers and facilities. 
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SEC. 4. Definitions. - For purposes of this Act; 
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a) Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) System shall refer to the 
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full range of health, nutrition, early education and social services development 
21 
programs that provide for the basic holistic needs of young children from zero 
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(0) to age four (4), and to promote their optimum growth and development. 
23 
'These programs shall include: 
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1) Center-based programs, such as the day care service established 
25 
under Republic Act No. 6972, hereinafter referred to as the child 
3 


development service, community or church-based early childhood 
2 
education programs initiated by nongovernment organizations or 
3 
people's organizations, workplace-related child care and education 
4 
programs, child-minding centers, health centers and stations; and; 
5 
2) Home-based programs, such as the neighborhood-based play 
6 
groups, family child care programs, parent education and home visiting 
7 
programs. 
8 
b) 
ECCD Service Providers shall include the various professionals, 
9 
paraprofessionals and volunteer caregivers who are directly responsible for 
10 
the care and education of young children from zero (0) to age four (4) through 
11 
the various center and home-based programs. They include, but are not 
12 
limited to, day care workers hereinafter referred to as child development 
13 
workers, child development teachers, teacher-aides, rural health midwives, 
14 
social workers, community health workers, barangay nutrition scholars, parent 
15 
effectiveness service volunteers, and family day care providers. 
16 
c) 
ECCD Curriculum shall refer to the developmentally appropriate 
17 
educational objectives and practices, programs of activities, organized 
18 
learning experiences, recommended learning materials and appropriate 
19 
assessment for children from zero (0) to age four (4) that are implemented by 
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service providers through center and home-based programs. It shall consist of 
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national program goals and guidelines, instructional objectives, and content 
22 
outlines that are age-appropriate, individually appropriate and culturally-
23 
relevant. 
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d) Parent Education shall refer to the various formal and alternative means of 
25 
providing parents with information, skills, and support systems to assist them 
4 


in their roles as their children's primary caregivers and educators. These 
2 
include public and private parent education programs linked to center, home 
3 
and media-based childcare and education programs. 
4 
SEC. 5. System Framework and Components. - The ECCO System shall 
5 
ensure that the National ECCO Program is implemented in accordance with 
6 
quality standards for accreditation and for this purpose there shall be 
7 
established a National ECCO Monitoring & Evaluation Framework. The ECCO 
8 
System shall include the following components: 
9 
a) ECCO Curriculum. - Focuses on children's total development and 
10 
takes into account age, individual and socio-cultural appropriateness. It 
11 
shall promote the delivery of complementary and integrative services 
12 
for health, nutrition, early childhood education, sanitation and cultural 
13 
activities. It shall use the child's first language as the medium of 
14 
instruction. 
15 
b) Parent Education and Involvement, Advocacy and Mobilization of 
16 
Communities and Local Govemment Units. - Harness and develop 
17 
parents' strengths as providers of ECCO programs at home, as active 
18 
partners of other stakeholders, as advocates for community and LGU 
19 
concerns that affect children, and as pillars of support for local and 
20 
national ECCO programs through community organization efforts 
21 
c) Human Resource Development Program. - Establishes mechanisms 
22 
for the systematic professionalization of ECCO service Jaroviders, 
23 
through enrolment in educational programs in site-based or distance 
24 
education modes, through pre-service or in-service training including 
5 


1 . 
continuing education programs, whereby a registration and credential 
2 
system shall be developed in the ECCD System. 
3 
d) ECCD Management. - Focuses on a continuing process of planning, 
4 
implementation, 
supervision, 
financial 
management, 
monitoring, 
5 
evaluation and reporting to persons concerned. It shall encourage the 
6 
active involvement and build the capabilities of service providers, 
7 
parents and local government officials to sustain the program. 
8 
SEC. 6. Expanding the ECCD System. - The National ECCO System shall be 
9 
expanded to all provinces, cities/municipalities and barangays as may be 
10 
determined by the ECCO Council to achieve universal ECCO coverage for all 
11 
children from zero (0) to age four (4). 
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SEC. 7. Implementing Arrangements and Operational Structures. -
the 
13 
implementation of the National ECCO 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 establishing national standards, developing pOlicies and 
17 
programs, ensuring compliance thereof, providing technical assistance 
18 
and support to the ECCD service providers in consultation with 
19 
coordinating committees at the provincial, city/municipal and barangay 
20 
levels. 
21 
The ECCD Council, The Department of Education (DepEO), the 
22 
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWO), the 
23 
Department of Health (DOH), the National Nutrition Council (NNC) and 
24 
the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) shall meet in 
25 
an annual workshop to prepare work and financial plans incorporating 
6 


the financial and technical support of said entities as referred to under 
2 
Section 12 hereof. It shall consolidate the following existing program 
3 
implementing guidelines to ensure consistency in integrated service 
4 
delivery within the National ECCD System. 
5 
b) Responsibility of the DepED. - The DepED shall recognize the 
6 
National ECCD Program as the foundation of the learning continuum 
7 
and shall promote it for all children from zero (0) to age four (4). 
8 
c) Responsibilities of the DSWD, DOH, and NNe. - The DSWD, DOH 
9 
and NNC shall provide continuing professional development program 
10 
support, 
supplementary learning 
materials, 
reference 
materials, 
11 
supplemental nutrition and health care services. A program support 
12 
plan shall be fully implemented by the above mentioned agencies 
13 
within two (2) years from effectivity of this Act, and thereafter 
14 
mainstreamed as regular program support to the National ECCD 
15 
System. 
16 
d) Responsibilities of Local Government Units. -
Local Government 
17 
Units (LGUs) shall support the National ECCD System through the 
18 
following: 
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1) Ensure the implementation of their ECCD Program; 
20 
2) Organize and support parent cooperatives to establish 
21 
community-based ECCD programs; 
22 
3) Provide counterpart funds for the continuing professional 
23 
development of their ECCD public service providers; and 
24 
4) Provide the facilities for the conduct of their ECCD Program. 
7 


For this purpose, the LGUs shall allocate a portion of their Special 
2 
Education Fund (SEF) and/or a portion of their Twenty Percent (20%) 
3 
Development Fund in addition to other local funds. 
4 
e) Responsibilities of Families and Communities. - Families and 
5 
communities shall initiate establishment of various community-based 
6 
projects such as but not limited to health, nutrition, social development 
7 
and early childhood education projects for the overall development of 
8 
their children from zero (0) to age four (4), with the active assistance 
9 
and technical support of the DSWD and the LGU concerned. 
10 
SEC. 8. Strengthening the ECCD Council. - The ECCD Council shall be 
11 
strengthened to ensure the State's focus on building a strong foundation for 
12 
the development and learning of children during the early years from zero (0) 
13 
to age four (4), to support the full range of health, nutrition, early education 
14 
and social development programs for the child's holistic development and 
15 
ensure sustained inter-agency and multi-sectoral collaboration. The Council 
16 
shall be attached to the DepEd. 
17 
SEC. 9. Organization of the ECCD Council. - The ECCD Council shall be 
18 
composed of: 
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a) ECCD Governing Board. - The ECCD Governing Board shall be composed 
20 
of: 
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1) Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) as Ex-Oficio 
22 
Chairperson; 
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2) Director-General of the ECCD Council as Vice Chairperson; 
24 
3) Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development 
25 
(DSWD); 
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1 
4) Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH); 
2 
5) Executive Director National Nutrition Council (NNC); 
3 
6) President of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP); 
4 
and 
5 
7) One (1) private individual who is an ECCD practitioner and expert 
6 
shall be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the 
.7 
Board. 
8 
The Board shall meet once a month or upon the call of the chairperson or 
9 
three members of the Board. 
10 
b) CouncIl Secretariat. -
There shall be established an ECCD 
11 
Secretariat headed by the Director-General who shall be its chief 
12 
executive to be appointed by the President. The Director-General shall 
13 
have the rank, privileges and emoluments of an Undersecretary. 
14 
The Director-General shall be assisted by two (2) permanent positions 
15 
of Deputy Director-General to be appointed by the Board, one of whom 
16 
shall be responsible for ECCD programs and activities and the other for 
17 
general administrative and financial services of the ECCD Council. 
18 
SEC. 10. Functions ofthe ECCD Council. - The ECCD Council shall carry out 
19 
the objectives of the National Early Childhood Care and Development System 
20 
by performing the following functions: 
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a) Promulgate poliCies and implementing guidelines for ECCD 
22 
programs in 
consultation with stakeholders, including the regional 
23 
level when appropriate, consistent with the national policy and program 
24 
frameworks as defined in this Act; 
9 


· . 
b) Establish ECCD program standards that reflect developmentally 
2 
appropriate practices for ECCD programs, which shall interface with 
3 
the kindergarten curriculum of the DepEd; 
4 
c) Develop a national system for the recruitment, registration, 
S 
accreditation, continuing education and equivalency, and credential 
6 
system of ECCD service providers, supervisors and administrators to 
7 
improve and professionalize the ECCD sector and upgrade quality 
8 
standards of public and private ECCD programs; 
9 
d) Develop a national system of awards and recognition to deserving 
10 
ECCD program implementers and service providers; 
11 
e) Promote, encourage and coordinate the various ECCD programs of 
12 
the DepEd, the DSWD, the DOH and the NNC, and monitor the 
13 
delivery of services to the ECCD program beneficiaries nationwide; 
14 
f) Evaluate and assess the impact and outcome of various ECCD 
IS 
programs nationwide through an effective information system; 
16 
g) Develop a national system for early identification, screening and 
17 
surveillance of young children from zero (0) to age four (4); 
18 
h) Develop various support mechanisms that maximize the public and 
19 
private resources for implementing ECCD programs, giving priority to 
20 
the needy and at-risk children from poor communities and migrant 
21 
families; 
22 
i) Provide funds to poor and disadvantaged communities for the 
23 
establishment and expansion of public ECCD programs, improvement 
24 
of physical facilities and for hiring of ECCD service providers; 
10 


· , 
j) 
Promote 
and 
encourage 
private 
sector 
initiatives 
for 
the 
2 
establishment of ECCD programs; 
3 
k) Provide guidelines for the conduct of solicitations from local and 
4 
international civic organizations, and requests and private foundations 
5 
to supplement available resources; and 
6 
I) Perform such other functions as the ECCD Council may deem 
7 
necessary. 
8 
Sec.11. Financing ECCO Programs - ECCD programs shall be financed 
9 
through a combination of public and private funds. All public ECCD program 
10 
providers shall prioritize children from zero (0) to age four (4) from families 
11 
who are in greatest need and who can least afford private ECCD programs. 
12 
a) The DepEd, DSWD, DOH, NNC and ULAP shall support the 
13 
implementation of the National ECCD System and shall include in their 
14 
respective annual general appropriation beginning the fiscal year 
15 
following the approval of this Act the necessary funding to achieve the 
16 
goal of universal coverage of ECCD programs to all children from zero 
17 
(0) to age four (4) and sustain the Program from thereon. 
18 
b) Support for ECCO Programs - The government shall support public 
19 
ECCD programs that shall involve the LGUs, and funds from the 
20 
national government agencies for technical assistance and support. 
21 
Additional funds may be generated from intergovernmental donors and 
22 
financial institutions by the appropriate government agencies through 
23 
the NEDA to support the public programs in all municipalities including 
24 
the urban poor. 
11 


· ' 
There shall be established a fund for an ECCD Program Contracting 
2 
Scheme with accredited private providers at the community levels. 
3 
c) Fees and Contributions - Fees and contributions collected for both 
4 
public and private ECCD programs shall be monitored by the ECCD 
5 
Council to ensure that these are affordable and within reasonable 
6 
limits. Families are encouraged to volunteer their time and services to 
7 
support the ECCD programs. 
8 
Sec. 12. Appropriations. - For the implementation of this Act the amount of 
9 
Five Hundred Million Pesos (Php 500,000,000.00) per year for five (5) years is 
10 
hereby appropriated for the National ECCD Program, effective upon approval 
11 
of this Act. 
Said amount shall be funded from the gross income of the 
12 
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and shall be directly remitted 
13 
in four (4) quarterly instalments to a special account of the ECCD Council. 
14 
.Funds for the operations of the Council as an attached agency of the 
15 
DepEd shall be included in the General Appropriations Act. 
16 
Financial and technical support packages provided by the DepEd, DSWD, 
17 
DOH and NNC for ECCD Programs shall be specified as separate line items 
18 
in their respective annual budgets in the General Appropriations Act. 
19 
Sec. 13. Annual Report. - The ECCD Council shall, at the close of each 
20 
calendar year, submit an annual report to Congress, giving a detailed account 
21 
of its 
proceedings 
and 
accomplishments 
during 
the 
year, 
making 
22 
recommendations for the adoption of measures that will improve the National 
23 
ECCD System and ensuring achievement of universal coverage of ECCD 
24 
benefits to all children from zero (0) to age four (4) within a period of five (5) 
25 
years. 
12 


SEC. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Council, in consultation 
2 
with appropriate government agencies and nongovernment organizations, 
3 
shall formulate and issue the necessary rules and regulations for the 
4 
implementation of this Act within thirty (30) days after the effectivity of this Act 
5 
SEC. 15. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 8980, otherwise known as "An 
6 
Act Promulgating A Comprehensive Policy And A National System For Early 
7 
Childhood Care And Development (ECCD), Providing Funds Therefore And 
8 
For Other Purposes" is hereby repealed. Pertinent provisions of all laws, 
9 
decrees, executive orders, presidential proclamations, rules and regulations 
10 
or parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
11 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
12 
SEC. 16. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared 
13 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the 
14 
other provisions hereof. 
15 
SEC. 17. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
16 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of 
17 
general circulation. 
18 
Approved. 
13