FIFTEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
,.",,1 
CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
Senate Bill No. 31 7 S 
Introduced by Senator Edgardo 1. Angara 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The highest drop out rates in our basic education system are due to the lack of support from 0 to 
6 years old, cited by experts as the most critical years of learning. Experts suggest that 50 percent of a 
person's ability to learn is developed at age 4, while learning pathways in the brain are formed from 0 
to 6 years. And yet, during this stage, our Filipino children are not reared and made ready to enter 
Grade 1. Instead, 1.2 million are in play centers not fit to prepare them for school while 2.5 million 
children of school age are not enrolled. 
Any efforts in improving the higher years of education is bound to fail if we do not build a 
strong foundation for the development and learning of our children. 
While children of middle and upper class families enjoy at least 1 or 2 years of education before 
entering primary school, the ordinary Filipino who could not afford to pay for pre-school begin 
schooling by Grade 1 when they are not school ready. On the other hand, the better-off send their 
young to private pre-schools. 
The Early Years Act seeks to remedy this flaw in our education system, making it a national 
responsibility to equalize opportunities available to Filipino children by refocusing the 49,712 day care 
centers in the 47,000 baranggays all over the country from a playroom to a learning center by 
rationalizing and restructuring the day care into an early childhood education center. 
In his veto message of Senate Bill 2802 or The Early Years Act, President Aquino cited efforts 
to streanlline bureaucracy, possible overlap in agency accountability, budgetary constraints, and fears 
of displacement ofbaranggay health workers under the new bill. 
Responding to these concerns, this amended bill contains the following changes: 
I. Recognizing the Early Years as the foundation of the learning continuum, it places the ECCD 
Council under the Department of Education as an attached agency, instead of the Office of the 
President or the Department of Social Welfare and Development 
2. On the possible overlap among agencies, the original arrangement provided by R.A. 8980 
since 2000 with the DepED, DSWD, DOH and NNe will remain similar under the new bilL 
Said agencies will annually meet to prepare the ECCD's work and financial plan to detail extent 
and scope of participation. 
3. As a state policy, the National Government will contribute P500 Million for every year for 
five years to ensure achievement of universal coverage of ECCD benefits to all children from 
zero (0) to age four (4), supported by Local Government Units (LGU) through their Special 
Education Funds. 


In line with bndgetary constraints, the bill in fact proposes to make use of existing 
infrastructures to save on govermnent expense. Further, said amount is a small price to pay in 
ensuring the readiness of the Filipino youth and lessening the drop out rates currently plaguing 
our students and achieving wliversal coverage of children from zero (0) to six (6) years. 
4. Further, there will be no displacement of existing daycare workers, but in fact a 
professionalization of those currently employed through professional development programs in 
line with the National ECCD System. 
For the following reasons, the swift approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
~/~ 
EDGARDO J. ANGARA 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
CONGRESS OF THE PHILlPI'INES ) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
Senate Bill No. 31 76 
Introduced by Senator Edgardo J. Angara 
AN ACT 
RECOGNIZING THE EARLY YEARS FROM ZERO (0) TO AGE FOUR (4) 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: 
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Early Years Act (EY A) of 
2 
2012". 
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4 
SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to promote 
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the rights of children to survival, development and special protection with full 
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recognition of the nature of childhood and as well as the need to provide developmentally 
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appropriate experiences to address their needs; and to support parents in their roles as 
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primary caregivers and as their children's first teachers. 
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10 
The State shall institutionalize a National System for Early Childhood Care and 
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Development (ECCD) that is comprehensive, integrative and sustainable, that involves 
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multi-sectoral and inter-agency collaboration at the national and local levels among 
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government; among service providers, families and communities, and among the public 
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and private sectors, nongovernment organizations; professional associations, and 
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academic institutions. 
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This System shall promote the inclusion of children with special needs, and advocate 
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respect for cultural and linguistic diversity. It shall be anchored on complementary 
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strategies for ECCD that include service delivery for children from zero (0) to age four 
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(4), educating parents and caregivers, encouraging the active involvement of parents and 
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communities in ECCD programs, raising awareness about the important efforts that 
22 
improve the quality of life for young children and families. 
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It shall also be the policy of the State to recognize the years from zero (0) to age four (4) 
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as the first crucial stage of educational development. 
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27 
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 adequate 
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health and nutrition programs are accessible to young children and their parents, 
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from the prenatal period throughout the early childhood years; 
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33 
b) To enhance the physical-motor, socio-emotional, cognitive, language, 
34 
psychological ;md spiritual development of young children; 
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c) To facilitate a smooth transition from care and education provided at home to 
2 
community or school-based setting and to Kindergarten; 
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d) To ensure that young children are adequately prepared for the formal learning 
5 
system that begins at Kindergarten; 
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e) To establish an efficient system for early identification, prevention, referral and 
8 
intervention for the wide range of children with special needs from zero (0) to age 
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four (4); 
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f) To upgrade and update the capabilities of service providers and their 
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supervisors to comply with quality standards for various ECCD programs; 
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g) To reinforce the role of parents and other caregivers as the primary caregivers 
15 
and educators of their children especially from zero (0) to age four (4); 
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h) To enhance and sustain the efforts of communities to promote ECCD programs 
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and ensure that special support is provided for poor, disadvantaged and linguistic 
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minority communities; and 
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i) To improve the quality standards of public and private ECCD programs 
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through, but not limited to, a registration and credential system for ECCD service 
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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 full range of 
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health, nutrition, early education and social services development programs that provide 
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for the basic holistic needs of young children from zero (0) to age four (4), and to 
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promote their optimum growth and development. 
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These programs shall include: 
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I) Center-based programs, such as the day care service established under 
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Republic Act No. 6972, hereinafter referred to as the child development service, 
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community or church-based early childhood education programs initiated by 
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nongovernment organizations or people's organizations, workplace-related child 
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care and education programs, child-minding centers, health centers and stations; 
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and; 
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2) Home-based programs, such as the neighborhood-based play groups, family 
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child care programs, parent education and home visiting programs. 
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b) ECCD Service Providers shall include the various professionals, paraprofessionals and 
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volunteer caregivers who are directly responsible for the care and education of young 
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children from zero (0) to age four (4) through the various center and home-based 
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programs. They include, but are not limited to, day care workers hereinafter referred to as 
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child development workers, child development teachers, teacher-aides, rural health 
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midwives, social workers, community health workers, barangay nutrition scholars, parent 
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effectiveness service volunteers, and family day care providers. 
SI 
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c) ECCD CutTiculum shall refer to the developmentally appropriate educational 
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objectives and practices, programs of activities, organized learning experiences, 
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recommended learning materials and appropriate assessment for children from zero (0) to 
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age four (4) that are implemented by service providers through center and home-based 
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programs. It shall consist of national program goals and guidelines, instructional 
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objectives, and content outlines that are age-appropriate, individually appropriate and 
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culturally-relevant. 
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d) Parent Education shall refer to the various formal and alternative means of providing 
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parents with information, skills, and support systems to assist them in their roles as their 
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children's primary caregivers and educators. These include public and private parent 
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education programs linked to center, home and media-based childcare and education 
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programs. 
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SEC 5. System Framework and Components. - The ECCD System shall ensure that the 
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National ECCD Program is implemented in accordance with quality standards for 
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accreditation and for this purpose there shall be established a National ECCD Monitoring 
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& Evaluation Framework. The ECCD System shall include the following components: 
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a) ECCD Curriculw11. - Focuses on children's total developme11t and takes into 
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account age, individual and socio-cultural appropriateness. It shall promote the 
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delivery of complementary and integrative services for health, nutrition, early 
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childhood education, sanitation and cultural activities. It shall use the child's first 
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language as the medium of instruction. 
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b) Parent Education and Involvement, Advocacy and Mobilization of 
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Communities. - Harness and develop parents' strengths as providers of ECCD 
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programs at home, as active partners of other stakeholders, as advocates for 
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community concerns that affect children, and as pillars of support for local and 
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national ECCD programs through commwlity organization efforts 
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c) Human Resource Development Program. - Establishes mechanisms for the 
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systematic professionalization of ECCD service providers, through enrolment in 
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educational programs in site-based or distance education modes, through pre-
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service or in-service training including continuing education programs, whereby a 
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registration and credential system shall be developed in the ECCD System. 
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d) ECCD Management. - Focuses on a continuing process of planning, 
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implementation, supervision, financial management, monitoring, evaluation and 
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reporting to persons concerned. It shall encourage the active involvement and 
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build the capabilities of service providers, parents and local government officials 
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to sustain the program. 
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SEC 6. Expanding the ECCD System. - The National ECCD System shall be expanded to 
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all provinces, cities/municipalities and barangays as may be determined by the ECCD 
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Council to achieve universal ECCD coverage for all children from zero (0) to age four 
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(4). 
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SEC 7. Implementing Arrangements and Operational Structures. - the implementation 
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of the National ECCD System shall be the responsibility of the ECCD Council. 
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a) Responsibilities of the ECCD Council. - The ECCD Council shall be 
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responsible for establishing national standards, developing policies and programs, 
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ensuring compliance thereot: providing teclmical assistance and support to the 
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ECCD service providers in consultation with coordinating committees at the 
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provincial, city/municipal and barangay levels. 
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The ECCD Council, The Department of Education (DepED), the Depaliment of 
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Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Health (DOl-I), the 
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National Nutrition Council (NNC) and the Union of Local Authorities of the 
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Philippines (ULAP) shall meet in an annual workshop to prepare work and 
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financial plans incorporating the financial and technical support of said entities as 
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referred to under Section 12 hereof. It shall consolidate the following existing 
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program implementing guidelines to ensure consistency in integrated service 
3 
delivery within the National ECCD System. 
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b) Responsibility of the DepED. - The DepED shall recognize the National ECCD 
6 
Program as the foundation of the learning continuum and shall promote it for all 
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children from zero (0) to age four (4). 
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c) Responsibilities of the DSWD. DOH, and NNC - The DSWD, DOH and NNC 
10 
shall 
provide 
continuing 
professional 
development 
program 
support, 
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supplementary learning materials, reference materials, supplemental nutrition and 
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health care services. 
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d) Responsibilities of Local Government Units. - Local government units (LGUs) 
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shall allocate not less than ten percent (10%) of their Special Education Fund in 
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addition to other local funds for the following purposes: 
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1) Support the implementation of their ECCD Program; 
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2) Organize and support parent cooperatives to establish community-based 
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ECCD progranls; 
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3) Provide counterpart funds for the continuing professional development 
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of their ECCD public service providers; and 
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4) Provide the facilities for the conduct of their ECCD Program. 
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e) Responsibilities of Families and Communities. - Families and communities 
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shall initiate establishment of various community-based projects such as but not 
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limited to health, nutrition, social development and early childhood education 
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projects for the overall development of their children from zero (0) to age four 
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(4), with the active assistance and technical support of the DSWD and the LGU 
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concerned. 
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SEC 8. Strengthening the ECCD Council. - The ECCD Council shall be strengthened to 
36 
ensure the State's focus on building a strong foundation for the development and learning 
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of children during the early years from zero (0) to age four (4), to support the full range 
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of health, nutrition, early education and social development programs for the child's 
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holistic development and ensure sustained inter-agency and multi-sectoral collaboration. 
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The Council shall be attached to the DepED. 
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SEC 9. Organization of the ECCD Council. - The ECCD Council shall be composed of: 
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a) ECCD Governing Board. - The ECCD Governing Board shall be composed of: 
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1) Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) as ex-oficio chairperson; 
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2) Director-General of the ECCD Council as vice chairperson; 
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3) Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); 
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4) Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH); 
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5) Executive Director National Nutrition Council (NNC); 
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6) President of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP); and 
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7) One (1) private individual who is an ECCD practitioner and expert shall be 
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appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Board. 
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The Board shall meet once a month or upon the call of the chairperson or three members 
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of the Board. 
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b) Council Secretariat. - There shall be established an ECCD Secretariat headed 
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by the Director-General who shall be its chief executive to be appointed by the 
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President. The Director-General shall have the rank, privileges and emoluments 
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of an Undersecretary. 
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The Director-General shall be assisted by two (2) permanent positions of Deputy 
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Director-General to be appointed by the Board, one of whom shall be responsible 
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for ECCD programs and activities and the other for general administrative and 
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financial services of the ECCD Council. 
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SEC. 10. Functions of the ECCD Council. - The ECCD Council shall carry out the 
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objectives of the National Early Childhood Care and Development System by performing 
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the following functions: 
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a) Promulgate policies and implementing guidelines for ECCD programs in 
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consultation with stakeholders, including the regional level when appropriate, 
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consistent with the national policy and program frameworks as defined in this 
26 
Act; 
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b) Establish ECCD program standards that reflect developmentally appropriate 
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practices for ECCD programs, which shall interface with the kindergarten 
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curriculum of the DepEd; 
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c) Develop a national system for the recruitment, registration, accreditation, 
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continuing education and equivalency, and credential system of ECCD service 
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providers, supervisors and administrators to improve and professionalize the 
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ECCD sector and upgrade quality standards of public and private ECCD 
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programs; 
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d) Develop a national system of awards and recognition to deserving ECCD 
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program implementers and service providers; 
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e) Promote, encourage and coordinate the various ECCD programs of the DepEd, 
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the DSWD, the DOH and the NNC, and monitor the delivery of services to the 
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ECCD program beneficiaries nationwide; 
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f) Evaluate and assess the impact and outcome of various ECCD programs 
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nationwide through an effective information system; 
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g) Develop a national system for early identi11cation, screening and surveillance 
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of young children from zero (0) to age four (4); 
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h) Develop various support mechanisms that maximize the public and private 
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resources for implementing ECCD programs, giving priority to the needy and 
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high-risk children from poor communities; 
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i) Provide funds to poor and disadvantaged communities for the establishment and 
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expansion of public ECCD programs, improvement of physical facilities and for 
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hiring of ECCD service providers; 
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j) Promote and encourage private sector initiatives for the establishment of ECCD 
2 
programs; 
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k) Provide guidelines for the conduct of solicitations from local and international 
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civic organizations, and requests and private foundations to supplement available 
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resources; and 
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1) Perform such other functions as the ECCD Council may deem necessary. 
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Sec.n. Financing ECCD Programs - ECCD programs shall be financed through a 
II 
combination of public and private funds. All public ECCD program providers shall 
12 
prioritize children from zero (0) to age four (4) from families who are in greatest need 
13 
and who can least afford private ECCD programs. 
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a) The DepEd, DSWD, DOH, NNC and ULAP shall support the implementation 
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of the National ECCD System and shall include in their respective arumal general 
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appropriation begilming the fiscal year following the approval of this Act the 
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necessary funding to achieve the goal of universal coverage of ECCD programs to 
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all children from zero (0) to age four (4) and sustain the Program from thereon. 
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b) Support for ECCD Programs - The government shall support public ECCD 
22 
programs that shall involve the LGUs, and funds from the national government 
23 
agencies for technical assistance and support. Additional funds may be generated 
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from intergovernmental donors and financial institutions by the appropriate 
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government agencies through the NEDA to support the public programs in all 
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municipalities including the urban poor. 
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There shall be established a fund for an ECCD Program Contracting Scheme with 
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accredited private providers at the community levels. 
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c) Fees and Contributions - Fees and contributions collected for both public and 
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private ECCD programs shall be monitored by the ECCD Council to ensure that 
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these are affordable and within reasonable limits. Families are encouraged to 
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volunteer their time and services to support the ECCD programs. 
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Sec. 12. Appropriations. - For the implementation of this Act the amount of Five 
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Hundred Million Pesos (Php 500,000,000.00) per year for five (5) years is hereby 
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appropriated [or the National ECCD Program, effective upon approval of this Act. Said 
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amount shall be funded from the gross income of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming 
40 
Corporation and shall be directly remitted in four (4) quarterly instalments to a special 
41 
account of the ECCD Council. 
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Funds for the operations of the Council as an attached agency of the DepEd shall be 
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included in the General Appropriations Act. 
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Financial and teclmical support packages provided by the DepEd, DSWD, DOH and 
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NNC for ECCD Programs shall be specified as separate line items in their respective 
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annual budgets in the General Appropriations Act. 
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Sec. 13. Annual Report. - The ECCD Council shall, at the close of each calendar year, 
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submit an arumal report to Congress, giving a detailed account of its proceedings and 
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accomplislnnents during the year, making recommendations for the adoption of measures 
53 
that will improve the National ECCD System and ensuring achievement of universal 
54 
coverage of ECCD benefits to all children from zero (0) to age four (4) within a period 
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of five (5) years. 
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SEC. 14. lmplementing Rules and Regulations. - The Council, in consultation with 
2 
appropriate govermnent agencies and nongovermnent organizations, shall formulate and 
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issue the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act within thirty 
4 
(30) days after the effectivity of this Act. 
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SEC. 15. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 8980, otherwise known as "An Act 
7 
Promulgating A Comprehensive Policy And A National System For Early Childhood 
8 
Care And Development (ECCD), Providing Funds Therefore And For Other Purposes" is 
9 
hereby repealed. Pertinent provisions of all laws, decrees, executive orders, presidential 
10 
proclamations, rules and regulations or pariS thereof contrary to or inconsistent with the 
II 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 16. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, 
14 
the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions hereof. 
IS 
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SEC. 17. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved. 
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