It signals the nationwide implementation of early childhood care system.
On Wednesday, August 5, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla joined forces for a new law.
The two officials led the signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 12199, or the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) System Act.
Held at the the Quezon City Reception House, also present were members of the legislative and executive branches — such as member agencies of the ECCD Council (EECDC) like the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), TESDA, Department of Agriculture (DA), and National Nutrition Council (NNC).
The signing of the IRR marks the start of the national implementation of an integrated early childhood care system with the goal of expanding access to health, nutrition, and quality education for children from birth to 8 years of age.
Part of the goal is to create a whole-of-government strategy to ensure the continuity of early childhood education through basic education, while also leveraging the assistance of local government units (LGUs) in delivering ECCD services to the community.
“Kung seryoso tayong baguhin ang kinabukasan ng Pilipinas, kailangan nating magsimula sa ating mga pinakabatang kababayan. Dito nagsisimula ang tunay na nation-building,” said Angara in a statement.
Citing data from the United Nations Economic, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), he said that investing in early childhood development yields up to a 13% return through better health and economic growth — stressing that supporting children in their earliest years remains the most effective strategy for the country’s long-term future.
DepEd also emphasized that strengthening foundational learning begins even before a child enters formal schooling.
Thus, the ECCD System Act lays the foundation for better learning outcomes by promoting early literacy, numeracy, and holistic development of children in their early years.
Through the PHP1-billion allocation under the Local Government Support Fund–Financial Assistance to Local Government Units (LGSF-FALGU), PHP 741 million has been released to 247 beneficiary barangays as part of investments in the establishment of Child Development Centers (CDCs) in low-income LGUs.
As of July 2026, 14 CDCs have been fully completed, 113 are currently under construction, and 106 are in the procurement process.
Aside from physical infrastructure, the IRR also provides clear guidelines for LGUs to establish local ECCD offices, professionalize Child Development Workers through the creation of a plantilla, and implement localized ECCD roadmaps that are aligned with the national strategy.
As of February 2026, there are 78,000 ECD Centers that serve 42,011 barangays nationwide, although the DILG admitted back then that not all meet child-friendly standards, a gap the ECCDC aims to address.
Sone of the ECCDC’s initiatives include include converting daycare centers into full Child Development Centers, enhancing the National Early Learning Curriculum aligned with the DepEd, and the abovementioned funding.
“We all know that the ECCD Program is a program of the Local Government Units. So I think that partnership, now under the umbrella ng DILG, mas nagkakaroon kami ng connection doon sa local government,” the ECCDC said back then.
Meanwhile, Angara also recently led the Philippine delegation to the 14th ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting (ASED) in Singapore, where ASEAN Education Ministers endorsed the ASEAN Declaration on Foundational Learning (ADFL) developed under the leadership of the Philippines.
ASEAN leaders are expected to endorse it at the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit to be held in November 2026, with the Philippines set to also lead the development and implementation of its accompanying Roadmap that will further strengthen and promote foundational learning throughout Southeast Asia.
