- President Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act No. 12199, strengthening early childhood care and development (ECCD) for Filipino children from birth to age five.
- The law enhances early education, nutrition, and caregiving, revises the 2013 Early Years Act, and aligns with EDCOM 2's education reform recommendations.
- RA 12199 mandates interagency coordination and inclusive care, designating LGUs as frontline implementors and ensuring support for children with disabilities.
President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. signed into law a bill that seeks to strengthen early childhood care and development for Filipino children, especially from birth up to age five.
Signed the Republic Act No. 12199, or the "Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) System Act," aims to strengthen early education, nutrition, and caregiving assistance for young children paving the way for their future development and achievement.
The new law revises Republic Act No. 10410, or the "Early Years Act of 2013," and was one of the priority recommendations of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) to assist in reforming the Philippine education system.
Under the measure, the ECCD Council is designated to focus on children aged zero to four, while the Department of Education (DepEd) will take charge of those aged five to eight, in accordance with the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013.
RA 12199 enjoins a more holistic, integrated, and sustainable ECCD system through intersectoral and interagency collaboration at both the national and local levels. It further enforces the integration of children with disabilities, pushing forward mandates under RA No. 11650 so that they can access proper care, accessible facilities, and accommodations.
The law enunciates major objectives, such as lowering the number of child deaths, enhancing all areas of children's development, readjusting young learners to formal school, and engaging in early intervention among children with special needs.
Local government units (LGUs) will be frontline implementors of ECCD programs through committed offices, while the ECCD Council will be given the task of coordinating country-wide endeavors in health, nutrition, education, and social welfare departments.
The new act emphasizes the administration's dedication to ensuring every Filipino child has a right to proper care, support, and healthy beginnings in life.
