Many Filipino children are failing to reach their full potential due to inadequate early childhood care and development services, falling short of the goal of universal access, according to research published by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).
Only 20 percent of children aged 3 to 4 were enrolled in pre-kindergarten in 2022, with just 23 percent benefiting from feeding programs. The country also faces a shortfall of around 33,000 daycare centers, far below the estimated 96,000 needed, and a severe shortage of child development workers.
These significant gaps have spurred a landmark law overhauling early childhood care and education, driven by research from the PIDS.
Signed into law on May 8, 2025, the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) System Act, or Republic Act No. 12199, aims to close long-standing gaps in care, nutrition, and education for children from birth to age five.
“This legislation marks a crucial step in ensuring that every Filipino child has the support and opportunities they need to thrive,” said Dr. Valerie Gilbert Ulep, PIDS senior research fellow and co-author of the study “Behind the Slow Start: An Assessment of Early Childhood Care and Development in the Philippines.”
The study, produced in partnership with the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), highlighted how governance, funding, and other supply-side challenges have long stalled progress. National support for early childhood services has been largely reactive and often lacks incentives for local government units (LGUs) to invest in long-term solutions.
To address these issues, the ECCD System Act mandates the creation of dedicated ECCD offices in every province, city, and municipality, empowering LGUs as frontline implementers.
The law aims to strengthen governance, improve resource allocation, and ensure the delivery of comprehensive, quality services at the local level. It also includes related indicators in the Seal of Good Local Governance to recognize LGUs championing ECCD services, aiming for a strengthened monitoring and evaluation system.
The law also highlights the need for professionalizing and standardizing salaries for child development workers. Ulep and his co-authors emphasized the insufficient number and varying compensation schemes and hiring arrangements of child development workers across LGUs.
It also enhances inter-agency coordination through the revitalized ECCD Council, promoting a holistic, multi-sectoral approach across health, nutrition, education, and social welfare sectors — an approach strongly advocated in the PIDS study.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is tasked with building LGU capacity, monitoring their compliance with the ECCD system, and facilitating coordination among local bodies.
The Department of Education (DepEd) is tasked with promoting ECCD careers, supporting curriculum development, and facilitating the assessment and certification of service providers.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Agriculture (DA), and the National Nutrition Council (NNC) are tasked with supporting programs related to health, nutrition, social welfare, and skills development, including supplementary services such as feeding and emergency programs.
The law further prioritizes inclusive access for children with disabilities and aligns with the Universal Health Care Act to foster holistic child development.
“This new law highlights how research can directly inform policies that impact lives,” Ulep said. He also credited the PIDS and EDCOM 2 partnership for translating research into meaningful policy reforms for the benefit of Filipino children nationwide.
“It is a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when evidence guides our decisions,” he said.
