SENATE President and Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) Commissioner Sherwin Gatchalian has urged the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to immediately mobilize local government units (LGUs) to implement Republic Act No. 12199, or the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) System Act.
Gatchalian made the call during the Senate budget briefing of the DILG, noting that while the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the law were finally issued by the ECCD Council on August 5, 2026, many LGUs have yet to receive clear instructions on how to operationalize the law at the local level.
“Hindi pa lahat ng LGUs ay nabibigyan ng instructions. Maybe through a Memorandum Circular or a DILG circular to operationalize the law on the ground,” Gatchalian said.
“Nandiyan na ang IRR, pero to mobilize the LGUs, ’yun na lang ang nagkukulang,” he added.
The IRR was issued more than a year after the deadline, further delaying the full implementation of the ECCD System Act.
Under RA 12199, LGUs are tasked with playing a central role in delivering early childhood care and development services, including the establishment of Child Development Centers (CDCs), support for Child Development Workers and Teachers, and provision of early learning and other essential services for children and families.
Gatchalian pointed out that several key provisions still need to be translated into concrete action at the local level, including the establishment of separate ECCD offices and the creation of plantilla positions for Child Development Workers and Child Development Teachers.
He called on the DILG and other concerned agencies to issue a memorandum circular or similar directive to all LGUs, providing clear and uniform guidelines on how to implement the law.
The senator said the move is crucial as the government seeks to increase ECCD participation among children aged three to four, which currently stands at around 33 percent. The government aims to raise the participation rate to 40 percent by 2027.
Data from EDCOM 2, based on the 2024 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey (APIS), showed that ECCD participation remains low and uneven nationwide, with a participation rate of only 29.12 percent among children aged three to four. The rate was even lower in several areas, including Region III or Central Luzon at 11.21 percent, Region IV-A or CALABARZON at 17.35 percent, and the National Capital Region at 19 percent.
For the National Education Plan, EDCOM 2 is using a 33.54-percent APIS 2024 baseline, equivalent to roughly 1.1 million children aged three to four.
The commission has recommended increasing ECCD participation to 50 percent by 2028, 75 percent by 2031 and 90 percent by 2035. The 2028 target would translate to approximately 1.75 million children gaining access to ECCD services.
EDCOM 2 has stressed that achieving these targets will require stronger coordination among national government agencies and LGUs. It has also called for clearer accountability and improved coordination among the ECCD Council, Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, National Nutrition Council and local governments.
With the ECCD System Act now supported by its long-delayed IRR, Gatchalian said the focus must shift to implementation, ensuring that LGUs are given the guidance, resources and support needed to turn the law into concrete services for young children and families across the country.
About the Author
