President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed into law Republic Act 12199, or the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) System Act, a key reform that aims to strengthen early education and nutrition programs for Filipino children.
The law, signed on May 8, 2025, addresses gaps in the Early Years Act of 2013 (RA 10410) and has been a priority measure of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) since 2023.
“This is a major step in fixing the foundations of our education system,” said EDCOM 2 Co-Chair Representative Roman Romulo in a statement.
“A child’s early years are critical. By focusing on nutrition, quality care, and meaningful play, we’re giving every Filipino child the best start in life,” Romulo added.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, EDCOM 2 Co-Chair, emphasized the law’s local government component, which empowers LGUs to deliver ECCD programs and strengthen the foundations of learning – key to solving our education crisis.
RA 12199 reinforces the State’s commitment to support the holistic development of children aged 0 to 8. It mandates LGUs to lead the implementation of ECCD programs by establishing ECCD Offices in every province, city, and municipality, and staffing each Child Development Center (CDC) with at least one Child Development Teacher (CDT) and one Child Development Worker (CDW).
EDCOM 2 research revealed that only 36 percent of barangays currently have at least one CDC, despite a 1990 law mandating their nationwide presence.
To address this, the law requires plantilla positions for CDTs and CDWs and mandates salary increases. Currently, 89 percent of these workers hold non-permanent positions, with average monthly pay at just P5,000.
The ECCD Council, in coordination with CHED and TESDA, will provide training and scholarships to professionalize CDT and CDW roles.
Funding will come from both public and private sources, with priority given to children under five from low-income families. LGUs will receive allocations from the Local Government Support Fund to build CDCs and hire staff.
The law also transfers the ECCD Council from the Department of Education to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), with the DILG Secretary now serving as ex-officio co-chair of the Council alongside the DepEd Secretary.
A Joint Congressional Oversight Committee (JCOC) will monitor the law’s implementation. Additionally, ECCD performance will now factor into the DILG’s Seal of Good Local Governance assessment under social protection, health, and education criteria.
“RA 12199 positions our education system to address the roots of illiteracy by focusing on early childhood,” said EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark Yee. “The evidence is clear: strong early education reduces dropouts, boosts achievement, and increases lifelong income.”
The ECCD Council will issue the law’s implementing rules and regulations within 90 days.
RA 12199 was co-authored by EDCOM 2 Co-Chairpersons Gatchalian and Romulo, and TESDA Secretary Francisco “Kiko” Benitez, a former EDCOM 2 Commissioner.
