Real Talk

TIMELINE: When Did The Philippines Have The Early Childhood Care and Development System?

by Kevyn Gohu
May 20, 2025

Here’s how families can benefit from the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) System

Every study on child development always says that the early years are the most important. It’s when the brain develops; otherwise, known as the time when kids learn the fastest. But learning opportunities are not easy to come by, especially when many parents are struggling to make ends meet. To make things easier, President Bongbong Marcos signed into law Republic Act No. 12199 last May 8, 2025, to allow children ages 0 to 5 to also benefit from the existing Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) System.

Wait, the Philippines has an Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) System?

While the newly signed law repeals the purpose of the Republic Act 10410 or the Early Years Act of 2013, the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) System was first created in the year 2000. Under Republic Act 8980, the system would handle a “comprehensive, integrative, and sustainable” approach to answering children’s needs. Each region, namely Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, would have one to ensure that every kid had a chance of survival. It would include collaborating with education centers, hospitals, and all organizations that cater to children from birth to six years old. The act was first signed by former President Joseph Estrada.

Once the system was created, they needed a manual on how to run the system. Thirteen years later, Republic Act 10410 was signed by the late President Noynoy Aquino to specify certain divisions. Early childhood ages zero to four would be handled by the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) System, whereas ages five to 8 would be handled by the DepEd, education-wise. The act would specify certain things like how the ECCD curriculum would be applied — something that the DepEd and the ECCD System would be collaborating on.

So, what does Republic Act 12199 do?

While the first two acts establish the system, the newest one, Republic Act 12199 brings the efforts down to the local government units (LGUs). What was once encouraged would now be required; things like the curriculum, health programs, and other things meant to improve early childhood will be performed by the LGUs. These offices usually include the governors, mayors, and the barangays, which most likely announcements will be at the city hall or the local government’s social media pages.

In hopes of making things more accessible, each LGU will now have a National Child Development center. Usually, they offer early education from early learning programs, infant to toddler development programs, and Pre-Kindergarten education. That way, parents who find it difficult to find schools can head over to their local barangay offices to avail of the education.

It really takes a village to raise a child

Children need all sorts of things, especially with how the world is evolving. Besides the typical, food, clothing, shelter, and medical needs, there’s also education. Technology has made things evolve so quickly that even parents are having difficulty keeping up. Literacy isn’t the same as being able to do it; we need to be able to understand what we’re doing. Otherwise, we won’t be able to teach the next generation.

With the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) System being reinforced by Republic Act 12199, families everywhere can get the support they need right at their barangay. For families to avail, they can ask their local barangay captain or check their local city hall or provincial office when these things will become available.

According to the signed Republic Act, it’ll take effect in fifteen (15) days after it’s published on the Official Gazette.