The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) lauds the significant budgetary support for early childhood education under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, consistent with the Commission’s appeal for greater investments in the foundational years of learning.
This historic allocation will enable the full implementation of the ECCD System Act, or Republic Act 12199.
“Part of our historic allocation to the education sector are investments in early childhood care and development.”
“Part of our historic allocation to the education sector are investments in early childhood care and development, which will strengthen our learners’ foundations and help us resolve the education crisis hounding our country,” EDCOM 2 Commissioner Senator Win Gatchalian.
“We cannot solve our education crisis if we do not fix the foundation,” Pasig Representative Roman Romulo, EDCOM 2 Co-Chairperson said.
“This historic allocation for the full implementation of the ECCD System Act proves that we are serious about stopping the learning gap before it even begins. When we pour resources into the first four years of a child’s life, we set the trajectory for their entire educational journey,” Romulo continued.
EDCOM 2 had pushed for a P226 billion allocation under the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) of the Department of Budget and Management. Under the GAA, the LGSF totals P57.8 billion, which includes funds to cover the “conversion of day care centers to child development center standards by fourth and fifth class municipalities”.
Likewise, the LGSF is also allotted to support the initial creation by LGUs of plantilla positions for child development workers with at least a salary grade 8 level for the fourth and fifth class municipalities. Both are consistent with the newly passed RA 12199 or the ECCD System Act.
The 2026 budget also includes significant investments in upskilling of incumbent child development workers (CDWs) through a P226.9 million scholarship program under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). This initiative aims to provide 9,796 CDWs who currently hold only high school diplomas with the necessary competencies to earn an NC III in Early Childhood Education.
Recognizing that the first 1,000 days of life are critical for preventing stunting, the government has also increased funding for DSWD’s Supplemental Feeding Program (SFP), and DepEd’s School-Based Feeding Program.
The Commission pushed for the expansion of the Department of Education’s School-Based Feeding Program to include at least 140,000 nutritionally-at-risk pregnant adolescent learners. This P369.6 million expansion targets adolescents beyond Grade 6, providing 120 days of nutritional support to mitigate the risk of stunting for their children.
“This critical investment in ECCD is a big win for education, signaling the strong resolve of the government in addressing our learning crisis”, EDCOM 2 Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee said.
“Nutrition from age zero to four (0-4) is our best bet in addressing our challenges in literacy and learning for millions of our children.”
“As we have long advocated for, fixing the foundations by investing in our children’s education and nutrition from age zero to four (0-4) is our best bet in addressing our challenges in literacy and learning for millions of our children,” Yee continued.
These comprehensive budgetary recommendations reflect EDCOM 2’s commitment to building a more robust educational foundation for the nation’s youngest learners by integrating health, nutrition, and professionalized care into the 2026 fiscal plan.
