Senate President Win Gatchalian is seeking the mobilization of local government units to ensure the delivery of early childhood care and development (ECCD) programs and services to children below five years old.
Gatchalian made this call during the Senate Committee on Finance’s hearing on the proposed 2027 budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and its attached agencies, including the ECCD Council.
The Senate chief pointed out that while the Early Childhood Care and Development System Act’s (Republic Act No. 12199) Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) was signed last August, LGUs are yet to receive instructions on how to operationalize the law on the ground.
To implement the law, the veteran legislator is seeking the issuance of a memorandum circular.
Under the law, LGUs are mandated to deliver ECCD programs and services. The law also provides that LGUs shall create ECCD offices, which shall be under the administrative supervision of local chief executives.
“Ang ating participation rate ay nasa 33 percent. For 2027, the target is 40 percent.”
“Sa ngayon, ang ating participation rate ay nasa 33 percent. For 2027, the target is 40 percent,” the senator pointed out.
“So, I support that, of course. That’s why it’s about time to mobilize the LGUs,” he concluded.
