Acknowledging the vital role of early childhood education in enhancing the country’s overall education quality, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) emphasized on Tuesday, Jan. 7, its support for increased investment in early childhood education as part of the 2025 national budget.
EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark Yee, in a statement, said the special provisions outlined in the General Appropriations Act “form a strong foundation” for the future of Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) programs in the country.
“It is timely, given the recent legislative progress of the measure to amend the Early Years Act of 2013, to enhance and localize ECCD services, ensuring a more cohesive and comprehensive framework for early childhood education across the country,” Yee said.
Created in July 2022, EDCOM 2 is a Philippine commission tasked with evaluating the country’s education sector and recommending reforms.
Its mandate includes assessing the performance of the Philippine education sector, recommending reforms to make the sector more competitive in labor and education markets, and addressing the learning crisis in the Philippines, which ranks among the highest in Asia.
ECCD in the 2025 budget
EDCOM 2 noted that the 2025 national budget significantly increases investment in the country’s early education initiatives.
On Dec. 30, President Marcos approved the P6.326 trillion General Appropriations Act. According to EDCOM 2, the 2025 budget emphasizes a “significant national investment” in ECCD.
“This allocation strategically supports the dual objectives of enhancing ECCD programs by upgrading the skills of Child Development Workers (CDWs) and establishing more Child Development Centers (CDCs) in underserved areas,” EDCOM 2 said.
The Commission also highlighted the allocation of P80 million for TESDA scholarships, specifically for CDWs whose highest educational attainment is at the high school level or lower.
This initiative, undertaken in collaboration with the ECCD Council, aims to develop effective program implementation guidelines to enhance the qualifications and capabilities of CDWs.
EDCOM 2 pointed out that these efforts address its findings, which reveal a “pressing need” for more specialized training paths. The Commission noted that many CDWs “do not have qualifications” specific to early childhood education.
Previous data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) showed that 16.8 percent of CDWs only possess high school degrees, while 77 percent hold college-level qualifications, which are “often not specific” to early childhood education.
Additionally, the 2025 national budget includes P24 million for the establishment of Child Development Centers (CDCs) in low-income municipalities, particularly in fifth-class municipalities.
“This provision mandates the creation of at least eight new CDCs in priority barangays that currently lack day care centers, as required by law,” EDCOM 2 explained.
The funds will also assist local government units in constructing CDC facilities and procuring essential program inputs, such as furniture, equipment, and educational materials.
For his part, EDCOM 2 Co-Chairperson Senator Sherwin Gatchalian expressed his support for these initiatives.
“By allocating funds for scholarships aimed at child development workers, we will facilitate their upskilling and reskilling,” he said. “This initiative represents a significant step toward empowering our CDWs to effectively fulfill their responsibilities,” he added.