The foundation of a nation’s future is laid not in its universities, but in its nurseries. Early childhood care and development (ECCD) must be strengthened, not just involving feeding programs or daycare, but as a way of giving every Filipino child a fair start in life.

The Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) System Act, signed by President Marcos Jr. in May of this year aims to safeguard and promote every child’s right to holistic well-being, growth, and dedicated care. The law affirms the state’s duty to safeguard the rights of young children to health, education, nutrition, and protection. It replaces the Early Years Act of 2013 and expands on its mandate, mobilizing a whole-of-government approach toward holistic child development.

At the heart of this reform is the ECCD Council, now realigned from the Department of Education (DepEd) to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to enhance coordination with local government units (LGUs). The council is co-chaired by the DILG and DepEd. It is supported by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Agriculture (DA), National Nutrition Council (NNC), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and TESDA.

This interagency setup underscores that early childhood development is not merely an education sector concern—it is a national imperative requiring cooperation across health, nutrition, social welfare, and local governance.

The whole-of-government approach creates synergy among agencies, standardizing the roles and compensation of Child Development Teachers (CDTs) and Workers (CDWs). The government is institutionalizing ECCD as a profession and a public service, not merely a charitable activity. The LGUs, empowered by new ECCD Offices and plantilla positions, become the frontliners of this reform, tasked with implementing programs that are both developmentally appropriate and responsive to local needs.

President Marcos, in his recent SONA, emphasized that education remains a cornerstone of his administration, highlighting ECCD alongside key reforms like the ARAL program and expanded school feeding schemes. Notably, the administration targets the construction of 328 new child development centers in the poorest municipalities and a five-fold increase in feeding program beneficiaries to reach 1.4 million kindergarten learners—a step aligned with UNESCO’s call to invest in nutrition and health as cornerstones of learning readiness.

Globally, UNESCO champions Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) as a driver of wellbeing, equity, and lifelong learning. According to its reports, children from disadvantaged backgrounds suffer the greatest developmental setbacks, with only 55 percent of children in the poorest households developmentally on track. Despite ECCE’s clear benefits, it remains chronically underfunded and fragmented. A UNESCO global report urges governments to allocate at least 10 percent of their education budgets to pre-primary education, develop quality data systems, support parents and caregivers, and legislate ECCE rights within legal frameworks.

The Philippine ECCD reforms reflect many of these global priorities: professionalizing caregivers, expanding access, and integrating health and nutrition services. But to sustain this progress, private sector involvement must deepen. Through incentives under the Adopt-a-School Act, private entities can contribute to infrastructure, resources, and technology in public Child Development Centers. Corporations can also fund scholarship programs for ECCD professionals, sponsor community parenting education initiatives, and support the digitalization of ECCD data systems.

The government’s commitment to ECCD, bolstered by law and backed by inter-agency cooperation, is a game-changing move for the Philippines. But the work has only begun. For this reform to deliver on its promise, it must be supported by continuous funding, rigorous implementation, and a societal belief that the future truly begins in early childhood.

As UNESCO reminds us: learning begins at birth—and we must be ready from day one.