The PHP6.326 trillion 2025 General Appropriations Act signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Dec. 30, 2024 is a significant push for Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) programs, the 2nd Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) said Tuesday.

In a statement, EDCOM II said the budget includes investments in upgrading the skills of Child Development Workers (CDWs) and the establishment of more Child Development Centers (CDCs) in underserved areas.

The budget allocates PHP80 million for Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) scholarships aimed at CDWs, particularly those whose highest educational attainment is high school or lower.

The initiative, in collaboration with the ECCD Council, seeks to upgrade the skills and qualifications of CDWs to improve early childhood education delivery nationwide.

This move follows EDCOM findings on the lack of specialized training among CDWs.

According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), 16.8 percent of CDWs possess high school diplomas only, while 77 percent hold college-level qualifications unrelated to early childhood education.

In addition to scholarships, the national budget sets aside PHP24 million for the establishment of CDCs in low-income municipalities, with a focus on fifth-class levels.

The funding mandates the creation of at least eight new CDCs in priority villages without existing day care centers.

The funds will support local government units in constructing CDC facilities and acquiring essential resources such as furniture, equipment, and educational materials.

“By investing in the upskilling and reskilling of our child development workers, we are empowering them to provide better services and support to young learners,” Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who co-chairs EDCOM 2, said in a separate statement.

EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark Yee, meanwhile, said the provisions laid out in the budget align with ongoing efforts to amend the Early Years Act of 2013.

“These measures ensure a more localized and cohesive framework for early childhood education, paving the way for a stronger foundation for Filipino children,” Yee said in another statement

“These special provisions laid out in the General Appropriations Act form a strong foundation for the future of Early Childhood Care and Development programs in the country,” he added. (PNA)