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Philippines

In 2000, the Philippines’ Republic Act No. 8980 called for a comprehensive ECCD policy and national system. The focus on ECCD has been advanced since then with the enactment of the Republic Act No. 10410 (or the Early Years Act of 2013) to recognize ages 0-8 as crucial developmental stages. The 0-4 age group is under the responsibility of the ECCD Council and the 5-8 age group is under the purview of the Department of Education.

The national ECCE system is a comprehensive follow-up plan on policy expectations which covers health, nutrition, early education and social protection for children from birth to age 4.

In 2008, the Early Learning Development Standards were developed by the ECCE. It forms the basis for the National Early Learning Framework and the National Early Learning Curriculum Learning Resource Packages.

Challenges

  • Unsustainability of ECCD programs.
  • Difficulties in implementation of ECCD at national and local levels.
  • Health challenges, including malnutrition and immunization.
  • Lack focus on inclusive Early Education or special needs.
  • Challenges related to spending on ECCD.

Priorities

  • Accessibility to ECCD program.
  • Focus on health, including nutrition, immunization, and feeding.
  • Increase spending in ECCD.

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Ministries in charge

  • The ECCD council under Office of the President oversees the implementation of national ECD system.
  • Basic education is under the purview of the Department of Education; Protection of the social welfare of rights of Filipinos and social development promotion is under the responsibility of the Department of Social Welfare and Development; Provision of basic public health services is under the responsibility of Department of Health; and the policy-making and coordinating body for nutrition is managed by the UNION of Local Authorities of Philippine National Nutrition Council.

Key Policies

National ECD Network

National Representative

  • Joyce Orillosa
    Joyce.orillosa@gmail.com
    Enrico Baloro
    Rico.baloro@plan-international.org

Noteworthy Practices

1. Community-based approach to reduce malnutrition (by Save the Children)

Noteworthy aspects:

  • Positive Deviance/Hearth (PD/Hearth) approach addresses malnutrition of children under two years old holistically in a 12-day nutrition program involving mothers. Program strengthens family practices in childcare, hygiene, feeding practices, health-seeking behavior and food security.
  • Achievements: This approach has successfully rehabilitated malnourished children by engaging communities to improve the nutrition and health of young children.

2. Healthy Start home-visiting program (by Consuelo Foundation)

Noteworthy aspects:

  • Partnership with the ECCD Council, Local Government Units, and local NGOs to provide support to pregnant women and families with newborns in highly diverse settings through intensive, community-based, home-visiting program.
  • Achievements: Benefitted 444 families across 14 sites in the Philippines and resulted in positive parenting behaviors and decreased environmental risks.

3. Early childhood teacher education program (ECTEP)

Noteworthy aspects:

  • Initiative of the ECCD Council in the systematic professionalization of the ECCD service providers through 6 weeks of intensive training classes. Successful completion of 6 course of study will result in acquisition of 18 academic units as requisites for the Certificate Program on Early Childhood Education (ECE).
  • Achievements: Between 2014-2015, 214 teachers across cities and municipalities in the Philippines benefitted from the program with increased capacities in appropriate teaching strategies.

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Latest News

Indonesia, Philippines partners share gains in UBS-assisted parenting, caregiving programs in ARNEC Conference

At the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Early Childhood Development in the Philippines, held from July 1st to 3rd, 2025, the National Coalition of Holistic Integrative ECD (HI ECD Coalition) of Indonesia and the ECCD Council of the Philippines presented evidence-based findings on the effectiveness of enhanced parenting and caregiving programs. 

Read: ARNEC issues statement on the devastating earthquake in Cebu, Philippines

On the night of September 30, a devastating 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the Central Visayas region in the Philippines. The quake has killed more than 60 people, including children, and has displaced thousands of families in Cebu and neighboring provinces. This massive earthquake comes after successive typhoons, excessive rainfall, and flooding in the Philippines.

This series of disaster events has exposed young children to harm and continues to make them and their families vulnerable to post-disaster trauma. The ongoing aftershocks and tremors pose a significant challenge, and the country is bracing for more typhoons until the end of the year.

ARNEC strongly urges that we put children and their families at the forefront of preparedness and resilience. 

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Latest Resources

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iMulat: Leveraging technology in low-resource settings

The iMulat app was developed in 2018 as supplementary support to multiple existing programs delivered by Save the Children Philippines that aim to support positive and responsive parenting, familial wellbeing, and parental engagement in children’s learning and development.

Home-Based Early Childhood Care and Development Program by the ECCD Council, Philippines

The Home-Based ECCD program was developed primarily to support parents as first teachers and to provide alternative programs for children who were not able to attend centre-based programs.

Project ARAL: Ensuring safe, loving, playful and responsive homes in the Philippines

Mariel Joy S. Sampang of Save the Children shares insights from the implementation of Project ARAL (Access to Resources for Alternative Learning.

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ECD Events

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