MANILA – The 2025 national budget, amounting to PHP6.326 trillion and signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on December 30, 2024, marks a significant advancement in Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) programs, according to the 2nd Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II). The budget focuses on enhancing the capabilities of Child Development Workers (CDWs) and expanding the network of Child Development Centers (CDCs) in underserved regions.
EDCOM II highlighted that the budget allocates PHP80 million for scholarships through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), specifically targeting CDWs with educational backgrounds up to high school. This initiative, developed in partnership with the ECCD Council, aims to elevate the skills and qualifications of CDWs, thereby improving the quality of early childhood education across the nation.
The decision to invest in CDW training stems from EDCOM’s observations of a deficiency in specialized training among these workers. Data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reveals that 16.8% of CDWs have only completed high school, while 77% possess college degrees unrelated to early childhood education.
In addition to training, the budget earmarks PHP24 million for the construction of new CDCs in economically challenged municipalities, particularly those classified as fifth-class. The funding is intended to establish at least eight new CDCs in priority areas currently lacking day care facilities. This will aid local government units in building CDC facilities and procuring necessary resources such as furniture, equipment, and educational materials.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, co-chair of EDCOM II, emphasized the importance of these investments, stating, “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.”
Karol Mark Yee, Executive Director of EDCOM II, noted that the budget’s provisions are in line with efforts to revise 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 stated, adding that these provisions set a robust foundation for the future of ECCD programs in the country.