SENATOR Joel Villanueva stressed the importance of enacting Basic Education and Early Childhood Care and Development Bill into law.

Villanueva explained that “the foundational years below five years old are critical for nurturing our learners, and that is why it is crucial that we invest in early childhood care and development to ensure that every child has the best possible start in life.”

“Through this measure, we are improving the implementation of our ECCD programs, which shall cover the full range of health, nutrition, early childhood education, and social development programs for the holistic needs of children below five years old,” Villanueva said.

As noted by Philippine Institute for Development Studies, the senator further explained that effective interventions in early childhood lower the age of school start, improve reading comprehension and nonverbal cognitive ability test results, and boost the chance of earning more later in life.

“As an advocate of lifelong learning, we want to ensure that the TESDA will play an active role in the professional development of our Child Development Workers through the various relevant trainings that the TESDA offers,” the senator added.

“We vote yes to this measure because a yes vote is a yes for a brighter future for all Filipino children,” he stressed.

The measure was passed in third and final reading in the Senate.