THE SECOND Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) has lauded the signing of the Joint Circular between the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Education (DepEd) to establish Child Development Centers (CDCs) in low-income local government units (LGUs).

This Joint Circular operationalizes the President’s directive to prioritize funding for the construction of CDCs in 328 low-income LGUs. The funding will come from the Local Government Support Fund – Financial Assistance to LGUs, as allocated under the FY 2025 General Appropriations Act.

This initiative directly addresses the findings of EDCOM II, which highlighted the lack of access to Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) services in 5,800 barangays nationwide.

“Studies show that early childhood care and development is a critical investment. It reduces dropout rates, improves foundational skill mastery, and boosts long-term achievement and income,” explained EDCOM II Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee.

“This major investment reflects the government’s commitment to addressing our learning crisis and ensuring no Filipino learner is left behind,” he added.

EDCOM’s findings reveal that early childhood education participation is just 21% for children aged 3 to 4, and even lower for those aged 0 to 2. The Commission’s Year Two Report also noted that access to ECCD is inequitable, with lower-income LGUs unable to fund early childhood interventions due to limited special education funds.

Based on the old LGU income classification, first-class municipalities have Special Education Fund (SEF) incomes 68 times higher than their sixth-class counterparts.

Under the Joint Circular’s guidelines, LGUs must submit funding requests, which will be evaluated and endorsed by DepEd to DBM for final approval. As their counterpart, beneficiary LGUs will provide land of at least 150 square meters for the CDCs and will also be responsible for their operation and maintenance, including covering the salaries of child development workers and teachers.