SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian hailed the signing of the Early Childhood Care and Development System Act or Republic Act No. 12199, a landmark law that seeks to promote the optimum growth and development of children younger than five years old.

The new law applies the Early Childhood Care and Development System to all provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays to achieve universal ECCD access for all children below five years old.

The ECCD System covers the full range of health, nutrition, early childhood education, and social services development programs.

Local government units shall be responsible for implementing the ECCD System.

They shall provide facilities and resources for the effective delivery of ECCD programs and services.

LGUs shall also create plantilla positions for Child Development Workers and Child Development Teachers and ensure that there is at least one Child Development Center in every barangay.

“Mahalaga ang pagpapatatag ng pundasyon ng ating mga kabataang wala pang limang taong gulang, lalo na’t nakasalalay dito ang kanilang kakayahang matuto at magtagumpay bilang mga mamamayan,” said Gatchalian.