SENATOR Juan Edgardo Angara sought the approval of a measure that will strengthen the Early Childhood Care and Development System in the country.

Senate Bill 1754 aims to amend Sections 6, 9 and 11 of Republic Act 10410 or the Early Years Act of 2013.

Angara said that the law was enacted after recognizing that age zero to eight years are the first crucial stages of educational development.

One of the key components of the National System for Early Childhood Care and Development is the National Child Development Center.

At the end of 2022, the ECCD Council has established 878 NCDCs nationwide representing a coverage of only 51 percent of all provinces, cities, and municipalities.

These are financed by contributions of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation as mandated by the law, amounting to P2.5 billion.

However, PAGCOR’s mandatory contributions to the ECCD Council ended in 2018.

The measure seeks to amend the appropriation provision of the law and mandate the PAGCOR to contribute P1 billion per year for another five years from its gross income to fund the NCDCs and the conversion of existing Day Care Centers into Child Development Centers.