Early Child Care and Development Literature & Language Research Paper (Research Paper Sample)

II. Early Child Care and Development (ECCD)
Executive Summary
The Early Child Care and Development (ECCD) Program in the Philippines refers to the various services of health and sanitation, nutrition, early education, child protection, social services development and human development that may be conducted as center-based programs or home-based programs by various ECCD Services Providers.
Save the Children piloted an Alternative Delivery Modes of ECCD Programs which have the following components: policy advocacy and development, partnership and consultation meetings, Child mapping and assessment; materials development and production; parent education sessions; and ECCD Curriculum.
The ECCD framework of the government is based from the Republic Act No. 10410 or the Early Years Act of 2013. It enacted a policy that institutionalizes a National System for Early Childhood Care and Development which is implemented through Resolution No. 15-03 by the ECCD Council. The Standards and guidelines reflect policies on integrated services of health, nutrition, early learning, and social services. It also provides seven areas: 1. Health, Nutrition, and Safety; 2. Physical Environment and Safety; 3. Interaction and Relationships Between Staff and Children, among children and other adults; 4. Staff Qualifications, Staff Development, and Continuing Education; 5. Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment; VI. Family Involvement and Community Linkages; and VII. Leadership, Program, Management, and Support.
This section provides Early Childhood Care and Development practices in Navotas and Alabel. The computation matrix of the costing for the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) program is divided into 2 components, namely the Child Development Center/Day Care Center (CDC) and the Kindergarten-on-Wheels (KOW).
Policy Scan on ECCD
The Philippines has ratified the United Nations Convention on Rights of Child (UNCRC) which recognizes that children’s rights should be realized in order for them to have a better quality of life, equitable opportunities for healthy development, and realization of their full potential. The 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development integrated Early Child Development in its global target in education:
Target 2.2: By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women and older persons
Target 3.2: By 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births
Target 4.2: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care, and pre-primary education so that they are ready for primary education
Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children
The Philippine Development Plan 2022 in its section for Accelerating Human Capital Development stated that by 2022, Filipinos will have more opportunities to develop their full potential. They will have better access to health care services and opportunities to acquire 21st-century skills and competencies. At the same time, they will have an easier transition to the workforce. To achieve quality accessible, relevant, and liberating basic education for all, one of the key strategies includes strengthening early childhood care and development programs.
This policy scanning is built on the components of the Nurturing Care Framework that include Health, Nutrition, Early Learning, Responsive Care Giving, and Safety and Security.
ON HEALTH
1. Republic Act 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act
Republic Act 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act ensures that every Filipino, including overseas Filipino workers, are eligible for preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative care upon automatic enrollment to the government’s health insurance program. Under the law, the Philippine Health Insurance Company (PhilHealth) will have expanded coverage to include free consultation fees, laboratory tests and other diagnostic services. It also aims to improve doctor-to-patient ratio, upgrades hospital bed capacities and equipment and established more hospitals in remote areas.
However, the number of health workers in the country is not keeping up with the country’s population growth. According to the Department of Health (DOH), the nationwide ratio of human resource for health, which includes doctors, nurses, and midwives, is at 19.70 per 10,000 population. This is still below the 23 per 10,000 population critical threshold recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The DOH should utilize its budget efficiently to develop and strengthened health infrastructure and human resources. Based on 2018 budget brochure of the DOH, the agency’s budget utilization rate was only 88% in 2017. In addition, LGUs through the Local Government Code of 1991 should provide health services, however, health spending of the LGUs comprised only 20% of the overall government spending on health in 2017, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).