The approved 2025 national budget carried Senator Win Gatchalian’s proposal to provide P80 million in scholarships for child development workers (CDWs).
A special provision that Gatchalian proposed lodges the P80 million budget under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s (TESDA) Promotion, Development, and Implementation of Quality Technical Education and Skills Development Programs.
Under this special provision, the scholarship program shall prioritize incumbent CDWs whose highest educational attainment is a high school diploma or lower.
To implement the scholarship program, the TESDA and the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council shall jointly develop guidelines.
“The scholarship program can help around 2,854 of these CDWs in enhancing their professional capabilities.”
Out of 68,080 CDWs nationwide, only 11,414 completed secondary education. The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) estimates that the scholarship program can help around 2,854 of these CDWs in enhancing their professional capabilities.
“Mahalagang hakbang ito upang matulungan natin ang ating mga CDWs na maging epektibo sa pagtupad ng kanilang mga tungkulin.”
“Sa pamamagitan ng pondong inilaan natin para sa scholarship ng mga child development workers, masusuportahan natin ang kanilang upskilling at reskilling. Mahalagang hakbang ito upang matulungan natin ang ating mga CDWs na maging epektibo sa pagtupad ng kanilang mga tungkulin,” said the co-chairperson of the EDCOM II.
The veteran legislator’s proposal also aligns with the Early Childhood Care and Development Alignment Act (Senate Bill No. 2575), which he authored and sponsored. The bill, which seeks to achieve universal access to early child education, also seeks the upskilling and reskilling of CDWs.
Under the proposed measure, incumbent CDWs shall complete mandatory upskilling and reskilling training programs on early childhood education or ECCD. They should also pass a certification from the TESDA, which shall provide the assessment and certification free of charge.
