Senate ffice of the sarictaty TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 25 AUG 27 P2:28 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session ) RECEIVED BY SENATE S. No. 1293 Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go AN ACT INSTITUTING THE MAGNA CARTA FOR DAY CARE WORKERS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE Early childhood education lays the foundation for lifelong learning, cognitive development, and social integration. In the Philippines, this important developmental phase is supported by Child Development Workers (CDWs), commonly known as day care workers, who provide essential care and learning to children across communities. Day care workers serve as early educators, counselors, and community builders. They provide structured learning and emotional support to children during their formative years, especially in rural and marginalized communities where access to formal education is limited. Their role is indispensable to both local governments and the broader national agenda for inclusive and quality education. Despite their invaluable contributions, many day care workers remain among the most underrecognized and undercompensated members of the public workforce. According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), there are currently 67,733 Child Development Workers across the country, holding both tenured
and non-tenured positions. Alarmingly, 6,307 of these workers are volunteers and receive little to no formal compensation for the vital services they provide. This bill seeks to institutionalize a Magna Carta for Day Care Workers, providing them with a clear framework for security of tenure, just compensation, and access to social protection and professional development. By doing so, the measure aims to uplift the status and welfare of day care workers and support the effective delivery of early childhood services. In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO
senate Office of the Erecretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 25 AUG 27 P2:28 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session RECEIVED BY: SENATE 5. No. 129€ Introduced by Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" T. Go AN ACT INSTITUTING THE MAGNA CARTA FOR DAY CARE WORKERS, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Magna Carta for Day
Care Workers."
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes the vital role of children
and the youth in nation-building and shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being. Towards this end, it is the State's policy to promote and improve the social well-being and economic welfare of day care workers who provide pre-school education and social development service to the children. The 8 State shall likewise adopt policies that will protect the rights and enhance the dignity 9 of day care workers.
Sec. 3. Coverage. - This Act shall cover all persons engaged in Early Child
Development in government-sponsored day care centers whose primary function is to assist in the provision of care, social development, education and other needs of the
children.
Sec. 4. Qualification. - A Day Care Worker must be of legal age, possesses at
least a career sub-profession eligibility and must have training in Early Childhood Care and Development; Provided, however, that an incumbent day care worker who has been serving for the last five (5) years upon approval of this Act and who does not meet the prescribed educational qualification standard shall not be disqualified, Provided, further, that such day care worker shall complete the Day Care Worker training course provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development 9 (DSWD) within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act.
Sec. 5. Recruitment. - A qualified Day Care Worker shall file his/her application
with the local government unit concerned.
Sec. 6. Salary. - A qualified Day Care Worker shall receive a salary equivalent
to: Level 1 - High School graduate level to below second year college and length of service of at least five (5) years shall receive the salary equivalent to salary grade 6; Level 2 - Second year college level shall receive salary equivalent to salary grade 8; and Level 3 - College graduate level shall receive salary equivalent to salary grade 10.
Sec. 7. Working Hours. - A qualified Day Care Worker is required to render
eight (8) working hours a day or a total of forty (40) working hours a week, Provided, that the municipal social welfare officer may require a Day Care Worker to render services beyond his/her required working hours during emergency situations such as calamities.
Sec. 8. Additional Compensation and Allowances. - A qualified Day Care Worker
is required to render eight (8) working hours a day or a total of forty (4) working hours a week, Provided, that the municipal social welfare officer may require a Day Care Worker to render services beyond his/her required working hours during emergency
situations such as calamities.
Sec. 9. Married Day Care Workers. - Whenever possible, married couples who
are both Day Care Workers shall be assigned in the same municipality or city.
Sec. 10. Transfer and Tenure of Office. - No Day Care Worker shall be
transferred from one center to another without his/her prior knowledge and/ or consent. As provided under existing laws, no Day Care Worker shall be terminated from work without due cause.
Sec. 11. Leave Benefits. - As provided for in existing laws, a Day Care Worker
is entitled to maternity/paternity, sick, and vacation leaves. Day Care Workers with outstanding performance based on evaluation may avail study leave.
Sec. 12. Free Medical Examination and Treatment. - Pre-employment and
annual medical examinations shall be provided by government hospitals, free of charge, to all Day Care Workers. Day Care Workers suffering from work-related ailments shall be treated free of charge in government hospitals.
Sec. 13. Insurance and Retirement Benefits. - Qualified Day Care Workers shall
automatically become members of the Government Service and Insurance System (GSIS). Day Care Workers, having fulfilled service requirements of the applicable retirement laws, shall be given a one-step salary grade increase upon retirement which shall be the basis of computation of retirement pay and other retirement benefits.
Sec. 14. Freedom to Organize. - Day Care Workers shall have the freedom to
organize themselves without prior communications with the local government units to which they are assigned. Organizations of Day Care Workers shall be consulted in the formulation of national policies and programs that will benefit the sector. Under no circumstance shall any Day Care Worker be dismissed on the basis of his/her membership in any organization of Day Care Workers.
Sec. 15. Code of Conduct for Day Care Workers. - Within six (6) months upon
approval of this Act, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in consultation with the national organization of Day Care Workers, shall formulate a Code of Conduct for Day Care Workers. Each Day Care Worker shall be provided a copy of the Code.
Sec. 16. Support from Non-Government Organizations. - Non-government
organizations or private volunteer organizations are hereby encouraged to assist the government in the implementation of programs and projects for Day Care Workers.
Sec. 17. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of Interior
and Local Government and DSWD, in consultation with the Civil Service Commission and the national organization of Day Care Workers shall formulate the rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this Act within six (6) months from its effectivity.
Sec. 18. Appropriations. - Salaries and benefits of Day Care Workers shall be
charged to the local government units concerned. Training needs of Day Care Workers shall be charged to the annual appropriations of the DSWD.
Sec. 19. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, the remainder of this Act or any provisions hereof not affected thereby shall continue to be in force and effect.
Sec. 20. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent or contrary to the provision of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 21. Effectivity. - his Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,