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MALACAÑAN PALACE
MANILA

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

[ EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 349, August 17, 2004 ]

ESTABLISHING CLEAR LINES OF AUTHORITY OVER THE COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN/NATIONAL EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND DEVELOPMENT COORDINATING COUNCIL SECRETARIAT

WHEREAS, education improvement and youth opportunity are among the President’s five key packages on jobs creation and economic growth;

WHEREAS, in line with the President’s announcement that instead of requiring a fifth year in high school, the government will incorporate pre-school in the education ladder to encourage early childhood development, there is a need to strengthen the implementation of the early childhood development program of the Department of Education;

WHEREAS, the Council for the Welfare of Children [CWC] created under Presidential Decree No. 603 (s. 1974), as amended by Executive Order No. 233 (s. 1987), was created with the primary function of coordinating the implementation and enforcement of all laws relative to the promotion of child and youth welfare;

WHEREAS, by virtue of Republic Act No. 8980 (s. 2000) [RA 8980], the CWC also functions as the National Early Childhood Care and Development Coordinating Council [National ECCD Coordinating council], which was organized to ensure the sustained inter-agency and multi-sectoral collaboration from the national, provincial, city/municipal to barangay levels to institutionalize a national system for Early Childhood Care and Development [ECCD];

WHEREAS, under RA 8980, the CWC Secretariat, which also serves as the Secretariat of the National ECCD Coordinating Council, shall be headed by an Executive Director, and assisted by two (2) Deputy Executive Directors, one of whom shall be exclusively concerned with ECCD programs and activities and the other exclusively with the existing functions of the CWC;

WHEREAS, to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of the Government’s Early Childhood Development Program, there is a need to establish clear lines of authority and accountability by directing certain cabinet officials to exercise oversight functions over the CWC/National ECCD Coordinating Council Secretariat;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

Section 1. ECCD Concerns. – The Secretary of Education is hereby directed to exercise primary oversight functions over the Deputy Executive Director of the CWC/ National ECCD Coordinating Council Secretariat exclusively concerned with Early Childhood Care and Development [ECCD] Programs to oversee and monitor the effective and efficient implementation of the Government’s Early Childhood Development Program.

Section 2. Other CWC Concerns. – The Secretary of the Department of Social Work and Development [DSWC] is hereby directed to exercise primary oversight functions over the Deputy Executive Director of the CWC/National ECCD Coordinating Council Secretariat exclusively concerned with all other functions of the CWC.

Section 3. Repealing Clause. – All executive issuances, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Executive Order are hereby revoked, amended, or modified accordingly.1a⍵⍴h!1

Section 4. Effectivity. - This Executive Order shall take effect immediately. City of Manila, Aug 17 2004

(SGD.) GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Philippines

By the President:

(SGD.) ALBERTO G. ROMULO
Executive Secretary

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