The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is moving to strengthen early childhood development by exploring the inclusion of the Infant and Toddler Early Development (ITED) Program as a scored indicator under the Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit (CFLGA) and integrating it into the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG).

The initiative supports the implementation of Republic Act No. 12199, which amended the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Systems Act and transferred the ECCD Council under the DILG, reinforcing the department’s role in advancing early childhood development nationwide.

Developed by the ECCD Council, the ITED Program promotes responsive caregiving, age-appropriate learning, proper nutrition, health, and developmental support for children from birth to two years old. It also equips parents and caregivers with the knowledge and skills needed to nurture children during the most critical stage of development.

In a statement, the DILG said strengthening support during the first 1,000 days of life is a long-term investment in healthier children, stronger families, and more resilient communities.

“By integrating ITED into existing governance assessment mechanisms, LGUs will be encouraged to institutionalize programs that support the health, nutrition, learning, and overall development of infants and toddlers,” the DILG said.

ITED is currently tracked under the CFLGA through a profiling indicator that identifies whether local government units (LGUs) operate ITED centers. Elevating it into a scored indicator would encourage more LGUs to establish, sustain, and improve these programs as part of good local governance.

The proposal builds on the gains of the CFLGA, with preliminary DILG data showing a 21.9-percent increase in the number of LGUs that passed the audit in 2025 compared with the previous year.

Once integrated into governance assessment systems, ITED would become a stronger measure of local government performance, encouraging sustained investments in early childhood interventions that deliver lasting benefits for communities.

“Child-friendly governance begins long before a child enters school. By supporting children during their earliest years, LGUs help lay the foundation for healthier, more resilient, and more productive communities,” the DILG said.