Dr. Teresita Grafilo Inciong, ED.D., D.P.M.

Executive Director and Vice Chairperson, ECCD Council Early Childhood Care and Development Council

For her distinguished contribution in the field of education, her excellent programs with the evidence-based national impact: Every Child a Reader Program aimed at ensuring that all grade three children are able to read with comprehension; Accreditation Program for Public Elementary Schools which enjoins public elementary schools to strive for excellence; Institutionalization of Inclusion Program in the Philippines, Department Order 26 S.1997, specifying that special children be enrolled in regular schools; Leadership and Management Development Program for DepED Officials conducted by the Asian Institute of Management, benefitting local DepED officials; Leading District-wide Community of Schools and Learning Centers, which enhances community mobilization competencies of DepED District Supervisors.

Her competence, excellence and commendable track record have earned her various awards such as: Distinguished Achievement Award for Contribution to the Scientific Study of Education Service by the Asian Federation for Mentally Retarded, Japan; Presidential Award of Service for Outstanding Leadership in the education field; the only Filipino recipient of Distinguished Achievement Award of the Asian Federation of Intellectual Disabilities. Her previous academic engagements included: Member, Board of Regents of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila; Executive Officer, DepED-United Nations Population Fund, Adolescent Reproductive Health Project, and; Commissioner, UNESCO.

As Vice Chairperson and Executive Director of the Early Childhood Care and Development Council, she spearheads the management of a comprehensive ECCD national system utilizing a three-pronged approach which consist of the following: access, which has yielded the establishment of National Child Development Centers as convergence venues for health, nutrition, psychosocial, and learning services to 0-4 year-old children; quality / efficiency, the development of the National Early Learning Curriculum and Competency Standards for Child Development Teachers/Workers and capacity-building of ECCD service providers, and; sustainability, focusing on partnership and alliance-building.

All these show her commitment and professionalism in her field.