By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency
A total of 328 low-income barangays across the country will receive funding from the government to help them establish Child Development Centers (CDCs).
This, as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the signing of a joint circular between the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday in Malacañang.
The circular provides guidelines for local government units (LGUs) to establish CDCs funded through the Local Government Support Fund-Financial Assistance to LGUs.
The initiative follows President Marcos’ directive to the DBM last month to fund the establishment of CDCs in 4th and 5th class municipalities as a response to the limited access to early childhood care and development facilities, particularly in low-income areas.
Marcos said low-income barangays would receive the funding this year—89 barangays will be in Luzon, 106 in the Visayas, and 133 in Mindanao, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
In his message, the Chief Executive said 3,800 barangays have yet to have CDCs despite the enactment of Republic Act No. 6972, which required each barangay to have at least one.
“Too many children do not have the structured care that they need in their formative years. These challenges have been accumulating for the past 30 years and cannot be solved overnight. But that does not mean we should not begin. It should no longer be the case,” Marcos said.
The President said the establishment of CDCs would be critical in addressing this gap, as these would serve as venues for implementing early childhood care and development center programs and services, including early learning programs and the family support program.
He called on the LGUs to ensure the successful implementation of the program.
“To our LGUs, we need your full commitment to ensure the success of the project. You must provide our childhood development teachers and workers with the support and resources that they need while encouraging our community members to take an active role in the CDCs,” Marcos said.
He also called on parents to play an active role in their children’s early education, urging them to read stories to their young ones.
“It is time well invested,” he said.
Story-telling
Prior to gracing the signing of the joint circular, Marcos held a storytelling activity with children aged three to five years old where he said he had “much of a good time.”
“I have to admit I was having too much of a good time. So, I actually asked if I could just stay there all day. But apparently duties call,” he said.
“But nonetheless, it’s always a joy to see the Palace filled with a new energy, with a new laughter, the curiosity of children.
As I’m sure you understand, sometimes the Palace is a very serious, very formal place. And when children come in, it reminds us what we are doing—why we are doing what we are doing,” he went on. (PNA)