By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday distributed 35 school bags and a Starlink unit in La Paz Child Development Center (CDC) in Santiago, Agusan del Norte, underscoring the administration’s continuing commitment to strengthen access to quality education and digital connectivity for Filipino children.
Marcos was greeted with warm welcome by children and personnel at the La Paz CDC, which he visited after turning over 71 patient transport vehicles to provinces in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao), Region 11 (Davao Region), and Region 13 (Caraga).
“Bawat bata ay may karapatang matuto at mangarap,” Marcos said in a Facebook post. “Kaya nagdala tayo ng mga school bag at Starlink sa La Paz Child Development Center sa Agusan del Norte, dahil ang kinabukasan ay dapat abot ng bawat batang Pilipino.”
The P3-million worth daycare center was built in 2023 through the KALAHI-CIDSS (Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services) Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
DSWD Sec. Rex Gatchalian said the La Paz CDC provides a “safe and caring space where children can learn and grow.”
The KALAHI-CIDSS is a community-driven development program of the DSWD that aims to empower communities to identify, plan, and implement projects that address their most pressing needs.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the La Paz CDC, which currently services 33 children aged 1 to 4 years, also has outdoor facilities such as a playground.
“Naniniwala ang Pangulo na dapat bigyan ng pansin ang pangangailangan ng mga kabataan lalong-lalo na ang mga pasilidad na huhubog sa kanilang galing, talino, at talento,” Castro said.
“Dahil sa ilalim ng Bagong Pilipinas na isinusulong ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Marcos Jr., ang kabataang Pilipino ay hindi lamang pag-asa ng bayan kung hindi ang siyang magiging susi tungo sa pag-unlad ng bansa,” she added.
-jpv
