Marcos approves fund request for child development centers
President Ferdinad R. Marcos Jr. – PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday approved the funding request for the establishment of child development centers (CDCs) in fourth and fifth-class municipalities of the country, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said.
In a statement, the PCO said early childhood development proponents sought the allocation of P700 million in the next three years to provide low-income barangays access to early childhood development projects.
“Gawin na natin ito (We should do this now). I am thinking the daycare centers can also be CDCs… You have the same kind of training for the people. The kids are there,” Marcos said during a sectoral meeting in Malacañang with the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) and other agencies.
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The Budget department has committed to fund the establishment of CDCs for 2025, it added.
Article continues after this advertisementThe PCO said Education Secretary Sonny Angara, who was also in the meeting, pointed out that establishing CDCs is a low-hanging fruit in terms of expense.
Article continues after this advertisementHe said it is also a much-needed investment for the education sector.
According to data from EDCOM 2’s Year Two Report, 5,800 barangays still do not have CDCs despite a 1990 law requiring each barangay to have at least one.
The EDCOM will work with the Commission on Higher Education, the Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Early Childhood Care and Development Council to increase the number of early childhood education graduates in regions identified to be lacking.
“We’ve been talking about economic development, we’ve been talking about inflation, agriculture, et cetera. It’s time to shift focus to education. That’s our only hope for the future,” Marcos said.
The bicameral conference committee has approved the ECCD bill.
