Marcos to LGUs: Ensure enough support, resources for child development centers

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Thursday tasked local government units to ensure that sufficient support and resources would be given for the establishment of child development centers in low-income areas. 

Marcos said this during the ceremonial signing of a joint circular between the Department of Education and the Department of Budget and Management on establishing child development centers in underserved communities.

''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 in his speech.  

He said concerned agencies have identified a total of 328 low-income barangays, which will be provided with funding so that they can have access to early childhood development initiatives. 

Of this number, 89 are in Luzon, 106 in Visayas, and 133 in Mindanao, Marcos said.

The President also said that as of March of this year, at least 3,800 barangays in the country have yet to have CDCs.

''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 cannot be solved overnight. But, that doesn't mean we shouldn't begin,'' Marcos said. 

Before the ceremonial signing, Marcos had a chance to read a book to three to five-year-old kids inside the Palace. He also brought his two dogs to play with the children. 

This joint circular provides a clear guidelines for local government units to establish CDCs with funding support from the Local Government Support Fund - Financial Assistance to LGUs. 

This aims to address gaps identified in the EDCOM II Year 2 Report, which disclosed the limited access to early learning facilities, particularly in low-income areas.

In a separate press release, Education Secretary Sonny Angara underscored that early childhood education is a game-changer in the society. 

''It shapes lifelong learning outcomes and impacts the trajectory of a child’s future,” Angara said. “The investment we make in early childhood education today determines the kind of nation we build tomorrow. This is not just about education; it is a nation-building strategy.'' 

Under the 2025 national budget, funds will be allocated for the construction, rehabilitation, or upgrading of multipurpose buildings (MPBs), which will serve as CDCs. 

The low-income LGUs identified in the EDCOM II study would be prioritized in the allocation of funds. They must submit funding requests through the DBM Apps Portal, with DepEd evaluating and endorsing eligible projects. 

Once approved, the funds will be released to LGUs, which must provide at least 150 square meters of land and shoulder operational costs, including teacher salaries and utilities.—AOL, GMA Integrated News