Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has approved PHP700 million in funding for the construction of child development centers (CDCs) in 4th and 5th class municipalities. ‘Gawin na natin ito (Let’s do it). I am thinking the daycare centers can also be CDCs. Ganoon na rin ‘yun eh (They are also the same). You have the same kind of training for the people. The kids are there,’ Marcos stated during a sectoral meeting in Malaca±ang with the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) and other involved agencies.

According to Philippines News Agency, EDCOM 2, a national commission responsible for conducting a comprehensive assessment and evaluation of the education sector’s performance, requested the President to allocate PHP700 million this year to provide low-income barangays with access to early childhood development initiatives. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has committed to funding the establishment of CDCs for this year.

The PHP700 million will be distributed through the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) to finance the development of CDCs in every municipality. Education Secretary Juan Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara shared this information during the meeting. EDCOM 2’s Year Two Report highlighted that around 5,800 barangays still lack CDCs despite a 1990 law requiring each barangay to have at least one. Among them, 229 belong to low-income local government units.

During the meeting, it was emphasized that EDCOM 2 will collaborate with the Commission on Higher Education, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Early Childhood Care and Development Council to increase the number of early childhood education graduates in regions identified as lacking in this area. This initiative aligns with EDCOM 2’s call to ‘fix the foundations’ of the education system through early childhood education, nutrition, and early-grade numeracy and literacy.

‘By fixing the foundations – nutrition, early childhood education, literacy and numeracy by Grade 3- we will ensure that our reforms are strategic, targeted, and enduring,’ stated EDCOM 2 Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee. President Marcos emphasized the importance of addressing educational challenges, noting that while economic development, inflation, and agriculture have been key topics, it is time to shift focus to education as it is the hope for the future. Dr. Yee expressed gratitude to both President Marcos and the DBM for acting swiftly on the funding request.