SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian said that to boost the delivery of Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) programs and services, P2.46 billion has been allotted for the conversion of daycare centers into child development centers in low-income municipalities.

“Habang pinatitibay natin ang access sa mga textbook at tinutugunan ang kakulangan sa mga silid-aralan, huwag din nating kalimutang palakasin ang early childhood education sa antas ng komunidad,” Gatchalian said, noting that 3,810 barangays still have no CDCs.

“CDCs build the foundational skills that children need to succeed in school and in life,” he added.

Gatchalian explained that the allocation will come from the Local Government Support Fund to assist fourth- and fifth-class municipalities.

According to the Senate finance panel chair, the funding is consistent with the implementation of the Early Childhood Care and Development System Act or Republic Act No. 12199, which he authored and sponsored.

Gatchalian proposed using the LGSF to construct child development centers in fourth- and fifth-class municipalities — a proposal that was carried into the law, which aims to expand access to ECCD programs and services for children under five years old.