THE DEPARTMENT of Budget and Management has released P309 million to fund the construction of Child Development Centers (CDCs) in 103 barangays across the country.

The funding comes from the Local Government Support Fund – Financial Assistance to Local Government Units under the 2025 national budget.

“In compliance with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive, we are addressing children’s needs even before they enter formal schooling,” said Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman.

“This is part of our continuing support for early childhood care and education,” she added.

The initiative targets underserved communities, benefiting 328 low-income local government units—89 in Luzon, 106 in the Visayas, and 133 in Mindanao, including those in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

To qualify, LGUs must provide at least 150 square meters of land, sign a memorandum of agreement with the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council, and commit to operating and maintaining the CDCs.

The DBM is coordinating with the Department of Education, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the ECCD Council to ensure smooth implementation at the community level.

The centers aim to provide young children with age-appropriate education, care, and nutrition, laying the foundation for lifelong learning and development.