QUEZON City 5th District Rep. Alfred Vargas filed a measure that will  establish early learning prorgams for indigent pre-kindergarten children.

In pushing for House Bill 9067 or the proposed Early Learning Program Act, Vargas cited surveys conducted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development that 42 percent of children aged 3-4 years old commonly attend day care centers.

The measure mandates the Department of Education to establish and maintain an Early Learning Program that provides learning services in every city or municipality.

The program shall be designed to service pre-kindergarten children including those with special needs who shall receive enhanced educational and comprehensive services and support through parent involvement and education.

“The United Nations Children’s Fund aims to provide inclusive early learning services to children, thus, they provide technical assistance, training for preschool and kindergarten teachers, and data collection and management,” he said in his explanatory note.

“With this, assistance to local government, private institutions, and other stakeholderes for developmental studies and social services projects, especially for those indigent families and children with disabilities, are available,” he added.

Early learning programs can have a significant impact on the brain development of children, the lawmaker said.