SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday hailed the signing of a joint memorandum circular (JMC) allocating funding for the establishment of child development centers (CDCs) in fourth- and fifth-class municipalities.

Under the JMC, funding for these CDCs will be coursed through the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF). A total of P1 billion has been earmarked for the construction of 328 CDCs in low-income local government units (LGUs).

Gatchalian first proposed using the LGSF for CDCs during deliberations on the Early Childhood Care and Development System Act. His proposal, which was eventually adopted into the ratified measure, mandates that allocations from the LGSF under the annual General Appropriations Act include funding for:

The establishment of CDCs,

The hiring of Child Development Teachers and Child Development Workers, and

Addressing other human resource needs in fourth- and fifth-class municipalities.

A Year Two Report from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) found that 5,800 barangays lack CDCs, with 229 of them in low-income LGUs.

“This funding is a crucial step in expanding early childhood care and development services in underserved municipalities. It will help lay a strong foundation for our children’s future,” said Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.