MANILA, Philippines — The release of P1 billion for the establishment of new daycare centers must also result in tangible pay hikes for workers in the child development sector, Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan said on Monday.
Yamsuan in a statement said the establishment of child development centers (CDCs) in low-income communities “should be complemented by investments to empower daycare workers”, allowing them to improve their skills in providing early childhood care and education.
“These investments should include, among others, providing each daycare worker with a teaching supplies allowance amounting to at least P5,000 per school year, and free continuing education to enhance their skills,” Yamsuan said.
Furthermore, the lawmaker said these initiatives would have a strong impact if daycare workers are spared from the burden of shouldering operational costs—like buying teaching supplies.
According to the lawmaker, he has consulted daycare workers in Parañaque, where the workers revealed that their out-of-pocket expenses for learning materials was increasing.
“Our hardworking daycare workers should not be made to spend the small honoraria they receive to buy teaching materials and other supplies. Ensuring support for them would lead to better learning outcomes for the kids under their care,” Yamsuan said.
“Grabe ang mga sakripisyo ng mga nagtatrabaho sa mga child development centers na karamihan ay mga volunteers pero tila napabayaan na ang kanilang kalagayan,” he added.
(The sacrifices of workers in child development centers—most of which are volunteers—are immense but it seems that we have neglected them and forgotten about their state.)
Yamsuan was referring to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to approve a request to fund the establishment of CDCs in fourth and fifth-class municipalities across the country.
In a statement last March 4, the Presidential Communications Office said that early childhood development proponents sought the allocation of P700 million in the next three years so that low-income barangays will have access to daycare centers.
Last April 3, both the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced that they are set to fund the establishment of 300 CDCs, in line with the law that requires municipalities to have daycare centers.
Yamsuan thanked the administration for allowing the creation of more daycare centers.
“We laud the President and Secretary Amenah Pangandaman for approving the release of P1 billion for the establishment of CDCs in low-income local government units (LGUs). We cannot discount the importance of early childhood care and education in aiding the learning success and shaping the emotional and social development of our children,” Yamsuan said.
“Government funding to set up new child development centers, especially in marginalized communities, should be accompanied by corresponding investments to strengthen the capabilities of daycare workers through additional benefits and training,” he added.
Source: Budget for daycare should result to workers pay hikes
