President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday witnessed the signing of a joint circular directing local government units (LGUs) to establish child development centers (CDCs) across the country between the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara and DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman signed the circular by the authority of the Chief Executive, emphasizing the Marcos administration’s commitment to early childhood education.
Speaking at Malacañan Palace, President Marcos underscored the importance of structured care in a child’s formative years, saying early education supports physical and emotional development necessary for school readiness.
“We must ensure that the foundations for the full development of our children are met,” he said.
President Marcos recalled the 1990 passage of Republic Act No. 6972, which required every barangay to have at least one CDC.
However, he noted that as of March 2025, 3,800 barangays across the country still lack such centers.
To address this, the president directed the DBM last month to prioritize funding for CDCs, especially in low-income municipalities and remote barangays in Mindanao. The LGUs will also shoulder part of the costs to complete the projects.
“For this year, we have identified 328 low-income barangays that will receive funding to establish these centers,” he said, adding that 89 barangays are in Luzon, 106 in the Visayas, and 133 in Mindanao, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
CDCs will provide early learning programs, family support services, and serve as resource centers for developmentally appropriate learning materials.
The President also highlighted the government’s broader efforts to support child welfare, including the First 1,000 Days cash grant under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which has benefited over 68,000 households as of February 2025.
Additional initiatives include the Supplementary Feeding Program, the School-Based Feeding Program, and the Walang Gutom Program, which provides food credits to vulnerable families.
“The government continues to find ways to support our children so they can grow, thrive, and reach their full potential,” President Marcos said.
“We need the full commitment of our local governments to ensure the success of this project,” he added.
President Marcos encouraged parents to take an active role in their children’s education, citing the power of storytelling in shaping young minds.
“To our parents, especially those with young children, take the time to read stories to them. It is time well invested,” he said.
