SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – Around 10,000 children in Antique were enrolled in 668 Child Development Centers, which aim to nurture social-emotional skills in children ages two to four.
Trained child development workers (CDWs) manage the centers, according to Carla Jee Ann Cabigunda, focal person for the Early Childhood Care and Development program under the Antique Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.
“CDWs serve as surrogate mothers-teachers and provide intellectual and mental stimulation as well as supervised play for the children,” Cabigunda said on Tuesday.
Republic Act 6972, or the Barangay-Level Total Development and Protection of Children Act, mandates the establishment of daycare centers in every village.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development also provides supplementary feeding for their nutritional growth.
“We urge parents to support their children in their early education by ensuring that they attend their classes daily,” said Cabigunda, adding that they only have to pay their registration fee and other necessary contributions. (PNA)/PN
