DAVAO City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) will soon monitor all private child development centers and learning centers offering early childhood care and development programs for children zero to four years of age.
This came on the heels of the City Council's passing on Thursday the ordinance entitled “An Ordinance Mandating The Regulaization of All Privately-Owned Early Childhood Care Development Centers," wherein they are required to secure permits from CSSDO and the City Mayor's Office.
Currently, only public learning centers are monitored by the city government.
One of the ordinance's aim is to gather data of existing number of private learning centers that is currently sprouting in the city.
"Wala ni sila naregister sa CSSDO maong wala tay data. (We do not have the data since they are not registered by CSSDO.) They are operating without certification from the CSSDO and the City Mayor's Office. The only permit nga ila na-secure kay ang sa Business Bureau. (The only permit they secured is from the Business Bureau)," Councilor Avegayle Ortiz-Omalza said.
Ortiz-Omalza, who is the chair of the committee on women, children and family relations, said the ordinance was necessary to ensure quality care and education to these children.
She said the ordinance would serve as reference in the assessment if the centers for the granting of permit and recognition by local government authorities and the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council.
"As concerned citizens, mas OK ni nga ma-comply nila ni nga requirement. Kay kung kita inahan, ato paskwelahon ato mga anak sa mga daycare learning centers, kabalo ka na this is approved or certified by the City Mayor’s Office (As concerned citizens, it would be better that they would comply these requirements. As a mother, we would ensure that our children are enrolled daycare learning centers that are approved or certified by the City Mayor’s Office)," Ortiz-Omalza said.
Existing centers are given a month to comply, once the ordinance will be signed by the executive department.
Failure to register shall be closed immediately by the Business Bureau although the councilor said no complaints were received from these private daycare centers.