ANGELES City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. has started to distribute one air-conditioning unit each to the city's 76 daycare centers.
"Nitong Lunes, nagsimula na tayong mamigay ng mga aircon para sa 76 daycare centers ng siyudad," Lazatin said.
The distribution came after the City Government allotted P12 million for the purchase of 76 air-conditioning units. Part of the fund will also be used in procuring television sets for the daycare centers.
Lazatin, assisted by City Social Welfare and Development Officer Edna Duaso and staff, and Gender and Development Officer Mina Cabiles and staff, already turned over four aircon units to four daycare centers in Barangay Malabanias.
According to Lazatin, this is also in line with the preparation of the City Government once face-to-face learning will be implemented, where the city has also allotted P5 million for the repair and renovation of daycare centers and classrooms.
For the past years, Duaso said there has been a spike in the enrollment of children ages 3 to 5, since Lazatin urged a no collection policy in the centers.
In fact, she said, there were 4,700 enrolled students in the city's 76 daycare centers last school year. At least 68 out of 76 centers have already been accredited by the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Central Luzon, Duaso added.
Last March 2020, the City Government also distributed 76 electric fans to the city's day care centers.
It can be recalled that Lazatin's educational assistance amid the pandemic was recognized by the Department of Education during the Region III Fiscal Year 2020 Virtual Local Stakeholders Convergence and Recognition.
Among his programs during the pandemic are the distribution of tablets, installation of access points for the free Wi-Fi of teachers and students in their online classes.
A total of P209 million was allotted for the purchase of 61,200 tablets to be used by 55,000 students from Grades 4 to 12; 3,000 teachers in 53 public schools; and 3,200 scholars of the City College of Angeles.
To date, 49,992 tablets have already been distributed to 48 public schools in the city.
Meanwhile, a total of 700 access points are also being installed city-wide, 200 of which were paid by the city government for P20 million, while the other 500 are being installed for free.
"We are ensuring that securing the future of the youth will not end because of the pandemic. Tuloy-tuloy pa rin po ang mga programang pang-edukasyon," Lazatin said.