DESPITE the Covid-19 pandemic, the City Government of San Fernando is continuing its construction of new child development centers for the beneficiaries of the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) program.
This was shared by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), which, apart from adapting blended learning modalities for the Fernandino children, also pushes for the addition of new centers.
This construction program is divided into two -- the expansion, which includes the construction of new buildings; and the conversion program, which covers the repair, rehabilitation, and maintenance works of the existing buildings.
"Ang konstruksyon ng mga bago nating centers ay under sa expansion and conversion programs natin. Ang pondong pinagkukuhanan natin sa mga ito ay parehong mula sa Special Education Fund kung saan, kada taon, ay inilalaan ng lokal na pamahalaan para makapagpatayo tayo ng mga bagong centers," said Avigail Albes, officer-in-charge of the ECCD Program.
Albes said these programs started in 2015 and the City has since established 61 child development centers, constructed in several barangays.
The most recent construction activities were completed this year, including the two-story buildings in San Nicolas and Northville, Calulut, respectively.
The CSWDO, together with the City Engineer's Office, started inspection for the construction of two new centers in Maimpis and Magliman which are expected to be completed this 2021.
Apart from the increasing numbers of new centers, the program of the City also continues to accommodate new enrollees, supported by its quality quarantine education program, "EduQare," which adapts blended learning modalities for the children aged zero to four years.
As of November 2020, the CSWDO said that with the combined enrollees from its ITED (Infant, Toddler Early Development), Pre-kindergarten 1, and Pre-Kindergarten 2, the total number of ECCD beneficiaries are at least 1,900.
"Nagsimula tayong mag-accommodate ng enrollees sa ating 'EduQare' noong September 2020 at kahit na nagsimula na tayo sa klase, patuloy pa rin ang pagtanggap natin ng mga bagong enrollees hangga't may mga magulang na nais ipa-register ang kanilang mga anak," Albes added.
Several beneficiaries already received their certificates of completion while the remaining beneficiaries will be receiving theirs until June, based on the assessment of the child development worker.
Mayor Edwin Santiago lauded the efforts exerted by child development workers and parents to continue the education of the Fernandino children.
"Lagi kong sinasabi na personal na paborito ko ang ECCD program. Ito kasi yung punto na yung mga workers natin at ang kanilang mga magulang, naipapakita at napapadama nila yung kalinga at pagmamahal. Mas naging makabuluhan pa ito ngayon dahil pandemiya, kung saan natuto sila sa makabagong paraan ng pagtuturo at dahil nga may home-based learning tayo, mas nagkaroon ng oras ang magulang sa kanilang mga anak," Santiago said.
Parents who wish to register their children in the ECCD program are encouraged to visit the child development center nearest to their homes or follow and send a personal message to its official Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ECCDCsfp. (PR)