THE Davao City Government continues to champion early childhood development through the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) program under the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), which supports not only early education but also children’s health and nutrition.
ECCD includes pre-kindergarten education, enrolling children as young as three in Pre-K1 and those aged four in Pre-K2. One of its key services is the Child-Minding Center, which provides care for infants and toddlers of working parents or guardians.
Enrollment is free, and while voluntary contributions for center development are welcomed, decisions are made collectively. All working parents are eligible to enroll their children. Currently, there are four operational Child-Minding Centers located in Calinan, Mintal, Almendras Gym, and Barangay 27-C.
These centers cater to children aged three months to four years old, with each facility accommodating up to 50 children. They are staffed by 12 trained child development teachers and three security personnel. Children follow age-appropriate daily routines, combining learning and play. The centers operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with strict safety protocols allowing only designated guardians to pick up the children.
Josephine Bangkil, technical staff in charge of private school validation, reminded operators of private child-minding centers to comply with City Ordinance No. 07829-19, which mandates registration and a permit to operate.
"Ako gi-awhag nga mag-submit ug letter of intent sa atong office sa CSWDO aron mabisitahan namo ug ma-validate pud namo ang inyong eskwelahan (I encourage you to submit a letter of intent to the CSWDO so we can visit and validate your school),” Bangkil said in a radio interview on Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Monday, June 16, 2025.
The program has also sparked interest from other areas looking to replicate Davao City’s childcare model.
In 2025, over 30,000 children are expected to graduate from the city’s Child Development Centers (CDCs). Of these, 5,050 boys and 5,375 girls are aged three, while 10,249 boys and 10,265 girls are aged four.
CSWDO operates more than 600 CDCs across Davao City. Classes run in two shifts: children aged three attend from 8 to 11 a.m., and those aged four from 1 to 4 p.m. Daycare graduations are set for April 21–30, with early enrollment scheduled to start on June 9. Ashley Kate L. Panaligan, Spamast Intern, with reports from CIO