AAMBIS-OWA PARTY-LIST DAY CARE PROJECT TO CARE FOR OVER 700 KIDS

AAMBIS-OWA PARTY-LIST DAY CARE PROJECT TO CARE FOR OVER 700 KIDS

Over 700 day care pupils—infants to four-year-olds—in the 4th class municipality of Guimbal, Iloilo are the intended beneficiaries of the AAMBIS-OWA Day Care Center Project, which is designed to rehabilitate and upgrade the child care facilities.

“Education is the key to both economic and social development. As a complimentary activity aimed at helping poor areas, the project creates day care centers whose clients are poor farmers and their families,” AAMBIS-Owa Party-list Representative Rep. Sharon S. Garin said.

The project dubbed as “Bayanihan Para sa Musmos na Kabataan” is the result of collaboration of Garin with parents-teachers associations (PTA), youth volunteers, barangay officials, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Local Government Unit of Guimbal.

The 4th class municipality Guimbal is the first beneficiary of the project. It has 28 day care centers spread out in 33 barangays. Its day care centers cater to 756 children.

The first and second batches of Day Care improvement activities were held last December 13 – 14, 2014 and March 13- 14, respectively, which benefited 10 day care centers with more than 200 day care children in Guimbal, Iloilo.

Rep. Garin said the project was partly inspired by the first 1000 days program of the UNICEF, which has ascertained that proper nourishment on the first 1000 days of children from conception until 2 years of age is very crucial in terms of their physical and intellectual development.

Aside from adequate nutrition, the importance of early childhood education and development was also given a nudge towards the right direction.

All local government units (LGUs) nationwide are mandated by Republic Act 6972 to establish one day care center in every barangay. As of 2013, there are 52,665 day care centers nationwide.

The AAMBIS-Owa Party-list donates toys, different appliances such as television and electric fans, and carpentry materials.

The local government unit particularly the municipality of Guimbal also pitches in additional toys, carpentry materials, and educational materials, while the DSWD provides kitchen and eating utensils. In addition, they also provide technical assistance to the daycare center personnel.

The PTAs devise instructional materials for use during day care hours.

Barangay officials and staff provide the manpower for the carpentry and painting of the day care centers. They also provide snacks for the working groups.

The next phase of the project will commence in May 2015. /MP