AAMBIS-OWA PARTY-LIST DAY CARE CENTER UPGRADE CONTINUES AS VOLUNTEERS STAY ALIVE

AAMBIS-OWA PARTY-LIST DAY CARE CENTER UPGRADE CONTINUES AS VOLUNTEERS STAY ALIVE

Rain or shine, there is no letup in the efforts of AAMBIS-Owa Party-list in implementing the day care center project dubbed as “Bayanihan Para sa Musmos na Kabataan” designed to rehabilitate and upgrade the child care facilities.

This September, additional seven (7) day care centers were rehabilitated from the municipalities of San Joaquin and Guimbal, Iloilo where three day care centers found in Brgy. Sinogbuhan, Brgy. Lawigan, and Brgy. Pitogo benefitted the project while four day care centers in Barangays Particion, Nalundan, Camangahan, and Nanga were rehabilitated in Guimbal.

This year, over 700 day care pupils in Iloilo province already benefited from the project.

“No public funds were used to pay for the parents-teachers associations (PTA), youth volunteers, and barangay officials who devote their resources, and time to make the upgrade possible. The project is purely a fruit of love and dedication from volunteers who travel to far-flung barangays of San Joaquin and Guimbal in order to help fellow Ilonggos,” AAMBIS-Owa Party-list Representative Sharon S. Garin said.

“We feel the need to take action to improve our communities whenever we can and not just wait for the graces coming from the national government. After all, the beneficiaries of these facilities are our children,” Project Coordinator Emerald Cerbo said.

AAMBIS-Owa tapped the “bayanihan spirit” within and among the parents-teachers associations (PTA), youth volunteers from the group Young Friends, barangay officials, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Local Government Unit of Guimbal to make the project possible.

The AAMBIS-Owa Party-list donated toys, television and electric fans, coloring materials, and carpentry equipment.

The San Joaquin local government unit and the DSWD contributed educational materials such as pencils, bond papers and coloring materials. They also provide technical assistance to the daycare center personnel.

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

Rep. Garin filed House Bill 5584  or the proposed “Malusog na Estudyanteng Pilipino Act of 2015.” The bill aims to set aside 50 billion pesos to fund a free meal and regular check up program for students enrolled in all public schools in the country including day care centers.

 All local government units (LGUs) are mandated by Republic Act 6972 (Barangay Level Total Development and Protection of Children Act) to establish one day care center in every barangay. As of 2013, there are 52, 665 day care centers nationwide. /MP