The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Friday it released P1 billion to establish Child Development Centers (CDCs) in 328 low-income local government units (LGUs) nationwide.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the fund adheres with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to invest in education and human capital development.
The President led the ceremonial signing of the joint circular on the establishment of CDCs held at the Malacañan Palace on April 3, 2025.
Marcos said 328 low-income LGUs would be provided with funding to access early childhood care initiatives this year. Of this number, 89 LGU beneficiaries would be in Luzon, 106 in the Visayas and 133 in Mindanao, including BARMM.
The joint circular signed between the Department of Education (DepEd) and the DBM provides the guidelines for LGUs to establish CDCs through the Local Government Support Fund-Financial Assistance to LGUs (LGSF-FA).
“We believe that establishing CDCs across the country is crucial to every Filipino child’s overall well-being before they transition to school,” Pangandaman said.
The CDCs will serve as resource hubs for early learning programs, family support services, and research on child development, effectively addressing existing gaps in the country’s early childhood care.
“Through CDCs, our children will have the support and structure that they need even before they enter our classrooms,” said Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara.
The beneficiaries from low-income LGUs were identified and validated by DepEd, based on the findings of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) Year 2 Report.