The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is committing another PHP1 billion in 2026 to build more Child Development Centers (CDCs) across the country, as part of the Marcos administration’s push to bridge gaps in early childhood education.

This was after Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Education Secretary Sonny Angara, and Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council Executive Director Teresita Inciong led the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with select local government units (LGUs) on Tuesday afternoon.

“Alam n’yo kung gaano kabilis nangyari itong proyektong ito (You know how fast this program was implemented),” Pangandaman said, recalling that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. gave immediate approval during a Cabinet meeting in March 2025 after the 2nd Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) reported a severe lack of CDCs nationwide.

“Ang atin pong mahal na Pangulo, bilang isang decisive na lider, agad-agad po n’yang sinabi na kailangan nating matapos, ma-complete natin ‘yang backlog na ‘yan (Our President, like the decisive leader that he is, he immediately ordered the implementation to cut the shortage of CDCs),” she added.

EDCOM 2 earlier reported that more than 5,800 barangays still lack CDCs, despite the law mandating one per barangay.

The DBM and the Department of Education signed a joint circular in April to implement the project, allocating PHP1 billion for the initial phase, with PHP3 million allotted per beneficiary barangay.

More than 300 child development centers will be established across the country using the funds, of which 89 will be in Luzon, 106 in the Visayas, and 133 in Mindanao, including 76 in the Bangsamoro Region.

As of July, PHP396 million has already been released to 132 LGU beneficiaries.

Pangandaman urged local governments to expedite procurement and construction, saying the DBM would monitor progress and intends to visit the sites with the President. (PNA)