The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the release of PHP309 million for the construction of Child Development Centers (CDCs) in 103 barangays nationwide.

The funding is sourced from the Local Government Support Fund – Financial Assistance to Local Government Units (LGSF-FA to LGUs) under the 2025 national budget, the DBM said in a news release Thursday.

“Bilang pagsunod po sa direktiba ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., tinutugunan po natin ang pangangailangan ng mga bata bago pa man sila pumasok sa paaralan (In compliance with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., we are addressing the needs of children even before they enter school),” Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said.

“This is part of our continuing support for Child Development Centers, aimed at giving our children a fair start even before they step into classrooms.”

A total of 328 low-income LGUs are set to benefit from the broader program, with 89 located in Luzon, 106 in the Visayas, and 133 in Mindanao, including those in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Each LGU must provide at least 150 square meters of land and sign a memorandum of agreement with the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council.

They are also expected to assume operational responsibilities to sustain the CDCs.

The DBM is working closely with the Departments of Education and the Interior and Local Government, as well as the ECCD Council, to ensure efficient implementation at the community level. (PNA)