More child development centers (CDCs) would be built in the country’s underserved areas, the Department of Education (DepEd) said Thursday.

This came after the DepEd signed a joint circular with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure quality education for Filipino children.

In a statement, Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized the significance of the support for early childhood education, especially in low-income areas.

“The investment we make in early childhood education today determines the kind of nation we build tomorrow. This is not just about education; it is a nation-building strategy,” he said.

At least 3,800 barangays in the country have no CDCs, according to the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council.

The education chief noted that it will serve as a “game-changer” tool for children to have a better future.

Under the joint circular, local government units (LGUs) have clear guidelines on how to request and access funding from the Local Government Support Fund – Financial Assistance for the “construction, rehabilitation, or upgrading of multipurpose buildings (MPBs)” which will be used as CDCs.

Low-income LGUs will be prioritized in the said funding, based on the circular.

In terms of process, LGUs would use the DBM’s apps portal to send their fund requests for MPB projects, which will then be subject to the DepEd’s evaluation and endorsement.

A portion of the obligation, however, must be shouldered by the LGU, including at least 150 square meters of land area; as well as the salaries of teachers and utilities for its operational costs. (PNA)