A neophyte solon is proposing a measure that seeks to provide each day care worker in government-sponsored centers a teaching supplies allowance of P5,000 per schoolyear and continuing skills training.

In filing House Bill (HB) 10224, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan recognizes the indispensable role that these workers play in helping Filipino children.

“Workers in government day care centers (DCCs) and child development centers (CDCs) serve dual roles of being second parents and educators to children in their formative years. They encourage kids to learn and be creative, teach them how to interact with others, and even help with their mealtimes and nap times. Unfortunately, they have to make do with low pay and lack of financial support for the expenses they need to carry out these immense responsibilities,” Yamsuan said.

Barangay day care workers receive P500 a month from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), while local government units (LGUs) provide them with a monthly honoraria of at least P1,000.

Yamsuan said in a meeting with day care workers, he found out that among their immediate concerns was their ever-increasing out-of-pocket expenses for learning materials and teaching supplies.

“To be effective teachers, day care workers already coping with low wages often shoulder the expenses for the teaching aids they use and hand out to kids under their care. Our measure aims to address this shortcoming by providing each day care worker in government-sponsored centers with a P5,000 teaching supplies allowance per school year,” Yamsuan said.

HB 10224 or the proposed Care for Child Development and Day Care Workers Act also provides for a system of continuing skills training and knowledge enhancement programs for day care workers to ensure that children in CDCs and DCCs receive quality care and education.

DSWD data showed that nearly 9 out of 10 day care workers hold non-permanent and even voluntary positions.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jester P. Manalastas