Butuan City – Highlighting the commitment of the national government and local government units in strengthening day care service, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office (DSWD FO) Caraga held the first Caraga Day Care Worker Summit on June 4 – 5 , 2014 at Sanchez Gym, Caraga State University, Ampayon, Butuan City.
Anchored on the theme: “ The role of day care workers in developing a poverty and disaster resilient Filipino children,” the summit was made possible through the convergent involvement of the active local government unit (LGU) partners throughout the region, Day Care Workers Federation Officers, local social welfare development officers (LSWDOs), regional developmental workers, and more than 1,800 municipal/ city/ provincial social workers in attendance.
DSWD Regional Director Minda B. Brigoli, in her message said that the evolution of the Day Care Service from mere provision of substitute parental care to a highly satisfying and stimulating early learning experience for children entails more pro – active measures to assure its delivery. With the call of the New Normal, Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) has to turn its wheel and to position itself as a venue to capacitate and build the resiliency of Filipino Children against poverty and disasters.
“ We can’t equal the kind of service you are doing for our children,” Assistant Secretary Teodulo R. Romo, Jr. remarked as he delivered his keynote speech.
Asec. Romo gave his high regard to the endless patience that all workers exerted in dealing their day care children. He pronounced the authentic Caraga culture he experienced in his 2 – day stay with the day care workers in the whole region. “ I was enriched culturally,” he added.
He elucidated that in the event of the natural and man – made calamities it is the children who suffer the most. He encouraged the day care workers to empower oneself in providing healthy environment to the day care children. He suggested three tasks in ensuring the safety of the children. First, is for the day care workers to assess the vulnerability of the existing day care centers if the latter is susceptible to any potential disasters. Second, is to organize the parents of the day care children with the consultation of the BLGU and engagement of the LGU to seek for a safer place when to relocate the center. Third, is to bring – in to the general assembly the parents of the day care children to participate in the KALAHI – CIDSS Community Driven Development (CDD) process and to exert effort in making a relocation and construction of day care centers (DCC).
The event also recognized the 454 accredited day care workers (DCWs) who stand – out among the 2,058 DCWs across the region. Selected DCWs were awarded based on the criteria set for the search for the most outstanding DCWs in every province. Each awardee received a certificate of commendation and a cash prize amounting to Php 5,000.00 from their respective province.
Also part of the summit was the oath taking of the re – elected Regional Federation of Day Care Workers (RFDCWs) with Mrs. Nenita R. Tillo as the federation president.
Mrs. Tillo presented the accomplishment reporting and policy recommendations by the RFDCWs – Caraga to the public. She reported the low accreditation rate which is only 11% of the total universe of DCWs and DCCs. Moreover, among the major barriers to the accreditation process is the very low support given by the B/ MLGUs in the ECCD- DCS implementation. Also part of her report was the low monthly remuneration amounting to below Php 3,000.00 mostly on honorarium basis while handling two sessions per day with 25 – 45 day care children.
In lieu to the clamor of funding and sustenance for the DCCs and the workers presented by the federation president, the five (5) governors and seventy – one (71) LGU officials commited their support to the passage of the Magna Carta for the Day Care Workers.
Hon. Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante – Matba, Governor of Agusan del Norte extended her support highlighting the roles and responsibilities of the provincial government on the strengthening of day care services.
Hon. Johnny T. Pimentel, Governor of Surigao del Norte gave his support highlighting the commitment of the provincial local government to enhance effectiveness of day care service.
Hon. Benglen Ecleo, Vice – governor in the Province of Dinagat Island, presented his support highlighting the plans and directions of the provincial government to capacitate day care workers along disaster preparedness, ECCD in emergencies and child protection in emergencies.
Hon. Lawrence Lemuel Fortun, Congressman 1st District of AdN (Butuan City and Las Nieves), Hon. Evelyn Mellana, Congresswoman 2nd District of AdS, Hon. Adolf Edward G. Plaza, Governor of Agusan del Sur, Hon. Sol F. Matugas, Governor of Surigao del Norte, Hon. Ernesto T. Matugas, Mayor of Surigao del Norte, Hon. Kim Lope A. Asis, Mayor of Bayugan City, and Hon. Dale Corvera, Mayor of Cabadbaran City bequeathed their support to the federation in the messages read by their able representatives. They highlighted the zeal and dedication of the provincial government to promote the welfare of the day care workers and the efforts of the provincial government to ensure continuous upgrading and competency building of day care service providers.
In culmination, the summit ended with a Search for the Ms. Day Care Worker. More than sixty (60) candidates from different municipalities and cities were selected and adjudged based on their gown worn on that night. Candidate from Baguyan City is crowned as the Ms. Caraga Day Care Worker.
Ms. Golda V. Pocon, SWO IV / Head, Standards Unit spearheaded the whole summit with the Day Care Worker Federation of Butuan City as the LGU host.
It is educed that, the best welfare and interest of children have always held high priority and paramount consideration by the government of the Philippines particularly by the Social Welfare and Development Workers. The passage of the Presidential Decree No. 603 (1973) known as the Child and Youth Welfare Code and Executive Order No. 1567 which provides for the establishment of a Day Care Center in every barangay and along with the several other local policies welfare and development attest to this commitment. ###( Theresa D.Barsobia/ Social Marketing/ DSWD FO Caraga.
