Private childhood development centers will now be required to register with the City Social Services and Development Office following the passage of the ordinance regulating their operations to ensure quality care.
The ordinance, “Mandating the Regularization of All Privately Owned Early Childhood Care Development Centers,” was passed on third and final reading yesterday in the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
“We urge and encourage the private CDCs and LCs to apply for the registration so that we can monitor and evaluate in the standards of their quality care provided to children aged 0-4 years of age,” Councilor Avegayle Ortiz-Omalza, chair of the committee on women, children and family relations, said.
The ordinance is in accordance with the National Law Early Years Act (EYA) of 2013.
According to the councilor, the CSSDO already monitors government-owned childhood development centers but private institutions are outside of the oversight of the government.
“There is no number of these private CDCs. There is also no certification from the CSSDO nor the City Mayor’s Office,” Omalza said.
“While have business permits, in order to know if they are within the standards of the manual of the EYA, we deemed to pass this local ordinance,” she added.
According to Omalza, the law will boost the confidence of parents in sending their kids to playschool and nursery knowing that the care and curriculum are within the standards of the regulatory agencies.
The local law mandates the supervisor, administrator, director or principal to register with the office of the City Mayor, through the CSSDO, to secure a permit to operate. The school will be given the permit after application and validation.
The centers will also undergo continuous evaluation and inspection to ensure their quality has not diminished. They will have to pay the application and inspection fee amounting to P250 to the City Treasurer’s Office.
The inspection will be conducted by the City Social Welfare and Development Officer to determine whether there is faithful compliance of all the requirements. The certificate to operate will be given to qualified centers, which will be valid for three years.
