The City Council is drafting an ordinance to mandate the registration of all private child development centers (CDC) and learning centers (LC) in the city.
Councilors passed the proposal on its second reading during yesterday’s session.
Once approved, the measure will cover all centers that offer early childhood care and development programs for children up to four years of age.
The proposal was pushed by the Council’s Committee on Women and Children and Family Relations, chaired by outgoing Councilor Avegayle Ortiz-Omalza.
The proposal wants to ensure that all private centers engaging in early childhood care and development (ECCD) programs in the city are “offering quality care.”
Upon its passage, the ordinance will mandate supervisor, administrator, director or principal to register with the office of the City Mayor, through the City Social Welfare Development Office, to secure a permit to operate and to be conferred recognition after application and validation thereafter and further be subjected to inspection and evaluation to ensure quality care and faithful compliance in ECCD programs.
The LCs and CDCs will also undergo evaluation process for the issuance of a permit to operate and thereafter be recognized by the ECCD Council to ensure quality care in early childhood education programs, the draft ordinance said.
The centers must be registered for six months prior to offering early childhood programs for children age 0-4 years old.
The application and inspection fee in the amount of P 250 will also be paid to the City Treasurer’s Office.
The inspection will be made by the City Social Welfare and Development Officer to determine whether there is faithful compliance with all the needed requirements.
“When the applicant has complied with all the requirements, a Certificate to Operate shall thereafter be given to all qualified Private CDCs/LCs which shall be valid for three years,” the draft ordinance said.
