BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance granting incentives and other benefits to child development workers or day care workers in the city.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Lilia A. Fariñas stated it is the policy of the State to provide quality education to all children and therefore, it is provided that to promote and improve the social well-being and welfare of child development workers, the local government shall adopt policies that will guarantee an enhanced quality of life of child development workers.
The ordinance stipulated that all registered child development workers shall be enrolled in the national health insurance program and shall receive adequate personal health services that must include in-patient hospital care, out-patient care, emergency and transfer services and other supplementary benefits as may be defined by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and the premium contribution shall be born by the local government; medical examination in any hospital owned and managed by the city as a requirement for registration or renewal of registration which will be provided free of charge to all registered child development workers for as long as they are rendering their services in their barangay day care centers; registered child development workers shall be entitled 50 percent discount to the remaining balance on all charges in any hospital owned and operated by the city; free legal representation and consultation services shall likewise be available for all registered child development workers for legal problems encountered in line with the performance of their duties and functions; child development workers who have rendered cumulative service shall be given loyalty incentives equivalent to P1,000 and certificate of recognition for 10 years in service, P2,000 for those having 20 years in service with a certificate of recognition, P3,000 for those having 30 years in service with certificate of recognition and P4,000 for those with 40 years in service with certificate of recognition.
The ordinance added the amount as may be determined by the City Social Welfare and Development Office in the pursuit of the implementation of the measure shall be sourced from any available fund of the local government as may be granted by the local finance committee.
As a measure of the local government’s gratitude to the city’s child development workers, the ordinance claimed that it is just fitting that the city grants exemplary and qualified child development workers incentives and other benefits that will recognize their vital role and responsibility in molding the children and fostering their early education.
The National Day Care Workers’ Week is being celebrated every June 7-11 every year by virtue of Proclamation No. 404, series of 2003 issued by former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and that the annual celebration serves as a venue to recognize the contribution of day care workers who have painstakingly provided substitute parental care and early childhood education to children 2-4 years old in day care centers located in different parts of the country.
The ordinance was referred to the appropriate committee of the local legislative body for study and recommendation on whether or not it will be subjected for approval on second and third readings.
By Dexter A. See
