‘CHILD MINDING ON WHEELS’

City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) head Gene Eclarino has conveyed Olongapo City’s plan with the P 300,000.00 cash incentive that Mayor James “Bong” Gordon, Jr. recently received for winning the 2009 Child-Friendly City in the Highly Urbanized City category in the Philippines.

‘’Ilalaan ang nasabing halaga sa pagsasa-ayos ng ‘Child Minding on Wheels’. Ito ay magandang programa upang higit pang maisakatuparan ang E o Education sa HELPS Program ni Mayor Bong Gordon,’’ said CSWDO head Eclarino.

‘’Ang bus na pag-aari ng city na ginagamit bilang rolling store ay magkakaroon ng dual function. Kung dati ay umiikot ito sa ibat-ibang barangay upang makabili ang mga residente ng mas murang bigas at groceries ngayon ay magiging classroom na rin ito ng mga bata kaya tatawagin itong ‘Child Minding on Wheels’,’’ she added.

Target of this ‘Child Minding on Wheels’ program are kids ages three (3) to four (4) years old found in different marketplace in the city. These kids often go with their vendor parents in the marketplace because there’s no one to take care of them at home.

‘’Nasasakripisyo kasi ang kalusugan ng mga bata dahil alam naman natin na sa palengke ay exposed ang mga bata sa dumi at ingay at isa pa ang ‘Child Minding on Wheels’ ay bilang paghahanda na rin sa formal education ng bata,’’ Eclarino went on.

The bus will be made over to look like a pre-school. There will be chairs, tables, books, a blackboard and other things one can find and may need in a regular classroom. The ‘Child Minding on Wheels’ will be administered and handled by pre-school or daycare teachers.

At present, there are fifty-five (55) Daycare Centers in the city.