The Day Care center operations and skills performance of teachers in Larena town in Siquijor have greatly improved since the implementation of the Early Childhood Development Project of government in 2000, a press release from the town said.

Now called the Early Childhood Care and Development, the project got about P5.3 million in October last year from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, through the Provincial Council for the Welfare of Children that was used for the expansion of existing ECCD programs and establishment of ECCD system in Siquijor province, based on the 2006 work and financial plan, the press release said.

The budget was part of the P20.6 million allocation programs that calls for 80-20 percent sharing from the council and the local government.

An evaluation conducted by the regional DSWD office recently showed that 20 barangays in Larena have been credited for proper maintenance of their Day Care Centers, the press released also said.

Given a high four-star rating (the highest being five star) were barangays Basac, Bintangan, Canlambo, Cangmalalag, Helen, North Poblacion, and Sabang. Thirteen others earned three-star accreditation. These are the mountain barangays of Balolang, Cabulihan, Canlasog, Calunasan, Cang-apa, Cang-allas, Catamboan, and Ponong and the coastal barangays of Cangbagsa, Bontod, Sandugan, South Poblacion and Taculing.

Not yet earning credits are barangays Nonoc, Candigum and Bagacay although their Day Care centers have been accredited, Municipal Social Welfare and Development officer Rosalie Balongag said.

All centers had poor ratings during the 1997 evaluation and assessment of Day Center in Larena. "The result is really a big leap for the barangays," Balongag said.*

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