First ECD Mobile Resource Center attracts more children

Ajuy, Iloilo—The first ECD Mobile Resource Center launched in Ajuy on October 20, 2004 has become a unique and attractive learning base for children and even parents.

Social Welfare VI Asst. Regional Director Joel Galicia said that with the Mobile Resource Learning Center (MRLC), more children in far-flung and depressed areas get the chance to keep up with learning at an early age.

“Not only children but parents as well are served.  Parents get the opportunity to learn how to be good parents, with the Parenting Education Sessions (PES) component of the MRLC,” Galicia said.

He added that even fathers have become interested in participating in the learning process of their children as they learn of roles in parenting.

The MRLC is an Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) project with partner municipalities. It is primarily aimed to serve the needs of children who, because of distance or poverty, cannot go to the nearest Day Care Center of resource center.

The local government of Ajuy as an ECD partner, was the first to adopt the project, by giving a counterpart which consists of a van and personnel, while the ECCD provided the books, manipulative toys, audio-visual materials and modules.

The MRLC goes around the sitios and puroks where there are many children but no day care or health facilities on scheduled days. The Learning Resource In-Charge and the other trained staff conduct activities, which include story telling, games, art and music, growth monitoring, supplemental feeding, vitamin supplementation, immunization, parent education sessions and medical consultations.

As a process in local cost-sharing, the host barangays can shoulder the cost of gasoline.
ARD Galicia said that there are actually two Resource Learning Centers in Ajuy.  One is the mobile and the other one is the permanent structure in the poblacion, which serves as the training center for the Day Care Workers and the Community Development Workers who serve the MRLC.

Galicia further said that the project can already be replicated in various municipalities which are also interested. (PIA 6)