GMA, Belmonte lead day-care rites

President Arroyo has joined Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. in awarding certificates of recognition to about 8,222 pre-schoolers who graduated yesterday from the city’s day-care program at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

Of the 8,600 graduating pre-schoolers, 4,262 came from the city’s second district, which is largely composed of urban poor communities, including Barangays Batasan Hills, Commonwealth, Holy Spirit, Payatas and Bagong Silangan.

During the occasion, the President lauded Belmonte for the various efforts he has initiated to enhance the development of the city’s day-care program in a bid to provide pre-schoolers with an effective training ground before they enter primary school.

"Maganda and ginagawang ito ni Mayor Belmonte at higit sa makabubuti kung gagayahin natin ito sa buong bansa," the President said.

These efforts include the construction of additional day-care centers, provision of free schoolbags and supplies to pre-schoolers and the enrollment of day-care parents to the Philhealth Medicare Para sa Masa Program that enable them to avail of free hospitalization benefits.

The mayor noted that enhancing the city’s day-care program will continue to remain a priority of his administration in the belief that it plays a very vital role in the task of providing early childhood care and development.

Quezon City has about 205 day-care centers spread over the city’s 142 barangays, with nearly 15,000 served by the day-care program for school year 2003-2004. For school year 2004-2005, an additional 30 day-care centers are supposed to be operationalized.

District I registered the second highest number of graduates with 1,683 while District IV posted the least with 1,107. The YAKAP day-care center, which was especially set up for children of city hall employees, has produced 20 graduates.

Apart from the distribution of certificates of recognition, the Mayor also presided the awarding of medals to about 200 outstanding pre-schoolers who have excelled in various academic and non-academic fields.

The Mayor was assisted by Social Services Development Department Chief Teresa Mariano, Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista and members of the city council during the graduation rites. Araneta Center Inc. senior vice president Judy Araneta-Roxas was also present during the affair.