QuestionsQuestions (DSWD MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 01, S. 1997)
It is based on Executive Order (EO) No. 340, signed on 5 February 1995, and it implements EO 340 by issuing guidelines for government agencies and GOCCs to provide day care services for under-five children of their employees.
They are children of employees who are below five (5) years old.
It is supplemental parental care for under-five children providing socially, mentally, psychologically, and physically stimulating activities; as a workplace-based service, it is available from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday.
A Day Care Center provides care for 3–5 years old children by an accredited day care worker; Child Minding provides care for two (2) months to below 3 years old children with a ratio of 1 provider to 6 children, with nurses/midwives preferred to work with the day care worker.
It is a day care center provided in a center located within the compound of the government office or building (and may be shared by two or more offices if responsibilities and expenses are clearly delineated).
It is a center chosen by employees to provide the needed day care for their children; it may be a DSWD-accredited barangay day care center near the employees’ residences, and selection must be a mutually agreed decision between employee and management.
They include proper care and nutrition; opportunities for intellectual, social, moral, spiritual, emotional, and physical development in a safe and healthy venue; development of socio-cultural and nationalistic values; and substitute parenting/protection from neglect, abuse, and exploitation while parents are at work.
To enhance workplace productivity by providing emotional security and confidence through appropriate care of under-five children during work; and to provide enrichment activities on Early Childhood Care and Development through parent sessions and participation in center activities.
The Human Resource Development Service (HRDS) or Personnel Development Service (PDS) or any equivalent unit of the agency, which gathers data and may conduct surveys and prepare an updated family profile of employees.
Requirements for establishment must be presented to top management for approval, and the parent-employee counterpart (e.g., food, children’s personal utensils, and comfort kits) must be clearly spelled out in the day care parents’ guideline for implementation.
If there are at least five (5) children aged 2 months to less than 3 years old and parents are willing to bring their children to the workplace-based center, then a child minding center should be provided alongside the day care center.
It should safeguard children’s health, safety, and comfort; preferably be on the ground floor or secured to prevent falls; be built on safe ground away from fire hazards and dangerous/unhealthy surroundings; and have adequate space, facilities, and furniture appropriate for children.
Toilet and washing facilities appropriate for children; potable water, electricity, and proper ventilation; firefighting equipment/devices; an outdoor activities area; and a shelf for first aid medicines/supplies out of reach of children.
An indoor space of a minimum of four (4) square meters is required, aiming for minimal movement area per activity (slight smaller space is preferred than a big one).
A minimum of one (1) square meter per child; an area for food preparation and baby feeding paraphernalia; and ample space to encourage parents to breastfeed and/or have meals with children.
The HRDS conducts initial screening using specified criteria (e.g., age, education, moral character, experience with preschool children, residence near the office, ECCD/Early Child Communication training, full-time willingness, contract willingness, and fitness). The HRDS arranges training under the Municipal/City CSWDO (and via nearest resource centers), then requests DSWD-field office accreditation after training and handling sessions. DSWD-FO assessment is forwarded to BCYW, and accreditation is issued if standards are met.
They are divided into technical records (e.g., intake sheet, initial/semi-annual profile, parents’ consent, weekly program guide, session plan, development checklist/health record/growth monitoring, etc.) and administrative records (e.g., Memorandum of Agreement, registration list/daily attendance, monthly financial statement, outgoing/incoming communications, certificate of accreditation, and inventory list of materials/supplies).
Top management must provide allowance/salary of DCW and DCW-assistant, ensure the DCW is trained on ECD and accredited by the DSWD field office, and provide a safe and comfortable place for children. Parents must ensure children are bathed/cleaned before bringing them to the center, bring needed diapers/clothes/medicines/vitamins/nursing bottles (especially for child minding), and arrange for food with the parents’ side.