• was established to provide substitute mothering to the pre-school children of COA employees ranging from 3 to 5 years old to alleviate their worries of their children’s welfare while at work.

• is a non-profit project of the Gender Focal Point.

• is a working collaboration of child care teachers, parents and gender Focal Point officials and members to make a program which will promote children’s development to prepare them for elementary education.

Background

The COA Day Care Center (DCC) was founded in 1999 by the Philippine Government Audit Services Employees’ Association (PhilGASEA) to serve the child care needs of COA employees while they are at work. In 2005, the PhilGASEA President, Mr. Mario L. Ortega, proposed to the Chair, COA-GAD Focal Point, the transfer of the DCC management to the said Focal Point.

On December 14, 2005, the Focal Point took over the full management of the DCC. The Sub-committee on Personnel Welfare, chaired by Ms. Minda Q. Lagumbay, managed the new center.

Under the leadership of Assistant Commissioner Emma M. Espina, the new DCC focused on the following activities/projects:

• revising the guidelines on admission requirements, fees, class schedule and daily lessons;

• improving, among other things, the facilities, equipment, day care supplies and materials;

• empowering the teacher in charge by sending her to Day Care trainings to upgrade her knowledge and skills in DCC management; and

• introducing Catechism to Day Care management.