Child-Minding Center opens at DOrSU Main Campus
𝗢𝗻-𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁-𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗼 𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘂𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱-𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟯𝟬.
The new facility, established through the efforts of the university’s Center for Gender and Development (CGAD), is expected to ease a daily concern for members of the university community who juggle academic or work responsibilities with childcare, offering a nearby space where young children can stay while their parents attend classes or report for work.
In her message, CGAD Director Dr. Jeralyn N. Hemillan said the center aims to provide a secure, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environment for the children of DOrSU constituents. She said the facility responds to the realities faced by hardworking employees and student-parents and reflects the university’s effort to build a more inclusive and compassionate learning and working environment.
“This initiative is not just for compliance with GAD mandates, but a tangible expression of the university’s commitment to the welfare of children and families in the DOrSU community,” Dr. Hemillan emphasized.
University President Dr. Roy G. Ponce expressed joy that gender equity and sensitivity are visibly practiced in DOrSU. He also congratulated the Center for Gender and Development, saying the university is proud of the center’s accomplishments and milestones in advancing gender mainstreaming.
Present during the inauguration and launching were GAD focal persons Dr. Mary Fil M. Bauyot and Dr. Helina Jean P. Dupa, along with key university officials: President Emeritus Dr. Edito B. Sumile, VP for Academic Affairs; Dr. Roy M. Padilla, VP for Administration and Finance; Dr. Lea A. Jimenez, VP for Research, Innovation, and Extension; and Dr. Lilibeth S. Galvez, VP for Global Affairs and Strategic Operations.
The center will initially operate as a drop-in facility for children aged two to five years old whose parents are working or studying at the university. It is set to run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the initial operational plan presented during the launching.
The facility remains a work in progress, with additional steps already being lined up to strengthen its services. These include the development of a learning curriculum for children, training for selected support personnel, the formulation of usage guidelines, and the establishment of partnerships with agencies that can help guide the center’s implementation.
The inauguration also coincided with DOrSU’s observance of the National Women’s Month, giving the event added significance as part of its broader push to build a more gender-responsive campus.
