RIZAL: A city and municipality in this province became the recipients of the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Award in the Component City and Municipality categories, respectively, at the Gawad Edukampyon for Local Governance held recently.

Both the city of Antipolo and the municipality of San Mateo were recognized for their unwavering efforts to support the basic education services for the students during the award rites last on Friday, June 3.

Antipolo City Mayor Andrea “Andeng” Ynares thanked the award-giving body, saying that while they do not expect anything with their efforts which are geared toward the children, it gives them more inspiration to continue what they are doing given the citation.

“Nais ko ipamana sa ating mga kababayan bago matapos ang aking panunungkulan ay ang kaalaman na kahit saan man sila mapadpad sa Pilipinas, kilala ang ating lungsod dahil sa husay. ‘Yung tipong synonymous na sa salitang husay ang Antipolo City (Before I end my term as mayor, I want our citizens to be proud of our city, having outstanding achievements, that wherever they go, the word excellent can be synonymous to Antipolo City),”

Ynares said in her post on social media.

The ECCD Award recognizes cities, municipalities, and provinces that “developed innovative and effective supplementary programs on early development, health and nutrition, institutionalized or locally legislated support for ECCD and fostered interagency and multi-stakeholder involvement in ECCD implementation.”

It analyzes and gives credence to the program that was implemented by the local government unit on the utilization and efficiency of child development workers and daycare workers in providing services, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Also included as winners of the component city category were Tagum City, Davao Del Norte; San Fernando City and Mabalacat City in Pampanga; Batangas City, Batangas; and Biñan, Laguna.

Another Rizal municipality, Cainta, was among the finalists.

The ceremony was led by the Department of Education in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the ECCD Council, the Center for Local and Professional Development, and Rex Education.