Children still seen in City Hall offices despite care center

CEBU – Despite the creation of a center for children at the Cebu City Hall where working parents can leave their young kids, some city employees are reported to have still been bringing their children to their respective workplaces.

Acting Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has already called the attention of Councilor Leah Ouano-Japson about this concern so she could strictly enforce the policy that working parents are not allowed to tug along their kids to their workstations.

Councilor Roberto Cabarrubias said that when the city created the so-called child care center at the ground floor of the City Hall legislative building, working mothers employed by the city who do not have nannies to attend to their kids can leave their children at the center.

Some of these working moms at the City Hall reportedly used their office tables as bed spaces for their children, while others were seen coddling their kids even when they are supposed to perform their duties as public servants.

Mothers are the primary caregivers of their children but because of the need to share in the finances of the family, many of them nowadays are compelled to leave their homes; thus leaving their kids in the care of neighbors or taking them along to their workplaces.

According to Cabarrubias, the growing need to extend early childhood care and development at the City Hall prompted him to work for the creation of the child care center manned by personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Services.

But because the use of the center does not come along without a fee, The FREEMAN observed that only a few children were dropped in there by their parents.

Parents are required to pay P20 for every session - one session in the morning and another in the afternoon. This means P40 if the working mom leaves her child there for the whole day.

“Anugon na kaayo na nga kantidad kay katumbas na gani nas usa ka kilong bugas,” a working mother said.

The early childhood care center in the workplace provides the assurance to employed parents, especially mothers, of the safety and well-being of their young children; thereby, keeping them focused on their tasks and enhancing performance and productivity, Cabarrubias added. — Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)