Australia extends grant to Phl for building of classrooms, day care centers

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Australia has granted $11.36 million to the Philippines for the construction of early childhood and development centers, a senior government official said today.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Soliman said that the project, which covers the construction of approximately 468 classrooms and day care centers in communities will be implemented under Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services- National Community-Driven Development Program (KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP).

"These communities have been identified to have significant gaps in education," she said.

The project will be launched on Wednesday in Alangalang town in central Philippine province of Leyte.

Part of the criteria for funding is that the communities should have poverty alleviation program of the DSWD that provides conditional cash transfers to qualified families so they can support the health and education of the children, Soliman said.

The project, which will run from 2014 to 2016, is also part of the national government's post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation following Typhoon Haiyan that ravaged most parts of the county in November last year.

Approximately 117 of its target 468 classrooms and day care centers will be constructed in Haiyan-affected areas, the DSWD chief said.