Baguio: Child development workers (CDWs) or day care workers in the city will soon get higher income as the city government is looking into a higher standardized pay for them. Councilor Van Oliver Dicang is advocating for a structured compensation upgrade for these workers that will gradually increase their monthly pay from PHP10,000 to a standardized rate of PHP30,000 over a four-year period. This initiative is in recognition of their vital role in early childhood care and development as prescribed under Republic Act 12199 or the Early Childhood Care and Development System Act.
According to Philippines News Agency, the city government last adjusted the salaries of child development workers in 2025, from PHP8,000 to PHP10,000, through Ordinance 102-2025. Dicang emphasized in an interview that the pay hike underscores the city's commitment to professionalizing and supporting the early childhood care and development workforce. 'It establishes the City's policy of strengthening early childhood care and development by ensuring that workers in the sector receive fair, adequate, and progressive compensation reflective of their responsibilities in child development and early education services," Dicang stated.
The proposed ordinance covers all registered, active, and duly recognized CDWs serving in barangay-based and public child development centers within Baguio City. The proposed standardized compensation framework, starting from the current base pay of PHP10,000 per month, will increase by PHP5,000 every year to be implemented in four tranches - PHP15,000 in 2027; PHP20,000 in 2028; PHP25,000 in 2029 and PHP30,000 in 2030. Upon full implementation, the PHP30,000 monthly pay shall serve as the official standard basic salary for covered workers or may be increased if future national or local policies provide for improved compensation standards.
The City Social Welfare and Development Office earlier mentioned that around 4,000 children are expected to enroll in the city's 104 day care centers this year, highlighting the importance of sustaining and improving the support for child development workers.
