Updates: Department Activities

The Department of Family Life and Child Development (DFLCD) Student Welfare Committee spearheaded a Townhall Meeting for BSFLCD students today, May 12, 2026, at the FLERC Room of the UP Child Development Center. The event gathered 32 students for an engaging session that combined updates, dialogue, and community building.

Assoc. Prof. Charla Rochella Saamong, PhD opened the program by emphasizing that “students are the center of the BSFLCD program, and we want to amplify the services for you. This is also an avenue to be updated with what is happening from the program.”

The townhall featured a short icebreaker to set a warm and inclusive tone, followed by three key objectives:

• Launch of the revised BSFLCD Student Guide – providing students with updated policies and resources to navigate their academic journey.

• Relaunch of the Critical Incident Report System – ensuring a safe and confidential channel for student concerns.

• Announcement of the upcoming AUN QA assessment – highlighting BSFLCD’s commitment to international quality standards, with student participation as a vital component.

The program concluded with an open forum where students shared insights and questions, reinforcing the collaborative spirit of the meeting. Light lunch were served.

The Department of Family Life and Child Development (DFLCD) Student Welfare Committee hosted a Kumustahan session via Zoom on 4 May 2026, for graduate students enrolled in FLCD 300 (Graduate Thesis). The event served as an avenue for the department to check in on students’ thesis journeys and explore ways to provide meaningful support. 

Ten graduate students attended the session, sharing both challenges and aspirations. 

A key concern raised was the need for a dedicated space where graduate students can regularly meet and write their theses together, fostering collaboration and focus. 

The session was thoughtfully facilitated by Asst. Prof. Silahis Peckley, who guided the conversation with warmth and encouragement. The committee emphasized that Kumustahan is not about monitoring progress, but about genuine care --listening to students, affirming their efforts, and building a stronger sense of community. 

The initiative reflects the department’s commitment to student welfare, ensuring that the thesis journey is not only an academic requirement but also a supported and shared experience.

The UP Department of Family Life and Child Development (UPDFLCD) attended the culminating ceremony of Kayang Kaya Para sa Bata, a certificate program for the upskilling of Child Development Workers (CDWs), held on April 13, 2025 at the municipal gym of Baras, Rizal.

The event recognized the achievement of 49 CDWs who successfully completed six months of intensive training and three months of mentoring. Notably, 10 CDWs who applied for the National Certificate III (NC III) for Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) also passed the qualifying exam, marking a significant milestone in their professional journey.

Kayang Kaya Para sa Bata is a project of the Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc. (KCFI), funded by the Rotary Club Global, aimed at empowering CDWs with developmentally appropriate, child-centered teaching strategies, digital resources, and certification to strengthen early childhood education. Through its partnership with KCFI, UP DFLCD faculty members played a vital role in designing, writing, implementing, and mentoring the CDWs of Baras, Rizal.

UPDFLCD’s engagement in this project supports the newly enacted Republic Act No. 12199, the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) System Act, which establishes an integrated system for holistic child development from birth to age eight. By professionalizing CDWs and strengthening Child Development Centers, the department contributes to advancing quality early childhood care and education in the Philippines.