SANTA IGNACIA, Tarlac (April 30, 2026) — Tarlac State University (TSU), through its Center for Community and Local Governance Studies and Policy Development (CCLGSPD), entered into a three-year Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the local government of Santa Ignacia on Thursday, April 29, to enhance the skills and professional growth of Child Development Workers (CDWs) across the province.
The ceremonial signing, held at the Municipal Executive Hall in Santa Ignacia, marks as the third of eight municipalities set to join Project START+: Advancing Capacity of Child Development Workers Across All Municipalities.
Representing TSU were Atty. Brigido B. Corpuz, Executive Assistant, on behalf of OIC-University President Dr. Maura Consolacion D. Cristobal; Atty. Wilmark J. Ramos, Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Extension; CCLGSPD Director Dr. Cynthia G. Quiambao; and department heads Vien Jamaica D. Samson and John H. Lanuzo.
Santa Ignacia Mayor Nathaniel Tan led the municipal delegation, joined by Vice Mayor Francis Ponce Candelario, members of the Sangguniang Bayan, SK Federation President Bojo B. Arrojo, and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Precious Grace J. Gacusana.
Dr. Quiambao opened the program with remarks thanking stakeholders who made the initiative possible. Ms. Samson presented the project’s background, while Mr. Lanuzo detailed its key objectives: expanding training opportunities for CDWs, supporting children with special needs, strengthening parental engagement, and advocating for local ordinances protecting CDW welfare.
Atty. Corpuz, delivering the university’s message of commitment, reaffirmed TSU’s dedication to turning academic expertise into community benefits.
Mayor Tan expressed full support for the initiative, describing the partnership as “a concrete step towards strengthening early childhood development by equipping our Child Development Workers with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities they deserve.”
Vice Mayor Candelario echoed the sentiment, calling the agreement a timely investment in the municipality’s frontline CDW workforce that addresses both present needs and future demands.
Atty. Ramos delivered the closing remarks, emphasizing that genuine community progress begins with investing in those who shape the earliest years of a child’s life. “Project START+ stands as TSU’s enduring commitment to the welfare of Tarlac’s children and the workers who serve them,” he said.
With five more municipalities set to join, TSU-CCLGSPD continues its province-wide push to bring Project START+ to every corner of Tarlac.
