McDonald's Charities to build P1.6M 'Bahay Bulilit' for Cebu

CEBU CITY (June 6) -- McDonald’s will build within the year the first "Bahay Bulilit" Day Care Center in Cebu in collaboration with the Cebu City Government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The P1.6 million day care center has been proposed to be built in a city-owned lot behind SM City Cebu to serve the less privileged communities in that part of Mabolo and nearby residents in Carreta and those living within the Port of Cebu.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña personally picked the site during a visit of Maria Corazon "Zonito" M. Torrevillas, executive director of McDonald's Charities and also the PR/Communications manager of McDonald's Philippines, at City Hall last May 29.

Necessary documentations are now being worked out and project collaborators hope to sign a memorandum of agreement within this month, Torrevillas disclosed.

Under the MOA, McDonald's will build the "Bahay Bulilit" at a projected cost of P1.6 million, while the city will allow the use of its lot for at least 20 years for the day care center and pay for the salary of the day care teachers and social workers.

DSWD will oversee its day-to-day operations, along with the Cebu City Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS) headed by Catherine "Kathy" R. Yso.

The "Babay Bulilit" unit in Cebu will be the second to be built outside Metro Manila since McDonald's Charities began the program with DSWD two years ago. Five units have been built in Metro Manila. It inaugurated the latest unit in Iloilo City only last April 19.

McDonald's Charities pursued the "Bahay Bulilit" program as part of its advocacy to promote the Rights of the Child through programs that works for the child's education, shelter, health and happiness.

Another parallel program is "Bright Minds Read," a beginning reading curriculum for Grade One pupils, that McDonald's Charities funded during research and now to promote its widespread implementation among public schools nationwide.