Whether at home or in the workplace, mothers often juggle multiple roles—cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping, caring for children, and even handling repairs. These tasks paint just a glimpse of a mother’s daily responsibilities.
In an era where women embrace equal opportunities, many mothers now carry the title of “working mother,” balancing professional duties with their roles at home. At the same time, stay-at-home mothers are living examples of strength and independence, managing errands with a baby in their arms or a toddler by their side.
Aware of the many hats our mothers wear, the Philippine Statistics Authority Regional Statistical Services Office (PSA RSSO-1) launched various initiatives to make it a little lighter for the first lady of our household.
A safe space for children
One of the highlights for this agency’s campaign is the creation of a “Kiddie Room” inside the PSA RSSO 1 located in the city of San Fernando, La Union.
PSA Regional Director, Lawyer Sheila De Guzman said that as a GAD advocate and aware of the gender role of women as the primary caregiver of their children, the agency goes beyond the extra mile and sees the chance to give comfort to their mother-clients and mother-employees.
“As a frontline service provider, we need to make our programs and facilities gender-responsive,” De Guzman said.
The Kiddie Room aims to provide the mother a space where their children can play and do educational stuff while their parents are either working or waiting for their documents.
This initiative was first formed during the Women’s Month celebration in March 2023.
De Guzman came up with an idea to transform an available space at the ground floor of their office into a kiddie room which caters to both clients and employees as well.
With a limited budget, but with lots of dedication and love from everyone in the team, the project took off.
“The toys, coloring books, crayons and other materials were donated by our employees,” De Guzman shared.
Employees themselves are also taking shifts to serve as attendants to the kiddie room which is an add-on to their usual functions.
A welcome reprieve for parents
Warren Canabang, a resident of Bacnotan, La Union, recently visited the PSA office to secure the death certificate of his late wife.
During his visit, he expressed his appreciation for the agency’s thoughtful initiative in creating a dedicated space for clients’ children.
“I was with my youngest during our visit, and it was great to know that they have such space for our children,” Canabang shared.
He further noted that the kiddie space made a significant difference, as it kept his child entertained and spared him from potential tantrums while waiting for the documents to be processed.
PSA-RSSO I formulated operations guidelines for the Kiddie Room. Among the house rules is that the primary responsibility to look after the care and safety of the children is at the hand of the parents while PSA personnel are there to assist them.
The PSA RSSO 1’s Kiddie room is the first of its kind in the entire PSA nationwide.
Expansion of services
Looking ahead, De Guzman envisions transforming the Kiddie Room into a full-fledged child-minding center, complete with dedicated personnel trained in child care and a budget for specialized resources.
“We envision it to become a child-minding center with a budget allocated on things like having a human resource specializing in child care,” she said.
De Guzman adds that the Kiddie Room has received positive feedback from clients, with many expressing gratitude for the comfort it provides to their children while parents complete important transactions.
“Most of our clients were thankful for this project since their kids felt more comfortable while their parents were doing their transactions on the civil registry system or Philippine Identification System,” De Guzman said.
The agency even envisions expanding this kind of service to senior citizens.
To sustain and improve this project, the agency plans to partner with other agencies to solicit support in terms of the materials like toys, books, and educational materials for the kiddie room and to capacitate their personnel on child care.
As an initial step, the PSA intends to tap the Regional Council for the Welfare of Children (RCWC), an organization operating under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The RCWC plays a vital role in promoting and safeguarding the rights and welfare of children across the region. Their expertise in child welfare policies, programs, and resource mobilization makes them an ideal partner to guide and support the PSA in improving the kiddie room’s facilities and services.
Other initiatives of the agency for the welfare of women and their children include the free issuance of civil registry documents for women clients of the CRS outlet during the celebration of International Women’s Month and priority lane for pregnant women.
While the PSA RSSO I may operate on a limited budget, its team continues to demonstrate unwavering dedication and compassion for women and children, proving that meaningful change begins with small yet impactful steps.(CCMT/CGCC, PIA Region 1)
