Ayala Foundation has launched CENTEX Early Grades in El Nido, Palawan, an early childhood education program for children aged three to five. The program is expected to benefit more than 1,500 children over the next two school years.
The foundation signed a memorandum of agreement with local partners on June 19, 2026, at a community launch at the Palawan State University El Nido Campus. The launch was reported in July 2026.
The program aims to improve teaching practices, provide quality learning materials, increase parent engagement and build collaboration across the community. It will train and support 28 child development workers and 17 kindergarten teachers across eight barangays. Ten education specialists from Palawan State University will help implement it.
Partners include the Municipality of El Nido, the Department of Education Schools Division of Palawan, Palawan State University and the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office. The program is funded by SC Johnson.
"Strong foundations are built both inside and outside our schools," said Tony Lambino, President of Ayala Foundation. "When communities invest in the early years, they create opportunities that can shape a child's entire educational journey."
Dr. Loida S. Adornado, Schools Division Superintendent of Palawan, called the program "a commendable initiative that will lay a vital foundation for lifelong learning."
Part of a wider push on learning
Ayala Foundation describes education as its "big bet" in responding to the Philippines' learning crisis. Its CENTEX program started with two public schools in Manila and Batangas and has trained and mentored 1,680 public school teachers. CENTEX Early Grades, which began in 2024, aims to align pre-kindergarten and kindergarten instruction so that children have a stronger foundation before entering primary school.
