Tarlac State University (TSU), through the Center for Community and Local Governance Studies and Policy Development (CCLGSPD), formally signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Municipality of Santa Ignacia on April 29, 2026, at the Executive Hall, Santa Ignacia, Tarlac. The signing marks Santa Ignacia as the third of eight municipalities to join Project START+: Advancing Capacity of Child Development Workers Across All Municipalities—a long-term extension and research initiative aimed at elevating the competencies and professional growth of Child Development Workers (CDWs) throughout Tarlac Province.
The ceremony was attended by TSU officials Atty. Brigido B. Corpuz, Executive Assistant, representing OIC-University President Dr. Maura Consolacion D. Cristobal; Atty. Wilmark J. Ramos, Vice President for Research, Innovation, and Extension; and CCLGSPD Director Dr. Cynthia G. Quiambao, together with Department Heads Ms. Vien Jamaica D. Samson and Mr. John H. Lanuzo. The Municipality of Santa Ignacia was represented by Mayor Hon. Nathaniel L. Tan, Vice Mayor Hon. Francis Ponce Candelario, members of the Sangguniang Bayan, SK Federation President Bojo B. Arrojo, and MSWDO Officer Precious Grace J. Gacusana.
Dr. Quiambao delivered the opening remarks, extending gratitude to all those who made the MOA signing and the broader implementation of Project START+ possible. Ms. Samson presented the background and rationale of the project, while Mr. Lanuzo outlined its objectives, which include expanding CDW training opportunities, supporting children with special needs, strengthening parental engagement, and advocating for local ordinances that safeguard CDW welfare.
Atty. Corpuz, on behalf of OIC-University President Dr. Cristobal, delivered the University's message of commitment, reaffirming TSU's dedication to forging partnerships that translate academic expertise into tangible benefits for the communities it serves.
Mayor Tan affirmed the municipality's full support for the initiative, stating that the partnership represents "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 this enthusiasm, acknowledging the partnership as a timely and necessary investment in the municipality's frontline CDW workforce—one that addresses both present needs and the demands of the future.
Atty. Ramos delivered the closing remarks, underscoring that genuine community progress begins with investing in those who shape the earliest years of a child's life. He called on both parties to uphold the spirit of the partnership, expressing that Project START+ stands as TSU's enduring commitment to the welfare of Tarlac's children and the workers who serve them.
With five more municipalities yet to formally enter the agreement, TSU-CCLGSPD continues its province-wide effort to bring Project START+ to every corner of Tarlac—steadfast in its mission to empower the men and women who nurture the province's future, one Child Development Worker at a time.
