Samar Center for Developmental Pediatrics

Newly appointed DepEd Region VIII Director Salustiano Jimenez visited the Samar Center for Developmental Pediatrics in support of the Province of Samar’s continuing efforts to strengthen Special Education (SPED) and inclusive development programs.

The visit highlighted the growing collaboration among education and development stakeholders in promoting accessible, inclusive, and quality services for children with special needs across the province. Discussions centered on ongoing and future initiatives aimed at enhancing SPED systems, expanding learning opportunities, strengthening teacher capacity-building programs, and creating more inclusive educational environments for learners with diverse needs.

The Province of Samar continues to pursue programs and partnerships that support children with special needs, empower educators and families, and advance inclusive education for every Samarnon child.

𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 - 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐓 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭

We’ve officially wrapped up the first quarter of 2026, and looking at these numbers, it’s clear that hard work pays off. But beyond the stats, these are real milestones for the children and families we serve here in Samar.

Here’s a quick look at what we achieved together in Q1:

✅1,388 Therapy Sessions – building skills and confidence.
✅910 Tutorial Sessions – making sure no child is left behind in learning.
✅245 Assessments – providing the roadmap for every child’s unique journey.
✅165 Parent Sessions – because strong families lead to thriving kids.

Every session represents a small win that leads to a big impact. A huge thank you to our dedicated team, our supportive partners, and most importantly, the parents who trust us every step of the way. Padayon Samar!

𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬: 𝐎𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐯𝐬. 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫

Providing the best support for our children’s development begins with understanding the specific roles of the professionals who guide them.

Many parents are familiar with the terms "OT" and "SPED Teacher," but it is important to know how their expertise differs and how they work together to help your child thrive. While an Occupational Therapist builds the foundation for daily living, a SPED Teacher opens the door to academic learning.

☑️𝑶𝒄𝒄𝒖𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒊𝒔𝒕 (𝑶𝑻): Focuses on "functional independence." They help children master daily activitiessuch as eating, dressing, and playing, by addressing motor skills, sensory needs, work behaviors and others.

☑️𝑺𝑷𝑬𝑫 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒓: Focuses on "specialized instruction." They use tailored teaching methods to help children achieve academic milestones in reading, writing, and math, while also fostering social interaction.

While their areas of focus vary, these professionals collaborate closely to ensure the holistic development of every child. Understanding who to turn to is the first step in building a supportive community for our children with special needs.

We are proud to celebrate another milestone at the Samar Center for Developmental Pediatrics.

Our Clinical Lead – Occupational Therapist, Lyssa, has successfully completed Level 1 and Level 2 Certification in Developmental Play, a specialized therapeutic approach that uses structured play to support children’s development, engagement, and regulation.

This advanced training was conducted by Ms. Caroline Essame, Founder and Course Facilitator of the Developmental Play program. Through this certification, Lyssa further strengthens our team’s clinical expertise in delivering play-based interventions that support children with developmental needs.

At SamarCDP, we remain committed to continuously enhancing our knowledge and practice to ensure that the children and families we serve receive high-quality, evidence-informed pediatric care.

The Samar Center for Developmental Pediatrics joins the entire nation in celebrating the 2026 National Women’s Month with the theme:

“WE for Gender Equality and Inclusive Society.”

This year’s sub-theme, “Lead like the Babaylans, Filipinas!”
highlights the strength, wisdom, and leadership of Filipino women in shaping inclusive communities.

As a center dedicated to children with special needs and their families, we recognize and honor the invaluable role of women - mothers, caregivers, therapists, teachers, and leaders, whose compassion and resilience help build a more inclusive and equitable society for all.

Let us continue to champion gender equality and inclusion in every space we serve. 💜

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

This celebration honors the strength, leadership, and invaluable contributions of women in all sectors, and reaffirms our commitment to promoting gender equality and inclusive development for a progressive and resilient Samar.

Guided by this year’s sub-theme, “Lead like the Babaylans, Filipinas!”, the Philippine Commission on Women emphasizes that women’s leadership is deeply rooted in Filipino identity, inspired by the Babaylans of pre-colonial Philippines whose influence was shaped by wisdom, empathy, and moral guidance.

Happy National Women’s Month! 💜✨

� � �

The SamarCDP team just got a little bigger!

We are beyond excited to introduce two new members joining our mission to support children with developmental needs: Quisha, our new Occupational Therapist, and Via, our new SPED Teacher.

We can’t wait to see Quisha in action helping our kids reach their developmental goals, just as we’re excited for Via to bring her unique SPED background to our learning spaces.

We’re so lucky to have their expertise (and their big hearts!) on the team. Welcome to the SamarCDP team, Quisha and Via!

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞!

The Samar Center for Developmental Pediatrics proudly celebrates its first year of service as a program established under the Provincial Government of Samar. Created to strengthen the province’s commitment to inclusive and accessible healthcare, the Center was founded to provide comprehensive developmental services to children with special needs and their families across Samar.

As a government-operated facility, the Center reflects the Provincial Government’s dedication to advancing early identification, timely intervention, and disability inclusion. Over the past year, the Center has delivered multidisciplinary services including Developmental Pediatrics consultation, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, and Special Education support. Beyond clinical care, it has conducted parent education seminars, community outreach initiatives, and collaborative engagements with schools, local government units, and partner institutions to promote awareness and empower families throughout the province.

This milestone represents not only services rendered, but the lives supported, the families strengthened, and the systems established to ensure that children with developmental needs receive structured and appropriate care within their own province.

As the Samar Center for Developmental Pediatrics moves into its second year, the focus remains clear: to strengthen service delivery systems, expand reach to underserved communities, and continuously raise the standard of developmental care in the province. The work continues—with greater clarity, stronger partnerships, and a deeper commitment to the children and families we serve.

One Health. One Samar.

The Samar Center for Developmental Pediatrics successfully conducted a developmental screening and parent education activity in Tagapul-an, Samar, as part of its ongoing outreach efforts to promote early identification and timely intervention for children with developmental needs.

Children from the community underwent comprehensive developmental screening, while parents and family members participated in a parent education session focused on understanding child development, recognizing early developmental concerns, and learning practical strategies to support their children at home. Participating families were also provided with individualized home instruction programs to help ensure continuity of care beyond the screening activity.

The activity was implemented in close collaboration with the Tagapul-an LGU to guide families on appropriate next steps, including follow-up services and necessary referrals.

Through its multidisciplinary approach, SamarCDP continues to expand access to essential developmental services across the province, offering Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Physical Therapy, and Special Education (SPED) services. These initiatives are part of the continuing programs of the Provincial Government of Samar, aimed at strengthening early childhood development services and ensuring that children and families receive timely, accessible, and appropriate support.

We extend our sincere appreciation to Catbalogan 1 SPED Center for hosting this meaningful activity in celebration of National Autism Consciousness Week, with the support of the City Government of Catbalogan. The event provided an important venue for parent education and community engagement.

As part of the program, Speech-Language Pathologist from the Samar Center for Developmental Pediatrics served as the guest speaker, contributing to the dialogue and interaction with parents.

At the Samar Center for Developmental Pediatrics, we continue to support initiatives that promote parent education and community awareness, recognizing the essential role of informed caregivers in supporting children with autism.

Blue is more than a color, it’s a call to understand, accept, and act.

Samar Center for Developmental Pediatrics proudly joins the province in supporting individuals on the autism spectrum this 30th National Autism Consciousness Week.

We encourage everyone to go beyond awareness: create inclusive spaces, advocate for understanding, and offer support every day, not just this week.

Inclusion starts with each of us, every single day.