The Department of Social Welfare and Development held the October Children’s Month Celebration in Tagaytay City Last October 17, 2013 under the theme “Kahirapan wakasan, Karapatan ng Bata ipaglaban.”

The celebration, which started with a parade was highlighted with the awarding the 2013 Exemplary Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Exemplary Children, the Recognition of Tagaytay City as a 2012 Child Friendly Local Government Unit, Component City category and the presentation of the Department’s State of the Regional Affairs.

The activity was participated by Pantawid-students from selected schools in Tagaytay City, parent leaders from the different municipalities in Cavite and City government officials led by Mayor Agnes Tolentino and OIC City Social Welfare and Development Officer Elma M. Patawe.

DSWD IV-A Regional Director Leticia T. Diokno, in her state of the regional affairs presentation, highlighted the status of different programs and services being implemented by the Department in the Region.  Among these programs and services are the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR), the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, the Kalahi-CIDSS, the Sustainable Livelihood Program, the Supplemental Feeding Program, and the Social Pension for indigent senior citizen.

Dir Diokno also stressed that the programs and services being implemented are geared towards providing a better future to our children, thus it is importance collective from all sectors must be conducted, including the local government units.

Dir Diokno also led the giving of recognition to the winners from the Regional Search for the Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children, namely Ma. Franzlyn Manalo from Balete, Batangas in the 3^rd Place, Jamlech Iram Gojo-Cruz from Majayjay, Laguna in the 2^nd Place, and Greatchen Baretto from Lopez, Quezon in the 1^st Place

Mayor, Hon. Agnes D. Tolentino, on the other hand also received the Plaque of Recognition for being the 2012 Child Friendly City in the Component City Category.

Having been a Child Friendly City, the Officer-in-Charge in the City Social Welfare and Development Office (OIC-CSWDO) of Tagaytay City, Ms. Elma M. Patawe, conducted a presentation why Tagaytay is a city for children. She highlighted one of their programs which supports and provides education for the children of Tagaytay, making sure that every child is attending school. Honorable Agnes Tolentino also spoke about the challenges faced by the City of Tagaytay.