The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) together with other national government agencies (NGAs), local government units (LGUs) and members of the academe and civil society organizations (CSOs) commit to protect the children and promote their rights during the celebration of the 23rd National Children’s Month in Lucena City, Quezon Province last November 27.
With the theme “Komunidad at pamahalaan magkaisa, pang-aabuso sa bata wakasan na,” the activity advocated for the continuous effort of all stakeholders including NGAs, LGUs, CSOs and members of the community in working towards ending violence against children.
“Puhunan natin ang mga bata para magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan ang ating bayan. Kaya gabayan natin sila at pangalagaan,” said Dir. Annie Mendoza, Asst. Regional Director for Operations of DSWD Field Office IV-A.
The celebration held various sessions on child protection against human trafficking and abuse, online safety and child labor among others.
Police Superintendent Renato Alba from the Philippine National Police CALABARZON shared that they will continue to work with the community and respond to cases to provide a friendly and safe environment for the children.
“’Wag po kayong mag-atubili na lumapit sa amin para i-report ang mga kaso kaugnay ang child abuse. Sama-sama nating labanan ang karahasan sa mga bata,” Alba said.
Meanwhile, the teachers commit to give good education to the students to guide them towards being productive citizens in the future.
“Responsibilidad natin na mabigyan sila ng magandang kinabukasan sa pamamagitan ng edukasyon. ‘Wag nating hayaan na mangyari ang mga karahasan sa mga bata,” said Yen Dimayuga, a teacher from Lemery Pilot Elementary School in Lemery, Batangas Province.
Recognition of partners, children
As part of the celebration, the DSWD IV-A, as the chair of the Regional Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Children, also recognized top-performing LGUs based on the Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit (CFLGA).
Awardees include the City of Tagaytay in Cavite for obtaining 100% rating in the audit and the municipalities of Magallanes and Indang in Cavite and Lucban in Quezon for their 94% rating and the municipality of Pagsanjan in Laguna for their 93% rating.
Further, the DSWD also recognized exemplary children who are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
Zaira Villenas, a resident of Sampaloc in Quezon, is this year’s winner of the Regional Search for Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children. Other provincial and regional winners include Roger Renz Almazan (Alitagtag, Batangas), Eloisa Monique Quines (Trece Martires City, Cavite), Ferrin Jane Maraña (Sta. Maria, Laguna) and Ella Mae Palisoc (Pililla, Rizal).
The said search is an annual activity of the DSWD, through the Pantawid Pamilya program, that recognizes child-beneficiaries who serve as good role models in their respective families, schools and communities.
Promoting ‘change’ among the children
The National Children’s Month celebration also promoted to the children to work towards improving their lives.
Dir. Mendoza, in her message, shared that the children should value their education and instill among themselves that they are the future of the nation.
During the activity, the DSWD highlighted the positive stand of the children in achieving change in their lives through exhibiting and awarding the winning artworks in the DSWD Artwork Contest for Grade School Children 2015.
The said contest, with the theme “Pagbabago, sa kamay ng batang tulad ko,” was conducted by the DSWD in partnership with the Department of Education in the CALABARZON Region.
Anne Charlotte Navarro, a student of Buli Elementary School in Taal, Batangas Province, was awarded as the grand champion in the contest with her masterpiece titled “Pangarap na pagbabago, kayang-kaya ng pamilya ko.”#