ILOILO City – This southern city has been shortlisted as national finalist in the Council for the Welfare of Children’s 2018 Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Municipality and Cities (PACFMC) under the highly-urbanized city category.
A team composed of representatives from the Department of Health, Philippine Information Agency, National Council of Social Development and Council for the Welfare of Children will conduct a validation visit from July 9 to 13.
“Being chosen as national finalist is a manifestation that we have been doing well on projects and programs intended for the development of our children,” said Mayor Jose Espinosa III.
The city government has been told to prepare documents such as the Local Development Plan for Children, Local Investment Plan for Children, data on children, Local State of Children Report, and Local Code for Children, among others.
The team will also visit five barangays.
The Regional Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Children recently cited several “best practices” of the city government to advance children’s welfare.
“Our Local Council for the Protection of Children is functional, and we have specific laws and policies fostering the best interest of children,” said City Social Welfare and Development Office assistant department head Merlyn Gison.
The city has passed the Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit, she revealed.
It was assessed on the implementation of programs, projects, and activities based on children’s rights – their right to survival, which focuses on health and nutrition; education and development; participation in nation-building; and protection, which encompasses the functionality of the barangay council for the protection of children./PN
