Most vulnerable to disasters

CHILDREN are the most vulnerable during disasters. The multidimensional stress they experience from difficult situations during emergencies and calamities affects their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.

Thus amid the dangers of consecutive typhoons, the Department of Interior and Local Government is being urged to prioritize the development and roll-out of the Comprehensive Emergency Program for Children (CEPC) across all local government units (LGUs). Children face the impacts of Typhoon “Egay” (international name: Doksuri) and the impending tropical cyclone “Falcon”.

Republic Act No. 10821 or the “Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act” passed in 2016 requires LGUs to formulate the CEPC that will ensure that children, and pregnant and lactating mothers are well protected before, during, and after disasters.

Based on assessment, Save the Children Philippines — a leading child rights organization — estimates that “Egay” has already affected around 60,000 children and may continue to increase as more families are seen to be impacted with the possible arrival of 12 more tropical cyclones, including “Falcon”, in the second half of 2023.

If we have emergency programs for children in place across LGUs, necessary support can be provided to children and affected people. They will also have lesser chances of being exposed to dangers such as abuse, harassment, trafficking, neglect, and exploitation.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. also supported the “Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act” while he was a still a senator in the 16th Congress. However, seven years have passed since the Philippine government enacted RA 10821 but the adoption, localization, and implementation of the CEPC have yet to be put in place across hundreds of LGUs. The time to act on this is now.