DSWD to celebrate Children’s Month

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-7 has signified its support in the launching of the 27th National Children’s Month (NCM) Celebration through the recitation of the “Panatang Makabata.”

This year’s NCM celebration carries the theme “Karapatang Pambata: Patuloy na Pahalagahan at Gampanan Tungo sa Magandang Kinabukasan (Children’s Rights: Uphold, Respect, and Fulfill to a Better Future.”

This is anchored on the United Nations Convention for the Rights of the Children (UNCRC) and the 3rd National Plan of Action for Children (NPAC) Goals which are to progressively realize the rights of the children.

These rights children to have a better quality and improved way of life; well nourished, have healthy lives and are active learners with good quality education; safe and free from violence, abuse and exploitation; and that children are actively participating in decision-making processes affecting their lives according to their evolving capacities.

The DSWD-7, in a statement, said that the Council for the Welfare of Children has prepared activities for the month-long celebration of the NCM.

In full support to the activities spearheaded by the CWC, the DSWD-7, through its Regional Council for the Welfare of Children (RCWC), is holding its kick-off activity of the 2019 NCM the other day which includes the discussion on Inclusive Education and Online/Digital Safety for Children that will be participated in by the selected children from the Department of Education (DepEd), Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP), Forge Inc., Children’s Legal Bureau (CLB), World Vision, RCWC council members and the Child Development Workers .

Apart from that, the DSWD-7 will also be doing various TV and Radio appearances to intensify public awareness on the rights of children and remind all sectors of the community to be responsible in protecting the Filipino children.

On November 28, to culminate the 2019 NCM celebration, a Regional Children’s Contest will be held, showcasing the talents of children from different cities and municipalities of the Central Visayas region.

Earlier, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan delivered a "State of Children's Report" wherein he presented the significant gains under his administration in advancing the cause of children.

He said that students who has not no place to go for their research projects may now avail of the free services offered by our City’s e-library.  Apart from the free internet access and free use of our desktop computers, printing of research materials is also made free, with free bond papers.

"With the success of the e-library, we will soon open another e-library on the island of Olango. We will likewise set up barangay-based e-libraries so our students have plenty of options to go study and do their research for free," the mayor said in his speech.

Chan said that a call center academy will also be opened and senior high graduates who wish to work in various Business Processing Outsource companies in the city may now train in the call center academy for free.

Chan added that the city government also sponsored plane tickets of students competing in the International Robotics Competition in Greece as well as those competing in the Palarong Pinoy in Palawan. (FREEMAN)