DSWD: Ensure playtime in schools

MANILA,Philippines — The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is urging schools to ensure playtime for children for their welfare and well-being.

Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary and CWC executive director Mitzi Cajayon-Uy said the promotion of providing playtime in schools is a priority agenda as the country celebrates National Children’s Month in November.

“We should allot time for play for our children because it is one of their rights,” Uy said. “Play is a right that is disregarded by people.”

Uy also noted that children, especially in the poorest families, are deprived of playtime, particularly those who are made to work or help out in earning livelihood for their families.

The DSWD, the DSWD-CWC and private partners Unilab Foundation and the Philippine Play Consortium, along with the National Youth Commission, launched last week the celebration of the 27th National Children’s Month.                       

As one of the activities in the one-month celebration, the CWC, the NYC and the Unilab Foundation held a a “Children’s Festival” to emphasize play as  basic right of chldren and as an integral part of their learning process and development, and promote their overall well-being.

Uy said that play was a right under the basic right of survival of children. Survival is one of the four categories of the basic rights of children, with the other three being development, protection and participation.

Uy said that the Department of Education was a partner in the advocacy of promoting play time in schools, with the DepEd being a member of the Council for the Welfare of Children. (rainier allan ronda)