All Bulacan municipalities and the cities of Meycauayan and San Jose del Monte harvested the fruits of their hard work as they were conferred with the Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance (SCFLG) award by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Council for the Welfare of Children and the Department of the Interior and Local Government during the Awarding Ceremony held at The Pavilion, Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center in this city yesterday.
All the awardees, who passed the 12 criteria of the 2018 Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit, received nine boxes with 38,880 sachets of micronutrients powder that contains vitamins and nutrients and can be mixed in children’s food.
Governor Daniel R. Fernando acknowledged the efforts of the LGUs and said that the protection and care for the children and young people is an investment for the bright future of the nation.
“Mahalaga ang aksyon ng pamahalaan subalit ito ay hindi sapat. The family, the school, the community, the civil society, the local government, the media and the national government must commit themselves for the children’s right and welfare. Dapat nating palawigin ang ating pakikipagtulungan upang makamit ng mga bata ang kanilang karapatan,” the governor said.
Moreover, CWC representative Ma. Erlinda Aguila said that the recognition is a proof that Bulacan LGUs and their respective local councils for the protection of children have successfully implemented child-friendly programs and services.
“The awardees are 95.83 percent of the total audited LGU of the province. We hope that this will encourage all the LGUs in the province to continuously strive to uplift the welfare and status of all children in their communities,” Aguila said.
Also, DSWD Field Office 3 Regional Director Marites M. Maristela highlighted the importance of having a safe, clean and empowering community for the children.
“Kung ano ang pinakikita at pinamumulat natin sa mga bata, ganyan din ang kanilang dadalhin sa kanilang henerasyon. Napakadaming problema sa ating komunidad, but having an enabling and protecting community, nakakasiguro po tayo na mas maraming percentage ng mga bata ang napo-protektahan natin,” the regional director said.
Meanwhile, on behalf of all the awardees, Guiguinto Mayor Ambrosio Cruz, Jr. thanked the council for the award and offered it to the child development workers, MSWDO, nutrition officers, and municipal health officers who worked hard to achieve the recognition.
The awarding of SCFLG coincides the celebration of the Children’s Month this November with the theme “Karapatang Pambata: Patuloy na Pahalagahan at Gampanan Tungo sa Magandang Kinabukasan”.