The City of San Fernando was among the four finalists for the Component City Category of the 2016 Presidential Awards for the Child Friendly Municipalities and Cities (PACFMC) together with the cities of Tagaytay, Dipolog and Cabalyog.
Eighteen local government units from all over the Philippines attended the event as national finalist at the Rizal Hall in Malacañan Palace on December 12.
Personally conferring the awards was President Rodrigo Roa Duterte together with OIC-DILG Undersecretary Catalino Cuy, OIC DSWD Undersecretary Emmanuel Leyco and Executive Director of the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) Mary Mitzi Cajayon-Uy.
The event was attended by the Local Chief Executives of all the national finalists, national government agencies, non-government organizations, and international organizations.
In an interview, Mayor Edwin Santiago said tat the children are the future and there should always be a well thought direction for them, engaging in a short but gratifying plan, developing a long but sustainable long term strategies.
“Lagi ko ngang sinasabi that it takes a village to raise a child. Ang lahat ng mga inisyatibong inilalatag ng lokal na pamahalaan ay hindi rin magiging mabisa kung hindi susuporta ang ibang stakeholders. Kaya’t patuloy kaming maghihikayat, magdedevelop, at palalakasin ang bawat miyembro ng ating komunidad, ang lahat ay may kani – kanilang papel. Kailangan lamang na tayo’y magtulungan, at maging iisa ang ating adhikain na magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan ang mga kabataan,” he added.
Santiago furthered “on behalf of the City of San Fernando, kami po ay nagpapasalamat sa parangal na iginawad sa atin. Magsisilbi po itong inspirasyon para sa aming mga Fernandino na ipagpatuloy ang adbokasiya para sa mga bata.”
Also present during the awarding were Councilors BJ Lagman and Ayzel Macalino, City Accountant Maria Giselle Rivera, City Health Officer Dr. Eloisa Aquino, and Assistant City Social Welfare and Development Officer Aileen Villanueva and Department of Education Representative Airene Dayrit.