DILG XI to intensify assessment on LGUs' child-friendly projects

DAVAO CITY- With the recent conferment received by the city as the Most Child-Friendly 2014, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) XI will intensify its assessment on the performance of Local Government Units (LGUs) in the delivery of social services and manifold landmark projects that promote and uphold the welfare of children.

According to DILG City Director Merilo Q. Limbaro, DILG plays a vital role in the conferment of the Presidential Award, stressing that they are thoroughly assessing every city and municipality in the region to gauge their performance in delivering children and youth-specific social services in the community.

“Our core responsibility here is to conduct the mandatory Child Friendly Local Governance Audit or CFLGA. With this, we are very resilient lalo na sa pag-iikot and we meet with Punong Barangays para masigurado na lahat ng concerns at proyekto na kailangan para matugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng bawat bata ay existing talaga,” Limbaro said.

The award for the Child-Friendly municipalities and cities was initiated by the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) pursuant to Executive Order No. 184 entitled “Establishing the Presidential Award for the Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities” issued on December 13, 1999.

"We assess LGUs based on the set of criteria like reduction in the deaths among children below 5 years old; reduction in the number of children below normal weight; absence of child labor or percentage reduction in child labor cases; and percentage reduction in the number of child victims of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. Ilan lang yan sa tinututukan natin,” Limbaro explained.

He also stressed that the assessment criteria shall use as benchmarks and a scale system in measuring the results and performance of LGUs consistent with national standards, averages or targets.

For this year’s national search, Davao highlighted its various landmark projects creating a sustainable child-friendly milieu toward protecting the rights of the child to survival, protection, development and participation. Some of the key projects include the Halfway House for IPs in Brgy. Datu Salumay in Marilog District, Balay Pasilungan Project, ALIMA Development Center for street children, Mobile Registration Program, and the Child Minding Center in Magallanes, anti-drugs and anti-crime campaigns,supplemental feeding program, scholarship program, among others.

"In accordance with the country’s commitments to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, we support the realization of children's rights and building a “Child-Friendly Society," he said.

According to Limbaro, DILG Regional Office "will intensify our assessment on the delivery of social welfare services on child and youth hindi lang para sa award kundi para sa kapakanan ng mga bata," adding that the DILG ensures organization and assist in the strengthening of Barangay Council for the Protection of Children in all barangays.

Davao City's recent award included a trophy and a cash amounting to PHP500,000 plus a PHP50,000, for being a national finalist.

The award was presented by CWC headed by Social Welfare Secretary Corazon "Dinky" Soliman in a ceremony held at Philippine International Convention Center in Manila last May 8, 2015. The city had also been honored with the same award for two consecutive years from 1998 to 1999 and won the regional award in 2012.

This year, it is eyeing for the "Hall of Fame" award pushing itself further to remain in the category title as the most child-friendly city for 2015. [DILG XI-CPNaig]