• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) conferred the seal of the Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit (CFLGA) award to 11 local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental during the regional kick-off of the 31st National Children’s Month (NCM) on Wednesday.
“This audit is included in the Seal of Good Local Governance, wherein if you cannot pass, you cannot enter the top award in local governance. The child-friendly is more on social protection,” disclosed DILG Western Visayas Regional Director Juan Jovian Ingeniero.
The recipients of the CFLGA seal in Negros Occidental included cities of Himamaylan, Silay, La Carlota, Victorias, Cadiz, Talisay, and Bago, as well as municipalities of Hinoba-an, Murcia, La Castellana and Manapla.
Other recipients were the towns of Anilao, Dingle, Lambunao, Oton, Pavia, Dumangas, Concepcion, Tigbauan, Tubungan, Pototan, Santa Barbara, Igbaras, and Passi City from Iloilo province; Buenavista and Nueva Valencia in Guimaras province; Dao, Sapian, Jamindan, and Tapaz in Capiz.
During the kick-off ceremony, the DSWD and the Regional Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Children (RSCWC) introduced the Mahalin at Kalingain ang ating mga Bata (Makabata) helpline 1383, which is expected to be operational next year.
“The Makabata helpline primarily aims to develop a mechanism that will provide quick response, monitoring, and feedback through calls, electronic mail, and different social media platforms,” said RSCWC regional coordinator Franz Hermocillas in his presentation.
It provides services to all children, parents, and adolescents with varied needs relating to child rights and concerns.
Meantime, concerns and issues can be reported using the smart number 0919-3541383, globe line 0915-8022375, or by emailing makabatahelpline@cwc.gov.ph.
This year’s NCM celebration has its theme “Healthy, nourished, sheltered: Ensuring the right to life for all.” Other events to highlight the celebration are the children’s congress on November 24-25 and the children’s contest with child development learners as participants on December 6.
The kick-off ceremony started with the participants reciting the Hiligaynon version of the “Panatang Makabata.”* with report from PNA
