BAGUIO CITY, Aug. 11—A total of 65 local government units (LGU) in the Cordillera have been conferred the Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance for their excellent programs and services for children in 2016. Two of them will vie for the 2017 national search.
Department of Social Welfare and Development Cordillerra (DSWD-CAR) focal person for children’s welfare Ruby Anne Huag on Friday said there were 65 LGUs so adjudged, who were awarded in two batches,
Awarded were the municipalities of Boliney, Daguioman, La Paz, Lacub, Lagangilang, Langiden, Pidigan, Pilar and San Quintin in Abra Province.
In Apayao, awardees were Calanasan, Conner, Flora and Santa Marcela. In Benguet, seal recipients were Bokod, Itogon, Mankayan, La Trinidad, Sablan and Tuba. In Ifugao, the awardees were Aguinaldo, Alfonso Lista, Asipulo, Banaue, Kiangan, Lagawe, Lamut and Tinoc; in Kalinga, Lubuagan, Rizal, Tabuk City, Tanudan, Pinukpuk and Balbalan and the LGUs of Bontoc, Natonin, Sabangan and Sadanga in Mountain Province. Completing the awardees was Baguio City.
Sablan and Baguio City have attained 85 percent and are considered for the national level search that may be awarded the Presidential Award.
As a tool for the selection, the Department of Interior and Local Governance have set standards for LGUs to meet and attain to be considered as child-friendly units.
Huag said the regional awardees were judged based on their continuing effort to be child-friendly and serve as models and functionality of their programs for the children clientele.
She explained that these cities and municipalities should aim for the betterment of children and set standards for the children to live in an ideal community. “The rights and welfare of the children should be primarily protected by these agencies that can help build the future of the nation,” she said.
The search is an annual recognition conducted by the DSWD, Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG), Department of Education (DepEd) and several other agencies, participated in by LGUs nationwide. ** Kris Chan/PNA
