TADIAN, Mtn. Prov.– Our Children deserve the highest level of priority of which the Municipal Local Government Unit continues to commit in its plans to propel for the survival, development, protection, and participation of children through various programs, projects and activities in partnership with stakeholders that are playing the same role and advocacy. This was the opening remarks of Tadian Mayor Constito S. Masweng when he delivered the Municipal State of Children’s Address on December 18, 2019 at Poblacion, Tadian, Mountain Province.
The mayor reported that much has been accomplished for the children of Tadian in the recent years and these were made possible through collaborative efforts of the players for children’s welfare.
On children’s survival, the Municipal Local Government sustained its program to ensure that health services are accessible in all Barangays through functional Health Facilities and competent health workers to manage them. As of 2018, four (4) BHS were constructed in the Sitios of Maket-an, IIang, Madange, and Pasnadan. Hence, Tadian has twenty four (24) functional Health Facilities as of now composed of one (1) Rural Health Unit, nineteen (19) Barangay Health Stations, and four (4) BHS at the Sitio level being manned by 1 Physician, 1 Dentist, 3 Nurses, 1 Med Tech, 1 Sanitary Inspector, 13 Midwives, 1 Dental Aide, 116 BHWs, and 8 DOH-Human Resource For Health for a total of 145 work force for health services.
As a result, the MHO data on Maternal Health shows that the total deliveries in 2017 were 234 with a total of 225 or 96.15% who completed four (4) or more pre-natal consultations. Records also show a slight increase in deliveries of 242. However, there is also a slight decrease on the number of pre-natal consultations because only 227 of the 242 mothers (94%) completed 4 or more pre-natal visits.
Further, the MHO recorded a total teenage pregnancy of 44 in 2017 and 36 in 2018 which shows a decrease. The challenge to still reduce or even eradicate it lies in our hands the mayor added.
On children development, the mayor reported that the Early Childhood Care and Development are being catered to through the Supervised Neighbourhood Play and the Day Care Services which were given equal weight on the MLGU programs and the same have surfaced during the participatory situational analysis in the barangay level. Thus, three (3) Day Care Centers were constructed through the KALAHI-CIDSS-NCDD Program. These are located at Am-am, Cadad-anan; Cagubatan and Dacudac Proper. These were completed in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
On protection of children, records on Children in Conflict with the Laws (CICL) still exists and it even increased in the current year. The recorded cases of abuse against children remind us that our community is not an exemption to the daily challenges that we have to do our share to protect our children against all form of abuses. It is sad to note that sexual abuse against our children is always on top in the yearly record the mayor said.
On the recorded Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC), there were two (2) in 2017; two (2) in 2018, and one (1) in 2019.
Also, the MSWDO has in its record a total of 304 Registered Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). 177 are males and 127 are females. Out of this figure, 44 of them are under 18 years old. On top of the type of the illnesses or disabilities are orthopaedic cases, followed by mental, communication, visual impairment, chronic, multiple illness, psychosocial, celebral palsy and epileptic.
On children’s participation, programs, projects and activities for children are integral part of municipal government plans. Thus, the LGU never fail to conduct necessary activities in order to let children participate in the developmental activities to equip them for global challenges.
The conduct of mandated activities were performed and shall be performed with improvements, such as: Linggo ng Kabataan, Delivery of the State of the Children’s Report, Municipal Children’s Day, Barangay Children’s Day, Family Development Sessions under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and Students’ Development Activities in partnership with the DepEd and Sports Commission. Such as Sports, Academic, Journalism etc.
In his report, the mayor expressed his highest respect and gratitude to the key players for children’s welfare, especially the Health workers, Social Workers, Teachers, Parents – Teachers – Community Associations, Mandated bodies like the Municipal Council for the Protection of Children (MCPC) and BCPCs, Support agencies like the Law Enforcers, Sangguniang Kabataan, religious groups and sectors that have the same advocacy and passion.
He ended his report presenting what is expected from the LGU in partnership with key players for the children and as part of the executive – legislative agenda concerning children in order to attain the vision for the children which is “the HOPE for progressive, peaceful and resilient Tadian and be the catalyst for the adherence of good cultural values, faith in God, Healthy life, and socio-economic empowerment thru the spirit of ob-obbo. In short they are our hope to care for humanity and ecology and to be nurtured as future leaders”.-** Oiver C. Bilayan
