Gov’t urged to ensure COVID-19 recovery upholds children’s welfare

FILE PHOTO: Children from Agoncillo town in Batangas who were displaced by the eruption of Taal Volcano were busy coloring COVID-19 flyers provided by social workers. — NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian urged the government on Friday to ensure that the country’s upswing from the COVID-19 pandemic will uphold children’s welfare.

In his statement, in honor of the celebration of National Children’s Month, he stressed the impact of COVID-19 among children such as learning loss and increased exposure to different kinds of violence and mental health issues.

“Sa patuloy na pagbangon natin mula sa pandemya, mahalagang tutukan natin ang kapakanan ng ating mga kabataan, lalo na’t kasama sila sa mga pinaka-apektado ng pinsalang dulot ng COVID-19.

(As we continue to recover from the pandemic, it is important that we focus on the welfare of our youth, especially as they are among those most affected by the damage caused by COVID-19.)

“Mahalagang hakbang ang muling pagbabalik ng face-to-face classes, ngunit marami pa tayong maaaring gawin upang lalo pang itaguyod ang kaligtasan at kapakanan ng ating mga kabataan,” said Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

(Bringing back face-to-face classes is an important step, but we can do more to further promote the safety and welfare of our children.)

Gatchalian advocated for bolstering full-time in-person classes alongside true learning recovery, prolonged psychological assistance, and child protective measures in order to mitigate the pandemic’s effects on children.

The senator has filed measures that will improve students’ welfare such as the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Act and the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act. — Kristelle Anne Razon, trainee

JMS/abc