Mayor Zamora delivers state of children address in San Juan City

MANILA, Philippines — In time for National Children’s Month, Mayor Francis Zamora reported the current state of children in San Juan on Monday, November 13, 2023, at the San Juan City Hall Atrium. 

He was joined by Usec. Angelo M. Tapales, Executive Director of the Council for the Welfare of Children, Meanard Ilagan, Project Development Officer of Makabata Helpline, Vice Mayor Angelo Agcaoili, and the rest of the city council.

With the theme “Healthy, Nourished, Sheltered: Ensuring the Right to Life for All,” Mayor Zamora discussed the city’s efforts to address the needs of every Kabataang San Juaneño.

Zamora highlighted the City Social Welfare and Development’s programs and projects under the helm of the City Social Welfare and Development and other departments and offices that follow the four pillars under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children, which includes their right to life and survival; development; protection;  and participation.

From conception to childbirth, providing the right nutrition, education, and encouraging the youth to engage in their community and have their voices heard, the mayor relayed how the city cares for its children, whom he considers as his own. Through all these efforts, San Juan City was recognized as a “Child-Friendly Local Government Unit” by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the 2023 Urban Governance Exemplar Awards. 

Mayor Zamora shared the recognition that the San Juan Local Council for the Protection of Children o LCPC and the San Juan Local Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children o LCAT-VAWC received from the Department of the Interior and Local Government as a Functional Council and Committee after getting a rating of 91.37%, and 94%, respectively. This means that the councils are tagged as “highly functional” by the agency.

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The city also allotted 33, 942, 830.67 or 12.42% of the city’s annual budget to fund the programs and services for the children.

This academic year, students studying and living in San Juan were given school uniforms, free school supplies and materials as well as providing them with WiFi in school, including all common areas within the school vicinity, and smart TVs. At home, they were also given free fiber optic internet connection, tablets and laptops for school.

The city also regularly provides educational assistance to students through the office of Cong. Bel Zamora. Honor students were also given cash grants between P2,000-10,000, while student athletes were given financial incentives. 

Monthly educational assistance is also available for the children of underprivileged solo parents, 100 children who need special protection, including victim-survivors of violence against children, Children In Conflict with the Law, Children At Risk, and Children under Foster Care. 

Facilities were also founded for the benefit of the children and youth. These include basketball courts and child development centers under the Early Childhood Care and Development Program of San Juan. 

San Juaneño youth are also given counseling, career guidance seminars, and job opportunities through the Public Employment and Service Office’s Special Program for Employment of Students to prepare them for the “real world” once they graduate and help augment their needs.

In terms of protection, the San Juan PNP also delivers advocacy activities such as BIDA or “Buhay ay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan” Program and Project ViBES or “Virtual Bisita Eskwela – I am Strong” to keep them away from drugs and help them protect themselves from abuse. Women and Children’s Desk are also placed in every barangay to make reporting easier for abused women and children.

Meanwhile, the city also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Council for the Welfare of Children and launched the Makabata 1383 Helpline, a national hotline that concerned citizens may call, text or email should they witness or experience child abuse. This supplements the existing helplines in the country. San Juan City is also the first city in NCR to sign an MOU with the Council for the Welfare of Children.