2 Bataan towns cited for being child-friendly
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—A reading readiness program and a big budget for children’s projects made Samal and Mariveles towns in Bataan the regional winners in this year’s Presidential Award Child-Friendly Municipalities.
The award is given to local governments that excel in promoting children’s rights to survival, development, protection and participation, said Adelina Apostol, director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Central Luzon. She also chairs the regional subcommittee for the welfare of children.
The Samal initiative involves children 5 to 6 years old. Given school supplies and snacks during the 20-day program, the children are prepared for regular classes, enabling them to adjust quickly to the learning process.
Mariveles, on the other hand, has set aside P93 million of its P196-million budget this year for programs improving the access of 57,493 children, up to 17 years old, to health and education. Its 18 villages have functional councils for the protection of children.
Mariveles also holds its search for child-friendly village yearly to check on the status of children-related programs.
Olongapo City won in the regional award’s highly urbanized city group. Its Center for Women provides temporary shelter for victims of violence and trafficking. The city’s Social Development Center helps female minors while the Center for Youth aids male minors.
A national awards committee will select the presidential awardees from the regional winners. Awarding rites are set in October in Malacañang.
The supplemental feeding program (SFP) of the DSWD has been helping 131,000 children in 2,430 day-care centers in Central Luzon since June.
Len Carreon, SFP coordinator for DSWD, said the program provides healthy meals during snack time for 120 school days or six months. The children have been dewormed and given vitamins before the feeding program. They are weighed regularly.
Day-care centers with SFP beneficiaries get a weekly supply of iron-fortified rice from the National Food Authority and cash grant for ingredients. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon
