2017 National Children’s Month Celebration Commences

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 through the Regional Council for the Welfare of Children (RCWC), held a kick-off activity of this year’s 25th National Children’s Month (NCM) celebration which highlights the theme “Bata: Iligtas sa Droga!”.

More than 300 individuals coming from the RCWC member-agencies, government high schools, youth organizations and Day Care Workers of Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-lapu City and Talisay City partook in the kick-off activity.

It comprises a motorcade early in the morning which, started from Plaza Independencia on the way to the Capitol Grounds and was followed by an Opening Program thereafter, on November 4, 2017, Saturday.

During the program, DSWD 7 Social Welfare Officer IV Grace Yana emphasized the significant role of the family as the cradle of the society in providing a strong foundation of the appropriate values and as well as in protecting the constitutional rights of a child.

Yana also mentioned that during the Support Group sessions with the recovering drug dependents, it was found that the most common reason children get involved in criminal and unlawful acts is the dysfunctional family that they live in.

“Mao na nga ato gyu’ng gi advocate nga ma strengthen ang family values ug nag-awhag pud ta sa mga ginikanan nga dapat dili lang sila mag profess (sa good values) kon dili mag possess pud, meaning ang mga ginikanan mahimo silang role models ngadto sa ilang mga anak” said Yana.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-7) Regional Director Emerson S. Margate is pleased to see activities like these being carried out which aim to pull children away from the danger of illegal drug addiction.

“Our children, you are our valuable assets. You are the trailblazers to our future. You are the heirs of the unique history. There is no job as important and as noble as protecting a child” expressed Director Margate on his statement during the program.

In adherence to the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs, the Council for the Welfare of Children came up with the theme “Bata: Iligtas sa Droga!” for this year’s celebration on NCM.

The National Children’s Month will be celebrated for the whole month of November which aims to consistently advocate the rights of our children and raise awareness on child protection and violence against children.

To further campaign for this advocacy, CWC has lined up several activities for this year’s NCM celebration.

One of its major activities is the launching of the “Pito, Bata, Pito! A Call 4 Help Campaign (C4H)” which seeks to give children a voice from being victims of various crimes specifically on illegal drugs and all forms of violence and exploitation on November 06, 2017 by CWC in Manila. Children are encouraged to blow their whistles or ‘pito’ as means of communication when they feel threatened or harmed.
CWC will gather donations (monetary or kind) until the end of 2017 for 1 million (1M) whistles that will be distributed to different kids across the nation by Christmas season.

Other activities arranged for this year’s NCM celebration are the “Dikit a Sticker” Campaign on road safety and anti-illegal drugs which will be done with the transport groups and the Regional Children’s Contest on November 29, 2017 at the Mandaue City Sports Complex.
The CWC urges all citizens to engage proactively in consorting with authorities in protecting and advancing the rights and welfare of children.

“The primary target of this year’s theme “Bata: Iligtas sa Droga!” are the duty bearers and the society in general. We carry the responsibility in saving and protecting our vulnerable children from violence against them and the danger of drug addiction” stressed Yana, on her closing remarks during the program.