Children Express Their Voices During “Araw ng Kabataan”

Some 3,500 parent-and child-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and recipients of other child-focused services of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) gathered today at the Quirino Grandstand, Luneta Park, to celebrate “Araw ng Kabataan.”

“Araw ng Kabataan” was organized by the DSWD together with its two attached agencies, the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) and the National Youth Commission (NYC), and is in line with the National Children’s Month Celebration this November with the theme, “Komunidad at Pamahalaan, Magkaisa; Pang-aabuso sa Bata, Wakasan Na!”

As the lead agency mandated to protect the rights and promote the welfare of children, DSWD strongly bats for a violent-free society for children through the use of positive discipline rather than corporal punishment to teach children the principles of right and wrong and to inculcate positive character qualities.

The DSWD supports House Bill No. 155 or the “Positive and Nonviolent Discipline of Children Act,” introduced by Representative Susan A. Yap.

On the other hand, DSWD is also pushing for the institutionalization of Pantawid Pamilya to sustain the gains of the program in providing poor children a fighting chance to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty in their respective families.

DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said that the event was a demonstration of the collaborative efforts of communities and the local and national governments to combat all forms of abuse and exploitation against children, and to create a friendly society where children can develop their full potential.

“Today is the day that communities and all levels of government join hands to secure the future of our children by advocating for the passage of policies and legislations, as well as by developing appropriate services that will nurture their talents and skills essential for them to become our future leaders,” Sec. Soliman stated.

Highlights

One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of the results of the Barangay-based Talakayan and the Children’s Summit.

DSWD, in partnership with the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) in the different National Capital Region local government units, organized barangay fora that tackled responsible parenting and positive disciplining. Beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya and other families in the community participated in these events.

The Children’s Summit, on the other hand, generated recommendations from the children-participants on how to further address their concerns and needs.

“We recognize the role of our children in development and their voices are equally important to us. We will not only listen to their stories but we will make sure that their recommendations are put to action,” Sec. Soliman said.
The results of these two child-focused activities will be used as basis for the crafting of policies and programs for the sector.

The winners of the Search for the Pantawid Pamilya Exemplary Child were also awarded.

Pantawid Pamilya is human development program that invests in the health and education of poor families, primarily those with children aged 0-18. It provides monthly cash grants to beneficiaries who comply with the conditions of sending their children to school, bringing them to health centers, and attending Family Development Sessions.

Source: www.dswd.gov.ph