Exemplary Kids From CV Join National Children’s Congress 2015

Three exemplary children-beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program representing the provinces of Negros Oriental, Cebu and Bohol joined this year’s National Children’s Congress (NNC) held at Greenhills Elan Hotel in San Juan City, Metro Manila on November 17-21, 2015.

The NCC participants from Central Visayas are the top three regional winners of the Pantawid Pamilya Exemplary Children Search 2015 composed of Baby Lou Roda of Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, Jufel Pradilla of Tabogon,Cebu and Ruth Celine Narciso of Dauis, Bohol
This year’s NCC bears the theme “Batang Pilipino, Tuloy ang Pagbabago” that highlights the gains of the program and the positive change in the lives of the children-beneficiaries.

More than 50 children participants joined the event and underwent several workshops like Ako, ang kahirapan, at aking pag-aaral, Ako, ang kahirapan, at aking kalusugan, Pagbabagong nasimulan sa aking pamilya at pamayanan, Komunidad at pamahalaan magkaisa, pang-aabuso sa bata wakasan na.

Meanwhile, the three children participants shared their learnings during the 5-day event.

Baby Lou for her part shared that she is grateful for the opportunity of joining NCC, “Daghan kog nakaila, nahibaw-an ug napun-an akong mga amiga,” (I met new people, learned new things and gained friends).

She added that the activity thought her the importance of cooperation and unity to achieve one goal. Baby Lou recalled that the “egg-drop game” was the most memorable for her because their group was task to throw the egg without cracking it. “We looked for ways on how to do it and we did it by securely wrapping the egg with several manila papers.

Jufel disclosed that because of NCC she was able to stay in a hotel and experience airplane ride. “Lipay kaayo ko nakasakay na gyud kog eroplano unya nagpuyo pa gyud me sa hotel.”

Ruth also added that the experience is definitely something she will remember for the rest of her life.

pMoreover, all the NCC participants were also invited to join the Araw ng Kabataan at Quirino Grandstand, Luneta Park on November 21, 2015.

“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.

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

Moreover, 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.

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 Session. (Phoebe Jen Indino-Pantawid Pamilya Information Officer)