Naga kicks off Children’s Month with “Walk for the Children”

VICE Mayor Cecilia “Nene” V. de Asis (center) together with City Councilor and Co-Chair of the Naga City Council for the Welfare and Protection of Children (NCCWPC) Elmer Baldemoro (rightmost) lead the fun walk “Lakaw para sa Kaakian” that kicked-off the 27th National Children’s Month Celebration in Naga City. Joining them are city councilors Buddy del Castillo (leftmost), Jose Perez (2nd from left), and William Beltran (4th from left). JRM-PIA5/Camarines Sur

NAGA CITY --- The city government here, through the Naga City Council for the Welfare and Protection of Children (NCCWPC), has kicked-off the National Children’s Month celebration by staging a fun walk dubbed as “Lakaw para sa Kaakian” (Walk for the Children) last weekend, November 9, at Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum, here.

The activity, now on its 5th year, was participated in by several hundreds of children and their parents from the 27 barangays of the city.

Acting City Mayor Cecilia “Nene” de Asis (representing Mayor Nelson Legacion who was on out-of-town official business), spearheaded the event along with City Councilor and NCCWPC Co-Chair Elmer Baldemoro, city officials, city youth officials, barangay officials, government agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education (DepEd), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and other stakeholders.

In her message, De Asis thanked all the participants for their support as she expressed hope for the participants that they continue to join the activity every year to promote and strengthen the programs for the children.

“We hope that the participation continues not only during children’s month, but continue to protect and develop, the survival of the children, and that we should always keep it in our thoughts and deeds,” De Asis said.

The activity started with a Zumba dance warm-up exercises before the fun walk proper from the JMR Coliseum’s main gate passing thru the main thoroughfares of the city’s Central Business District II then back to the JMR Coliseum.

A short program followed with the distribution of plaques of recognition to the city’s 27 barangays and other participating groups.

Special recognitions were also given to Brgy. Concepcion Grande for the Biggest Delegation and the Best Gimmick Award; Brgy. Panicuason for the early arrival of its delegation at the venue; Brgy. Concepcion Pequeña for the Best in Uniform.

Eight-month-old Naithew Jevril Bicaldo of Brgy. San Isidro was also awarded for being the Youngest Participant; and 78 years old Vic Esclanda of Concepcion Grande being the most senior among the participants.

The celebration of the “National Children’s Month” is pursuant to Republic Act No. 10661 otherwise known as the “National Children’s Month Act” and is celebrated every November.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the 27th Celebration of the National Children’s Month, which commemorates the adoption of the UNCRC on 20 November 1989.

Activities lined up by the city for this year’s celebration include: Child Birth Registration on Nov. 13 at the People’s Hall, EDUCARE Got Talent on Nov. 21 at the Robinsons Place Naga, Children’s Congress on November 23 at People’s Hall, and the State of Our Children Report to be delivered by Mayor Nelson Legacion on November 28 at the People’s Hall.

With the theme, “Karapatang Pambata: Patuloy na Pahalagahan at Gampanan Tungo sa Magandang Kinabukasan,” this year’s celebration aims to recognize the gains and successes of the Philippines in the promotion and protection of children’s rights. LSM, JRM-PIA5/Camarines Sur