For 5 straight years: Naga gets seals of child-friendly local governance
By Keren Anne Bernadas
FOR five straight years, the Naga government was awarded the Seal of Child Friendly Local Governance from the Council for the Welfare of Children and the Department of Interior and Local Government, on November 28, Monday.
Alongside Naga City, seven other local government units from the Bicol region have also been recognized as most child-friendly places in the country, based on the recent evaluation of the CWC.
The city garnered a total score of 94 percent. City Administrator Elmer S. Baldemoro who is also the Naga City Children’s Office Executive Director, received the said award.
In his State of the City’s Children Report on Tuesday at City hall, Mayor Nelson Legacion said “Limang sunod-sunod na taon na beses. Patotoo po ini kan satuyang marhay na mga ispwersos sa panginginot kan satong Naga City Council for the Welfare and Protection of Children sa saindang mga deretsos (Five consecutive years. This is a testimony of our efforts under the headship of the Naga City Council for the Welfare and Protection of Children, [in ensuring that children rights are implemented].”
In his report, Legacion cited that the children population, from ages zero to 17 years old, reached to over 62,000 – making the said sector as third largest percentage of the total Nagueño population.
Aside from the 12 lying-in clinics and birthing facilities, including seven public and private hospitals, Legacion mentioned that the ongoing construction of the 200 bed-capacity new Naga City Hospital will add health and nutrition services for the children.
The City Population and Nutrition Office through its various programs for both mothers and children continues to aid in the reduction of children who are underweight, stunted, overweight, obese or severely-wasted.
“Dakol pa po kitang ginigibong kampanya para sa satong obheto na bako sanang low kundi zero teenage pregnancy. Igwa kita nin Naga City Teen Center na nagtatao nin opportunities for discussion asin intervention sa mga personal issues kan satuyang jovenes manungod sa sexuality asin reproductive health,” the mayor added.
Under children’s development rights, Legacion said that the City Social Welfare and Development Office continues to push for better quality early education services for the pre-schoolers. About 3,089 students are currently enrolled to 70 Educare centers.
“The E-Queen Program of the city government provides 95 percent of the beneficiaries equal and free fees for their enrolment, graduation, school supplies, book allocation and rice allocation,” Legacion added.
Part of the Comprehensive Development Plan 2022-2030 of the city, Legacion said, is the establishment of the People’s Park and Recreation Center for a wider avenue for children and Nagueño families to enjoy and unwind.
The local chief executive also said that the creation of more school buildings will augment classrooms and accommodate bigger enrolment among students. He added that it will support the children’s rights to education, particularly among persons with disabilities.