City Government champions child care

COTABATO CITY --In its quest of sustaining a child-friendly city, the city government of Cotabato has been religiously implementing programs and projects that concentrate on child care. In her State of the Children Address, Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi reported that the city government has alloted a quarter of its 2016 budget for the proper implementation of children's welfare programs. One of which is the Day Care Service where the city government has allocated 1.9 million pesos. This year, the program heightened the child enrichment activities of children including value formation, socio-cultural and spiritual development as well as physical development through various kiddie sports.Guiani-Sayadi, a lawyer, said being the fore-front of the city's child-based agenda, this program also provides sufficient foundation for developing life long learning towards employment and entrepreneurship. With a total of 3,011 pupils enrolled in the city's 63 daycare centers, the Mayor commended the efforts and sacrifices of the daycare teachers and volunteers. In our mission to ensure a brighter tomorrow for our young ones, our Day Care workers are our heroes, she said. Moreover, the city government also provides annual support to different organizations created to assist in the protection of children's rights like the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children and the Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking and Violence against Women adn Children that holds its office at the City Women and Children Center, Tantawan Park. The Children's Code of Cotabato City is also very strictly implemented by the city government to ensure the protection of children against all forms of abuse and exploitation. The City Schools Division is closely monitoring all elementary schools in the city to make sure no child is being discriminated and bullied inside the campuses. Indigent pupils and students were also provided educational assistance in forms of school kits and cash. The Mayor also reported that the city government not only concentrate on protecting the in school youth, more remarkably, it is also implementing programs for the out of school youth and street children. Hundreds of out of school youth have undergone livelihood and skills training to make them more productive members of the society. A total of 1,856 street children also attended several social activities conducted by street education volunteers under the Office on Social Welfare and Development Services last year. With the city government's success in protecting and upholding the rights of the children, Mayor Guiani-Sayadi also thanked the partners of Cotabato City in the line agencies and the non government organizations who have extended their assistance.She said the accomplishments of the city government would not have been possible if not for their continuous help. I hope that we will continue to work hand in hand for the betterment of our future generations, Guiani-Sayadi said. With all of these efforts, the national government has also given recognition to Cotabato City as it has landed on 2nd place in the Independent Component Cities category in the Presidential Search for the Most Child Friendly Cities and Municipalities. It has also been conferred the Regional Seal of Child Friendly Governance this year.The State of the Children Report was conducted as part of the celebration of the National Children's Month this November.