Regional winners of search for child-friendly LGUs announced

By Rebecca Grace S. David

Thursday 26th of July 2012

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, July 26 (PIA) -- Samal, Mariveles, and Balanga City in Bataan and Olongapo City in Zambales are this year’s regional winners in the Presidential Award for Child-friendly Municipalities.

The award is given to deserving local government units (LGUs) which promote children’s rights to survival, development, protection, and participation.

Samal won in the fourth- to sixth-class town category, Mariveles in the first-to-third class town category, Balanga City in the component-city category while Olongapo City won in the highly urbanized city category.

Mariveles was last year’s national winner in its category while Olongapo City was also a finalist.

All the 18 barangays of Mariveles have functional Barangay Councils for the Protection of Children (BCPC).

The search for the Most Child-Friendly Barangay is annually held to determine the implementation of child welfare programs in the barangays.

Samal allotted P6.3 million last year for children’s programs and received P819,800 donations from the private sector.

Day-care centers in Balanga City are air-conditioned and equipped with flat screen televisions; the teachers have their own laptops.

Olongapo City operates the Center for Women, the Social Development Center, and the Center for Youth which are shelters for women victims, female minors in need of special protection, and children in conflict with the law.

All these local government units (LGUs) will compete in the national search. The national winners will receive Presidential trophies and P500,000. (CLJD/RGSD-PIA3)