By: Lemuel C. Mejares –  LGOO VI | DILG FIELD OFFICE

DIPLAHAN, ZSP —  The Municipality of Diplahan recognizes the role of children and youth to be the agent of change and counterpart to the development of the municipality in the promotion and protection of the physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual and social well-being not just as child but as an individual.

It perceives that the children are the most valuable resource in promoting the importance of enhancing and institutionalizing and survival development, protection and participation right of children as provided in the united national convention on the rights of the child (CRC) and other laws.

Thus prioritizing children’s welfare and legislative and development agenda is being sustained and undertaken such as:

• Children’s Welfare Code which is being updated and adopted through Executive Order No. 2019-010-024, Series of 2019 that ensures the protection of children of Municipality of Diplahan and bestow to the best interest of the child;
• The LGU allocated and amount of P 1,809,393.41 with 22 awards to sustain the operational expenses of the Shelter Home for Women and Children;
• Shelter Home cater abused victims not only in our area but also those who are coming from 16 different municipalities of Zamboanga Sibugay Province;
• Allocated Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P 500,00.00) for the supplemental and P 64,000.00 for nutrition programs under the leadership of MNAO Mary Lissa Yorong;
• Provision of micronutrient supplements to pregnant and breastfeeding mother, deworming of children and conduct of medical outreach program were undertaken jointly by the health personnel;
• The LGU allocated fund amounting to P 200,00.00 for child-friendly programs that shall promote
• Sixty Thousand Pesos (P 60,00.00) was allocated for the provision of school supplies in commemorating the yearly Municipal Children’s Congress celebration participated by 1,050 preschoolers coming from 31 Child Development Centers (CDC’s) of the municipality;
• Intensifying coordination mechanism to all institutions to be involved in the issues of children by providing avenues and forum for them to participate in matters that directly involved their well-being;
• In the developmental rights of children, LGU ensure the continued access to free education by providing educational assistance to poor but deserving students and at the same time offered free review of College Entrance Test (CET) for incoming freshmen and also free review for Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET);
• The LGU provided buses to fetch school children day and afternoon thereby reducing the burden of the parents from the daily allowances for fare expenses;
• Allocated an amount of P 300,000.00 for special program of the employment of student (SPES) where in 50 student availed the program;
• The LGU ensures 1% budget allocation of the total IRA is being budgeted intended for the LCPC to fund various program and projects related to children’s welfare and sustain the implementation; and
• A total of P 348,000.00 is allocated for the incentives of 29 child Development Workers (CDW’s) for their services provided to the locality;

With these developments, we are humbly proud to say that through the collaborative efforts made, in partnership and alliances with the stakeholders, families and communities, we have responded appropriately to the needs of the children in the municipality.

Finally, as an advocate, we should never grow tired as we believe in our shared vision of delivering the best interest of our children’ as the future of the country. As such, investment on children’s program is a long term but high yield return on social development.#

(Excerpt from the message of the Municipal Mayor Atty. Eric Y. Palma on FY 2022 National Children’s Month Celebration)