Thursday, August 4, 2011

Council for the Protection of Children reviews thrusts and directions of children's programs for Sorsogon


by Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, AUGUST 4 (PIA).... In a meeting held here last week of the Sorsogon Council for the Protection of Children (SPCPC) at the Sorsogon Provincial Management Office (PSMO), members of the council reviewed the thrusts and directions of the children's program implemented for the first quarter of 2011 for the province of Sorsogon.

Myra Relativo, assistant provincial department head of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) presented the accomplishments of the PCPC for the first quarter of 20ll underscoring that all Day Care Centers operating here in the province should be duly accredited as it is one of the key areas for the evaluation of the Child Friendly Award.

"The thrust and direction of the PCPC is to really develop all municipalities as child friendly focusing on child friendly programs and interventions" Relativo explained.

According to Rey Rempillo, Liga ng  mga Barangay representative, some barangays do not have day care centers and some are even clustered in one day care center.

The new tool that is now being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office (DSWDO) in the accreditation of the new day care centers is also one of the impediments in the accreditation as this are to be well explained to day care workers according to Blesilda Bontigao, MSWDO of Casiguran expressed.

According to France Bonto, Social Worker Officer II of the DSWDO ROV, the DSWDO tool has long been introduced to the Day Care Workers (DCW)  but the need to assess the the DCW's competence, skills and accomplishments should  be also conducted before the final accreditation.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) assisting in children's programs and currently are present in some municipalities in the province be also included in the directory of organizations assisting children's programs in the province.

Interventions of these NGO's should also be documented and should be included as partners in the enhancement of children's program in the municipality where they operate. They should be recognized as partner enhancers of children's programs.

In Sorsogon there are almost 5 NGOs whose programs are child-focused like the Green Valley, Intervida , Child Fund -FACE (CFF), Visayan Forum and Casa Miani.

Mrs. Linda Encela, supervisor of the Department of Education (DepEd) also reported that they have completed the Orientation on the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children Manual of Operations  to all district supervisors, school principals, Parent Teacher Association presidents and pupil government leaders last May 27-28, 2011 first batch and May 30-31, 2011, second batch here in the province.

"Workers in the DepEd are now well aware of children's programs specially the Rights of Children, their equal protection and involving them also in community activities ", Encela expressed.

Meanwhile the work and financial plan being operationalized for the year 2011 has scheduled a children's congress slated this October 22, 2011 in time for the Celebration of the Kasanggayahan Festival.

Suggestions to also have at least 4 children representatives in the council was taken up and will be recommended by the DepEd and the NGOs working in children's program.

Josefina Deri of CFF has also reported that they have networked with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on activities regarding anti child trafficking interventions and anti- child labor monitoring activities and was reported to the PCPC.

Concerns and issues regarding what has been raised were also threshed out like the need to accredit day care centers and the assessment to be done to BDCW and programs scheduled with linkages from DOLE and the 4 NGOs in the province as to how they implement complementation.

The council will meet again this last week of August to discuss the details of the scheduled children's congress, provide updates of interventions and activities of member agencies to strengthen the programs for children.

So far the programs for children implemented here in the province as reviewed was well implemented and in synch with the work and financial plan of the PCPC. (PIA-SORSOGON)

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