AN OFFICIAL of the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) proposed Wednesday that government tap world boxing champ Manny Pacquiao to champion children's rights because the Philippines is not likely to meet its millennium development goal (MDG) on universal primary education by 2015.

Colin Davis, Unicef deputy country representative, said during the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in Malacañang that school enrolment rates are falling in many regions of the country.

"Universal primary education, one of the MDG and rights of the child, is unlikely to be met by the target date of 2015 at current performance so we need to try to do something to address that," Davis said.

He hoped that Pacquiao "would join the fight, together with all of us, for the sustained rights of the child, dignity and justice for all of us."

He said while Congress has passed the juvenile justice and welfare act, its implementation is "still slow and intermittent and there are many misconceptions" about its provisions.

Davis also said government has adopted a national fund direction to end violence against children and implement the comprehensive program on child protection but funding support is needed to truly enforce it.

He added that the Philippines is one of the countries where children are being recruited and used by armed groups.

The special representative of the UN secretary general for children at armed conflict traveled Wednesday to Mindanao to see for herself the situation of the children in relation to armed conflict, ensure the protection of child civilians in evacuation centers, and to talk to local government officials and other groups on how to stop children from being caught up in armed conflict.

Children caught up in armed conflict should be treated as a victim and not a perpetrator, according to Davis.

Commendation

Pacquiao, through Resolution 268, was commended by the House of Representatives for his victory over Mexican-American Oscar De La Hoya in their match last Sunday in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Speaker Prospero Nograles welcomed the Filipino boxing icon at the House session hall.

"The world's greatest has honored us with his presence here in the House to receive this House resolution," Nograles said of Pacquiao.

Pacquiao received the resolution from South Cotabato first district Representative Darlene Antonino-Custodio, his rival in the 2007 congressional elections.

The people's champ got a standing ovation upon accepting the commendation and delighted people even more when he joined hands in the air with Custodio.

He also thanked all his supporters, particularly Nograles and Custodio.

Pacquiao, in the press conference, said he will just wait for the next person who will challenge him to another fight.

"Whoever my promoter sets me up with, then I will fight," he said.

On his plans about politics, Pacquiao said: "I am still focusing on my boxing."

On his support for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, he said: "If we don't show support for our President, what will happen to our country? The problem is not only with the President alone but with the people as well."

Pacquiao was accompanied by Bacolod Representative Monico Puentevella and former Ilocos Sur governor Luis "Chavit" Singson when he arrived in the country Wednesday morning.

He also paid a courtesy call to the President at Malacañang. (JMR/JLCP/Sunnex)