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Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Cebu City ‘most child-friendly’
By Linette C. Ramos
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
For having a strong partnership between NGOs and the local government in protecting children’s rights, Cebu was named the most outstanding city among five child-friendly cities in the country.
Cebu City’s programs for children bested those of the cities of Manila, Pasay, Quezon and Davao.
The five Philippine cities are beneficiaries of financial assistance from the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) for the child-friendly cities initiative.
A recently concluded study of the Institute of Philippine Culture (IPC) of the Ateneo de Manila University showed that Cebu City is “exemplary” in getting the local government and nongovernment organizations (NGOs) to work together for the cause of the children.
Dr. Mary Racelis, a social scientist and researcher at the IPC, said Cebu City “is clearly way ahead of everybody” in protecting and promoting the welfare of children and in addressing their needs.
No question
“There is no question that Cebu City is the most outstanding child-friendly city of all five cities. There are many reasons and one is the issue of partnership. The communities have been organized, the civil society, church and people themselves interact with the LGUs and have been open with each other in responding to the needs of the children,” she said.
Racelis was in Cebu yesterday to present the results of the study, which were published in a book entitled “Making Philippine Cities Child Friendly: Voices of Children in Poor Communities.”
The book, co-authored by Racelis and University of the Philippines Visayas-Cebu Collee professor Felisa Etemadi, was launched at the Ayala Activity Center yesterday.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and other city officials attended the event.
Racelis lauded the City Government and the NGOs for sustaining a partnership that expands the capacity of the communities in ensuring the survival, development, protection and participation of children.
Participation
She also cited City Government’s efforts in protecting children in conflict with the law and children who are victims of abuse.
“Unlike the other cities, participation is not an issue in Cebu City. The children have a role to play...so Cebu City is clearly way ahead of everybody. If you can communicate your successes to other cities, I think we’ll have more children being protected,” Racelis further said.
The study was made to assess whether child-friendly cities initiatives of Unicef were reaching the poorest and most vulnerable children in the five cities.
During the presentation of the results, Etemadi also said the study showed that the cities of Cebu and Davao seem to do better in creating child-friendly cities than Metro Manila cities.
Quoting parts of the book, Etemadi said Cebu City takes the lead in terms of its performance in the nine building blocks of child friendly cities: engaging children as active participants in nation building and passing child-friendly laws, among others.
Although its programs for children were described to be outstanding, the children interviewed for the study sought improvements in their schools and communities.
“As in other child-friendly cities, two recommendations are most common among the children and communities-livelihood and income for unemployed parents and enough classrooms and facilities, including comfort rooms, for the school children,” added Etemadi.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 23, 2006 issue)
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