Tuesday, April 17, 2007 Child protection councils not functioning: CWC By Grace L. Plata
EIGHTY percent of barangay councils for the protection of children (BCPCs) in the country are non-functional especially those in the rural areas, a non-government organization said.
The Kabiba Alliance for Children's Concerns, the vice chair of the Region 11 Council for the Welfare of Children, said this fact is on the national CWC statistics for 2006.
Kabiba Executive Secretary Honey May Suazo said most BCPC members are also not knowledgeable about the laws and advocacies on children. Thus, without able protectors, children are placed in a vulnerable situation.
"Kulang gyud sa tehnical capabilities ang mga BCPC members mao nang maglisud sila ug deal sa mga bata kay wala may sila kabalo sa correct nga intervention strategies ug mga legal nga sistema sa pagtabang sa mga bata (BCPC members lack the technical capabilities and so they have difficulties in dealing with children because they do not know the correct intervention strategies and legal systems to help the child)," Suazo said.
In the Philippines, where almost half the populace is children, and many of them being farmhands and rural residents, Suazo said their future is at stake if positive action is not done to address the situation.
"Walay kaseguruhan ilang kaugmaon. Sa rural areas, labi na gina-intesify sa gobyerno and militarization (Their future are not assured. Especially in rural areas where there are now intensified military activities), they are prone to displacement and other problems. Unya kung dili kamao mu-pakalma sa mga bata ang taga-BCPC sa mga ing-ani nga panahon, lisud kaayo ilang pag cope sa sitwasyon (Now, if the BCPC members do not know how to deal with children's trauma during these times, it will be difficult for children to cope with the situation)," Suazo said.
Suazo said the lack of technical capabilities of the BCPC in New Bataan, Compostela Valley can be partly blamed for the incapability of children in the area to deal with the trauma of Grecil Buya's death and its aftermath.
Grecil, suspected of being an NPA child-soldier, was killed in the crossfire between the military and the NPA in the area weeks ago.
"It is the local government's obligation to educate BCPC members of policies and strategies on how to effectively protect our children especially those in critical areas. Kung nakabalo pa siguro ang mga BCPC ug nakatudlo pud sila sa mga ginikanan pati sa mga bata unsay buhaton sa ing-ani nga mga sitwasyon (Had the BCPC members have the proper knowledge they could have taught children what to do in situations like this), deaths like Grecil's would have been avoided," Suazo said.
In Davao City, 159 out of 183 barangays have organized BCPCs, however, only 52 of them are functional while 69 are considered semi-functional and 38 are not.
"To be considered functional, the BCPC must have a barangay plan for children, appropriation of budget, and the implementation of the barangay plan," said City Social Services and Development Officer Marilyn Agonia.
According to Agonia, the city in partnership with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to hold capability-building and skills seminars for BCPC members including trainings in identifying the extent of the problems of children, planning and decision-making with regards to interventions that will be put in place.
"Kaning mga naa sa area, sila man gyud ang nakabalo ug nakasabot sa mga problema sa ilang dapit mao na mas epektibo sila pag solve sa problema basta lang kay equipped sa skills ug tama nga proseso ug sistema sa pagtabang. Tudluan pud sila unsaon pag-identify the resources sa barangay (The ones in the area know what their problems are and so they provide the most effective solutions for as long as they are equipped with the proper skills and knowledge of the processes involved to help. You also have to teach them to identify the resources of the barangay) and how to mobilize these resources," Agonia said.
But Agonia said that the inability of BCPCs to function cannot only be blamed for the lack of technical skills but also because of the limited funds allocated for such kind of projects.
"It is the dilemma of barangay officials. Most of them prioritize infrastructure projects instead of children's needs and concerns. Pero di pud sila ma-blame kay gamay ra man pud ilang (But you can't blame them because of the very meager) internal revenue allotment and they prioritize what they deem as more important for many," Agonia said, that's why BCPCs are also taught how to tap the resources of the private sector through partnerships in projects for children.
To encourage BCPC's to really be active, Agonia said the Task Force on the Monitoring of BCPCs headed by DILG, has come up with the Most Oustanding BCPC award in which Barangays 5-A and San Antonio Agdao have been winners earning the said barangays a spot in the Hall of Fame.
Agonia added that to really effectively address the concerns with regards to children is to really prioritize preventive and intervention projects -financially and otherwise.
