CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The City Government here has slated various child-friendly activities for the month of November in line with its annual celebration of National Children’s Month which kicked off on Monday, November 5.
Mayor Edwin Santiago, together with Senator JV Ejercito and Sangguniang Panlungsod members led the unveiling of the calendar of activities following the theme “Isulong: Tamang Pag-aaruga para sa Lahat ng Bata” during the flag ceremony held at the City Hall atrium.
The list of activities includes the annual Lakbay Bulilit, Mendi Camp 2018, Day Care Provincial and Regional Congress, and Child and Youth Leaders’ Camp cum Search for Fernandino Child and Youth Ambassador 2018.
A training aimed at strengthening the capacities Local Child Protection Council (LCPC) and Barangay Child Protection Council will also be held followed by Camp Bulilit, Therefree for Children with Disabilities, LCPC Humanitarian Service and Children’s Summit.
At least a dozen youth leaders from different schools in the city will participate in the system of governance as counterpart of city officials including youth mayor, youth vice-mayor and youth councilors, and department heads from November 5 to 10 under the Youth Week celebration of the Rotary Club of San Fernando.
Santiago said that the city, being recognized as child-friendly city, has been faithful in joining the nation in celebrating Children’s Month to show its deep importance of the youth in the development of the community.
“I strongly believe that the children are our hope and future so as early as now, we wanted them to participate in the governance of our city through programs that they can relate and impart their knowledge,” he said.
Ejercito, a known advocate of youth empowerment, acknowledged the city government’s efforts in implementing programs and projects that simultaneously encourage youth participation and boost their knowledge on good leadership.
“I have run under the youth platform in 2013 in an aim to provide better opportunities to the youth through education and leadership which were evident in the laws that I principally and co-authored such as the Free Higher Education Act and the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act, and I can see how it is being replicated locally here in San Fernando,” he said.