CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- In an aim to make the city a safer place for children, the local government is set to give recognition to villages that displayed their child-friendliness.
During a press conference Monday, November 4, for the Children's Month celebration, six villages were named as finalists for the coveted recognition, which will be awarded on November 28.
City Social Welfare and Development Officer Aileen Villanueva said this year's finalists are Barangays Pandaras, Saguin, San Agustin, Sto. Rosario, Sindalan, and Sta. Lucia.
From the six finalists, two villages will be awarded as the Most Outstanding Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) and Most Child-Friendly Barangay, respectively.
"The awardees will be gauged on the functionality of their BCPCs that actively promotes children's rights to survival, development, protection, and participation as well as ensuring child-friendly governance," Villanueva said.
Among the criteria for judging is the presence and proper maintenance of child development facilities such as playgrounds and day care centers, and hosting of activities that will enhance the social, physical and mental skills of children, as well as the BCPC's regular quarterly meeting, Villanueva added.
Mayor Edwin Santiago, for his part, said the award seeks to recognize the vital role of barangays in the protection of children, particularly in the proper handling of incidents concerning minors.
For the City Government's part, Santiago said his administration is committed in ensuring that all Fernandino children will receive and can exercise their rights from birth up to death.
"We strengthen our womb-to-tomb program wherein Fernandinos, even before they are born, are being taken care of by the government. All children, including those with special needs and even mendicants who were abandoned by their parents, are tended by our government through various program we implement all year round," he said.