THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Central Visayas will hold a Blue Umbrella Day (BUD) on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, in support to the National Awareness Week for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation held from February 8 to 14.
1. Encouraged to bring a blue umbrella
The DSWD-Central Visayas said in a statement that employees of every division or unit are encouraged to bring a blue umbrella and have it opened for the whole day.
2. Protecting boys from abuse
The agency said this international movement, which aims at protecting boys that emerged out of a cross-country study that included India, Guyana, Paraguay, and the Philippines, supports this year's theme: "We must Protect Boys Just as We Protect Girls."
As part of the week-long celebration, members of the Sub-Committee on Sexual Abuse and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children viewed the movie John Denver Trending, an internationally acclaimed Filipino movie that mirrors important issues of cyberbullying, mental health among children and adolescents and the role of community in their development.
3. 'God's heritage'
Proclamation No. 731 s. 1996 declared the second week of February every year as the National Awareness Week for Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation.
The DSWD director emphasized the importance of protecting children against abuses and exploitation as they are "God's heritage and we are answerable to Him for our management of them." (WBS with PR)