"DABAWENYOS are committed to nation-building. The Most Child-Friendly City for Highly Urbanized Category is our contribution to our country.”
This was outgoing Davao City Mayor and Vice President-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio’s statement some five years ago when the City Government of Davao bagged the Hall of Fame for the Most Child-Friendly City for Highly Urbanized Category after it won the same award six times: 1998, 1999, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017.
For her three non-consecutive terms as the local chief executive in Davao City, Duterte-Carpio has made a clear directive that under her leadership, children must be among the top priorities of the City Government.
In her last Valedictory and State of the City Address (Soca) as city mayor, Duterte-Carpio highlighted how proud she is of the city’s child-friendly efforts citing various welfare, health,and educational programs that made the city one of the child-friendly local government units in the country.
“I could confidently say that the city government was able to respond to the needs of the children by establishing the Quick Response Team for Children’s Concerns,” she said, adding the team conducts rescue operations, investigation and documentation of cases of abuse and sexual exploitation of children.
Davao City has been known for establishing various shelters specific to the needs of children, including Balay Dangupan for physically abused children; the Bahay Pag-Asa temporary shelter for children in conflict with the law (CICL); the Paginhawaan Drop-In Center for street children, and the Lingap Center for mentally challenged children.
Duterte-Carpio also emphasized that the city has been operating various daycare and childminding centers providing daycare services for children of working parents.
“With these, Davao City became a national awardee for Gawad Paglilingkod Sa Sambayanan (Gapas) for Model LGU Implementing Day Care Services in 2021,” she said.
"But caring for our children and providing for their needs must never stop," she said.
Children with Special Needs
According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Davao more children are now diagnosed with special needs and with the prohibitive cost of therapies and intervention programs, the City Government of Davao is set to establish the Davao City Special Needs Intervention Center for Children.
“This will provide free early intervention, occupational, speech, physical therapy, and special education and transition programs to children and youth with special needs,” City Social Welfare Development Office (CSWDO) head Marlisa Gallo shared.
In a report published by the Philippine News Agency, the P70-million center located near People's Park is said to include a physical therapy room, a swimming pool for aqua therapy, an occupational therapy sensory gym, a speech therapy room, an audio room, and special education rooms.
Duterte-Carpio said the facility is eyed to be completed early next year.
"We were also able to boost existing mandated child protection and children’s welfare programs with the establishment of the Special Office for Children’s Concerns and the Kean Gabriel Hotline," the incoming Vice President added.
Following the creation of the hotline in 2016, there is a significant decrease in the number of child abuse complaints in the city and there has been no reported death of children due to physical abuse.
"But caring for our children and providing for their needs must never stop," Duterte-Carpio said.