THE City Government of Cagayan de Oro, through its City Council for the Protection of Children (CCPC) and its City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD), ushered in the celebration of the 25th National Children's Month on Tuesday, November 7, in Kiosko Kagawasan, Divisoria, in the city.
Minda Domingo, the vice chairperson of the CCPC, said the National Children's Month celebration, with its theme: "Bata: Iligtas sa Droga," is being done to commemorate the Philippines' adoption of the United Nation's Convention on the Rights of the Child.
"Our role is to look into the welfare of the child that every child has to be protected, has to be provided the right of provision and the right for participation. That is the primary responsibility of the City Council for the Protection of Children," Domingo said.
Together with the Council for the Welfare of Children, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Regional Committee for the Welfare of the Children (RCWC), the CCPC and CSWD also launched the Parental Responsibility Code of City Ordinance 13195-2017 or otherwise known as Parental Responsibility Code of Cagayan de Oro.
According to lawyer Ernesto Neri, chairperson of the Oro Youth Development Council (OYDC), Parental Responsibility Code is a local ordinance that punishes parents who commit any one of 20 acts punishable under the law.
Neri said among the 20 acts are: neglect, abandonment, using the children to commit crimes, not providing the children with education, no prenatal checkups, making the children as runners or couriers of drugs, and among others.
Neri said a case will be filed by the CSWD against those parents who are caught violating the Parental Responsibility Code.
"Tagaan og notice of violation. Once more than three na ang imong notice of violation, ayha dayun ka og file-an og kaso (They will be given three notices of violation. Once they received more than three notices, that's the time when a case can be filed against them)," Neri said.
The OYDC chairperson said the Parental Responsibility Code, which was implemented on November 7, is a part of the policy aspect of the entire aim of the city to be a child-friendly city.
"Infrastructure is being built, but on the policy side, we need to have both incentives and punishment. So this is where it fits, the policy aspect. By creating things that create a chilling effect to those who we consider as deviant parents, we are hoping they will rectify their actions. So aside from encouraging barangays to improve their services and recognizing excellent parents, we also need to punish those who are [deviant parents]," Neri said.
Although the parents are recognizing the rights of the children and the children are starting to be aware of their rights, Domingo said both should also know their responsibilities.
"Bilang usa ka ginikanan nga parehas nako, responsibility is not an easy job. But this is a commitment, accepting that we are parents, we are adults in the community that we are given the responsibility, not only for the children but this is a lifetime responsibility in protecting every child in the community," Domingo said, adding that this is not a one-way process but a two-way responsibility.
In celebration for the National Children's Month, Domingo said they will be conducting activities such as two Poster Making Contests, one with this year's theme: "Bata: Iligtas sa Droga," and the other is about the Parental Responsibility Code; a theater contest at the quadrangle of the City Hall; and the Awarding Ceremony of the Child-Friendly Police Station and Child-Friendly Barangay during the celebration's culmination on November 29.
RCWC, together with DSWD and the City Government, also organized a medical mission, which will be held on November 18, and a Regional Children's Summit Leadership Training on November 22 to 24.
Rhea Jane Camanga, RCWC technical staff, said the medicines provided during the medical mission were given by the City Government.
Camanga said they were able to coordinate with the 4th Auxiliary Battalion to search for medical and dental staff and to provide free haircuts.
The opening program of the National Children's Month was also attended by members of the Barangay Children Protection Committee (BCPC) of Barangay Kauswagan, which is the second runner up during the 2016 Search for Child-Friendly Barangay.
Kauswagan BCPC Focal Person Peter Jason Balite said as one of the barangays recognized as child-friendly, they put up a child and youth development center.
"Pwede magdula ang mga bata dito. Aside sa among children's playground, naa pud mi center para nila, pwede sila maka-research sa computer. Naay gym didto para sa mga youth," Balite said.
The month of November, under the Republic Act 10661, was declared as National Children's Month. This declaration commemorates the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by the United Nations General Assembly on November 20, 1989, and seeks to instill its significance in the Filipino consciousness.