DAVAO City once again grabbed the Presidential Award for the Most Child Friendly City for highly-urbanized city category, its fourth since 1998.
Department of Education (DepEd) Davao City Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Helen Paguican announced the city's achievement during an interview at the sidelines of the memorandum of agreement signing between DepEd and the Davao Light and Power Company for corporate social responsibility projects on Friday.
Paguican said he received a text message from their representative confirming the achievement.
The city also won the award in 2013 after winning the same title in 1998 and 1999.
With the city winning the award for the second straight time now, Paguican said that they will again work harder as they aim to be catapulted into the "Hall of Fame" if the city once again wins the award next year.
"We really need to work hard on pushing and maintaining the child-friendly atmosphere here in Davao City not only in schools but also in the barangays. Hindi naman mananalo kung sa school lang, so we would also like to congratulate Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for winning and DepEd is very lucky to have him as mayor because he is very very supportive," she said.
In a phone interview, Davao City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) assistant department head Liwayway Caligdong said the city will receive P500,000 for winning the award.
Caligdong added that the awarding ceremony was held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila Friday, May 8.
She said this award is a result of the joint efforts of the different local government units and non-government organizations in implementing programs for the welfare of the children in the city.
The Presidential Award for the Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities, pursuant to Executive Order 184 entitled "Establishing the Presidential Award for the Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities," is initiated by the Council for the Welfare of Children issued on December 13, 1999.
It is given to deserving local government units in recognition of their vital role in promotion of children's rights to survival, development, protection and participation as well as in ensuring child-friendly governance. (Sun.Star Davao)