THE City Government of Davao, through Executive Order (EO) 73, Series of 2022, has reorganized and reconstituted the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) and the LCPC Inter-Agency Monitoring Task Force (LCPC IMTF) of Davao City.
EO 73, which Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte signed on December 6, 2022, cited Section 32 of the Davao City Children’s Welfare Code, Series of 1994, which states the role of the Davao City Council for the Welfare of Children, now named as the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) as amended, as the consultative assembly for planning, programming, assessment, and evaluation of concerns for children where the Special Office of Children’s Concerns Approved Ordinance 0602-18 is also its significant basis in assuming its role.
“The LCPC, as the core local institution for child-related programs, is responsible for planning and spearheading programs for children at the local level and advocating for child’s rights with the end in view of making each locality child-friendly,” the new EO stated.
EO 73 also referred to Republic Act (RA) 9344, otherwise known as the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006, as it has given more emphasis on the LCPC’s crucial role in the protection of children. “As such, DILG Memorandum Circular 2 008-126 provided local government units and other concerned entities evaluation tools in assessing the functionality of the LCPC.”
It also provided that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) issued Memorandum Circular 2002-121, dated August 3, 2022, or the “Revised Guidelines on the Organization and Strengthening of the LPC Incorporating Thereat Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Coordinating Committees at the Provincial, City, Municipal, and Barangay levels.”
The DILG, according to EO 73, further issued Memorandum Circular 2008-126, which provided the revised guidelines for monitoring LCPC’s functionality.
EO 73 mandated the LCPC to formulate plans, programs, and policies for children that are gender-fair, culturally relevant, and responsive to the needs of diverse groups of children from 0 to below 18 years of age; prepare the Annual Work and Financial Plan (AWFP) for children and recommend appropriations to the Sangguniang Panlungsod; provide coordinative linkages with other agencies and institutions in the planning, monitoring, and evaluation of plans for children; provide technical assistance and recommend financial support to the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children; establish and maintain a database on children in the city; foster the education of every child; and advocate for the establishment and maintenance of playgrounds, daycare centers, and other facilities necessary for child and youth development.
The council shall also recommend local legislations promoting child survival, protection, participation, and development, especially on the quality of television shows, media print, and coverage, which are detrimental to children, and with appropriate funding support; assist children in need of special protection and refer cases filed against child abusers to proper agencies/institutions; conduct capability building programs to enhance knowledge and skills in handling children’s programs; document barangay best practices for children; perform such other functions as provided for in the ECCD and other child-related laws.
The LCPC is composed of the city mayor or his duly designated representative as chairperson, the chairperson of City Council Committee Women, Children and Family Relations as co-chairperson, and a non-government organization as vice chairperson.
Its members are the City Social Welfare and Development Officer, DILG city director, Department of Education Davao City Schools Division superintendent, city planning and development officer, city budget officer, city accountant, city health officer, city nutrition officer, Philippine National Police (PNP) city director, city treasurer, Liga ng mga Barangay president, Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president, Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) president, child representative president, city agriculturist, city environment and natural resources officer, city librarian, city veterinarian, city civil registrar, city disaster risk reduction and management officer, city prosecutor, Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative to the SP, City Information & Technology Center head, City Information Office head, Integrated Gender Development Division head, Public Employment Service Office (Peso) head, City Cooperative Development Office head, City Anti-Drug Abuse Council head, and Department of Labor and Employment city director.
Also included are at least three representatives of accredited NGOs/CSOs two of whom are appointed by the committee handling the Early Childhood and Care Development Program, and one from the trade/labor union sector. (PR)