Olongapo: A Child-Friendly City

Thru the continuous implementation of various programs and projects dedicated to the general welfare of the young, the Olongapo City government has created a child-friendly metropolis where the children can grow well and their rights and welfare are being advanced and protected.

“Tayong lahat ay minsan ding naging bata kaya dapat lamang na naiintindihan natin ang kanilang mga karapatan at pangangailangan. Sabi nga ng bayani ng Bagumbayan na si Jose Rizal, ang mga kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan, kaya dapat ay protektahan natin sila laban sa panganib at pang-aabuso, sa masasamang elemento o bisyo at mapalaki at mahubog natin sila ng wasto upang maging modelong mamamayan at susunod na mga lider ng lipunan,” said Mayor James “Bong” Gordon Jr.

“Olongapo City is a national finalist to the Search for the Most Child-Friendly City because of the incessant and combined efforts of different city government departments under the leadership of Mayor Gordon and thru the assistance of barangay health and social workers and the participation of the communities,” said Gene Eclarino, head of City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).

“Lahat ng basic needs ng mga bata at nung isisilang pa lamang ay pinagsisikapan nating tugunan. Katulad na lamang ng libreng bakuna at check-up sa ating mga health centers na ngayon ay nakapagbibigay na rin ng Basic Emergency Obstetric and New Born Care (BEMONC) services sa loob ng bente-kwatro oras. This is to encourage pregnant mothers to deliver in a health facility rather than do home birthing, that sometimes, results to infant and maternal death because of lack of medical care needed to attend to birthing problems and complications, ” said Mayor Gordon.

“Sa pamamgitan ng City Health Office ay nagsasagawa rin tayo ng feeding program para sa mga batang ang edad ay 5 pababa sa mga lugar na nasaliksik nating mas nangangailangan ng tulong sa nutrisyon,” said Rich Torralba, City Nutrionist. “Sa katunayan, bumaba ang malnutrition prevalence rate noong 2009 dahil na rin sa mga programang pang-nutrisyon ng lungsod katulad nga ng feeding programs, Garantisadong Pambata at ang kampanya ng lungsod sa mga school canteens laban sa mga junk foods. Sa atas ni Mayor Gordon ay ikinakampanya rin natin ang ASIN Law o ang paggamit ng iodized salt hindi lamang sa ating mga kabahayan kundi pati na sa mga commercial establishments na nagtitinda ng pagkain dahil malaki ang maitutulong ng iodized salt sa ating kalusugan lalo na sa mga bata,” Torralba explained.

“Bilang isa sa pangunahing karapatan ng mga bata at kabataaan, binibigyang prayoridad ng pamahalaang lungsod ang edukasyon. Access to quality and affordable education for all, iyan ang ibinibigay sa lungsod kasama na ng mga scholarship programs mula sa elementarya hanggang kolehiyo,” said Councilor Nathan Manalo, a certified city scholar who graduated as cum laude at Gordon College.

“And to respond to the needs of our public schools to improve their facilities, the city government thru the Sangguniang Panlungsod has passed City Ordinance no.55 that mandates for a grant of school empowerment fund amounting to Php 100,000 for public elementary and high schools that will top the National Achievement Test (NAT) in the city level,” ayon naman kay Tet Marzan, City Planning and Development Office Project Coordinator. “Sa pamamagitan ng school empowerment fund ay mas mabibigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang mga bata at kabataang Olongapo sa mas maayos at de-kalidad na edukasyon,” Marzan explained.

“Because we believe that education is for all, Olongapo City has also introduced the ALIVE (Arabic Language and Islamic Values Education) as a peace-building strategy where Muslim –Filipino children in the city are given an opportunity to understand their own language and culture to result to a more compassionate population and to build respect and tolerance to other religion,” Mayor Gordon added.

“Ngunit hindi lamang ang mga mga bata at kabataang nakakapasok sa eskwelahan ang tinutulungan ng lungsod,” said Councilor Manalo. “Opportunities for non-formal education are also being given to Out-Of-School Youth thru the computer classes held in the barangays and thru the Alternative Learning System in coordination with the DepEd so that our OSYs can have equal opportunities and access to education,” Manalo disclosed.

“Ipinagmamalaki rin ng Olongapo ang 55 Day Care Centers natin sa 17 barangay na nagbibigay rin ng non-formal education at pangangalaga sa mga bata edad 3 hanggang 5 bilang preparasyon sa kanilang pagpasok sa elementarya. Sa katunayan, mayroon din tayong in-house day care center sa ikatlong palapag ng Olongapo City Hall na siya namang nangangalaga sa mga anak ng mga empleyado ng lungsod,” Eclarino added.

Moreover, aside from addressing the basic needs of children, the city government is also prepared to respond to children involved in high-risk situations thru the Social Development Center which caters to female children who are victims of child abuse, child labor, human trafficking and street children in need of special protection; the Center for Youth (formerly OCARE) which caters for male minors, street children, victims of violence and Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) and the Center for Women and their children who are victims of violence, human trafficking and other forms of abuse. A Sagip-Kababayan Program is also being implemented in the city to rescue children and prevent them from being abused and exposed to other forms of exploitation, indignities and degradation.

“Being a child-friendly city is a legacy from no other other than the acknowledged mother of Olongapo, Pearl S. Buck International Woman of the Year Awardee, Amelia Juico Gordon, who, in her quest to safeguard the rights and welfare of the young, adopted more than 50 abandoned children and raised them herself and helped thousands more thru the Boys and Girls Home that she established before,” said Vice-Governor Anne Marie Gordon, an advocate of women and children’s rights.