NATIONAL VALIDATING TEAM OF THE CHILD FRIENDLY CITY AWARD VISITS OLONGAPO!

The National Validating Team for the Most Child Friendly City Presidential Award arrived in Olongapo City on December 2, 2008 to evaluate and validate the city’s programs concerning the welfare and protection of the rights of children. Mayor James ‘Bong’ Gordon Jr. and City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) head Gene Eclarino led the Local Council for the Welfare of Children (LCWC) in receiving the team.

A preliminary meeting was held with the LCWC and the members of the National Validating Team at the FMA Hall of the Olongapo City Hall where the itinerary of the team and other concerns regarding their visit were discussed.

Members of the National Validating Team include Lilia San Valentin of the Department of Education DepEd), Andre Canilang of the Council form the Welfare of Children (CWC), Tam Lirio of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Dr. Amado Parawan of the Save the Children Foundation and Emma Abalanza of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

“Olongapo has always been in the forefront and we have been continuing kung ano yung sinimulan namin many years ago and we find ways to improve it,” Mayor Gordon said. “Pero sa mga awards, ang importante ang mga tao dahil sila ang makikinabang sa mga ito.”

During the preliminary meeting, the three barangays to be visited by the team were selected. Two barangays, East Bajac-Bajac and Asinan, were selected randomly and the third barangay, West Bajac-Bajac, was picked by the CSWDO.

The validating team will also visit Center for Youth, Social Development Center, Center for Women and the James L. Gordon Memorial Hospital.

On December 3, 2008, an exit conference will be held with the validating team and the members of the LCWC to give feedback and the evaluation results based on the findings of the team.

It can be recalled that Olongapo City recently won as the ‘Most Child Friendly City” in Region III.

Mayor James ‘Bong’ Gordon Jr. with City Social Welfare and Development (CSWDO) head Gene Eclarino, City Councilor Ellen Dabu, City Administrator Ferdie Magrata and two of the members of the National Validating Team of the Presidential Search for the Most Child Friendly City, Andre Canilang of the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) and Lilia San Valentin ng Department of Education (DepEd). The team recently visited Olongapo to evaluate the city’s child friendly programs for the ‘Search for the Most Child Friendly City’ in the country.

PAO/Don

OLONGAPO IS AGAIN MOST CHILD FRIENDLY CITY IN REGION III!

Olongapo City recently bagged the Most Child Friendly City award for Region III (Central Luzon). Olongapo City Mayor James ‘Bong’ Gordon Jr. and City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) head Gene Eclarino proudly presented the award to city government employees during the flag raising ceremony held at the Rizal Triangle Multi-Purpose Center.

The award was given recently in San Fernando, Pampanga.

This qualifies Olongapo as a nominee for the Presidential Award for Most Child Friendly City in the entire country. A validating team will visit the city on December 1 and 2, 2008 to evaluate the city’s performance and programs protecting children’s welfare and rights.

“Gusto kong pasalamatan ang members ng Local Council for the Welfare of Children na pinamumunuan ng ating Mayor at sa Barangay Council for the Protection of Children dahil we achieved this award because of our unity and cooperation with other Local Government Units and other organizations,” said Eclarino.

“Napakahalaga ng award na ito para sa Olongapo. This proves na our programs for the welfare of children are effective and we are implementing it well,” explained Mayor Gordon.

It can be recalled that a regional evaluating team recently visited the city to evaluate the city’s performance and visit several barangays of the city to check their child friendly programs.

PAO/Don

SEARCH FOR THE MOST CHILD-FRIENDLY BARANGAY

Nitong ika-26 ng Agosto 2008 ay inilunsad na sa Olongapo City ang ‘The Search for the Most Child Friendly Barangay’ na proyekto ni City Mayor James “Bong” Gordon Jr.

“Ito ang kaunaunahang pagkakataon na magsasagawa ng ganitong proyekto ang lungsod at Olongapo City lamang ang natatanging lungsod na may ganitong proyekto,” pahayag ni City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) head, Gene Eclarino.

Ang proyektong ito ay naglalayong mapigting pa lalo ang pagiging ‘child friendly’ ng lungsod sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatatag ng pundasyon simula sa ‘grassroots level’.

“Kailangan child friendly ang mga barangay ng isang lungsod dahil dito sa grassroots level nagsisimula ang lahat,” paliwanag ni Eclarino. “Hindi magiging ‘child friendly’ ang isang lunsgsod kung hindi ‘child friendly’ ang mga barangay nito.”

Ang labing pitong (17) mga barangay ng lungsod sa small and big barangays upang maging patas ang kumpetisyon. Ang paghahati ay ayon sa populasyon, geographical area at ang budget appropriation.

“The main objective of this competition is to recognize the efforts and the initiative of the barangay officials through the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC), ito ang nagsisilbing policy making body, na siyang magi-implement at magmo-monitor ng mga programs and services na may kinalaman sa mga bata,” dagdag pa ni Eclarino.

Ang mga programa ng barangay ay tumutugon dapat sa four basic rights of children: ang right to survival, participation, development at protection. Ang mga ito ang magsisilbing susi upang maitanghal na ‘Most Child Friendly’ ang isang barangay.

Kasama sa mga programang ‘child friendly’ ay ang mga scholarship programs, mga health programs tulad ng feeding programs, mga rehabilitation programs, social development centers, sports programs at iba pa.

Ang mga barangay ay dapat na magsubmit ng mga kinakailangang data na nagpapakita ng performance ng kanilang mga programa para sa kabataan. Kasama na dito ang health programs, educational programs, justice system, childhood care and development at ang dissemination ng kaalaman at impormasyon sa komunidad.

“Maganda na nag-iinvest ang isang lokal na pamahalaan sa mga children, dahil ika nga, kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan at sila ang iiwanan nating responsable upang mangalaga sa ating lungsod. Dapat laging itaas ang karapatan ng mga bata,” pagtatapos ni Eclarino.
PAO/Don