CITY OF MALOLOS – The Provincial Government of Bulacan highlighted the conduct of awareness-building activities on the basic rights of all children in the province as part of the National Children’s Month (NCM) celebration this November.
In her statement on Monday (Nov. 13), Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) head Rowena J. Tiongson, the celebration with a corresponding theme “Healthy, nourished, sheltered: Ensuring the right to life for all!”, the PSWDO in cooperation with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Council of the Welfare of Children and Office of the President National Youth Commission, has lined up various activities for the month-long celebration activities.
Tiongson said some of the highlights of the celebration activities include “Ngiti Mo, Sagot Namin” Free Harelip and Clef Palate Operation for the Bulakenyos Year 2023 to be held at the Baliwag District Hospital on December 1 for post-operation, Social Media Campaign through the use of 2023 NCM photo frame in Facebook, Instagram, and X as a profile picture, BluekadaBiyernes Campaign which enjoins the Bulakenyo to wear blue-colored attire every Friday of November to show support for the month-long celebration as well as to capture photo and have it posted and tagged or mentioned the Council for the Welfare of Children Facebook Page and PSWDO Bulacan and afterward use the hashtag #BlueKadaBiyernes in the caption on social media. Also, the children’s rights advocates call on painting social media ‘blue’ in celebration of the children’s joy, innocence, and potential.
In addition, Tiongson said in her statement that the recitation of a solemn oath on the promotion and protection of the rights of a child called ‘Panatang Makabata’ is requested to be part of the 31st NCM activities and every flag ceremony.
A Pass-A-Book Project will also be held again that invites donors of academic textbooks for English, Science, Filipino, Math and History from Kinder to Grade 12 as well as Literary textbooks (story books), Encyclopedia, Almanac, Dictionary and learning materials like notebooks, pad papers, plastic envelope with handle, and pencil.
Meanwhile, Gov. Daniel R. Fernando encourages Bulakenyo parents and guardians to perform their responsibilities in the four basic rights of children including survival, development, protection, and participation.
“We should cover a child’s right to live and be provided with basic needs including food, shelter, appropriate living conditions, medical care, education, leisure, access to cultural activities, information, and freedom of opinion, conscience, and religion”, the governor said.
Special celebrations on children will also be observed simultaneously in the city/municipal/barangay level on the 1st week of November for survival rights, the second week for development rights and the fourth week for protection rights week and observance of Juvenile Justice and Welfare Consciousness Week.
Also, there will be a selection of provincial representatives to the Regional Children’s Congress on November 21 while Regional Children’s Congress will be held at SM City Pampanga on November 24, Provincial Children’s Month Celebration will be held at the Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center on November 25 wherein there will be a State of Children’s Address (SOCA), Orientation on RA 10821 – “Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act”, Basic Sign Language to ECCD Service Providers and Comprehensive Emergency Program for Children and Brief Orientation on the duties and responsibilities of Child Representative. (UnliNews Online)
