Another presidential award: A tribute to Laoag

LAOAG CITY, Nov. 1  — Laoag City was hailed as the Most Child-Friendly in the component city category in region 1 for this year’s search.

This presidential award given to the local government units pays tribute to the deserving LGUs who are efficiently carrying-out programs on the rights of the children in the country.

The awarding ceremony was held on October 31 at the Laoag City auditorium in time with the culminating activity for the National Children’s Month celebration.

Perlita Cabello, Officer-In-Charge of the City Social Welfare and Development Office said the key of the city’s victory are the implemented programs on budget concerning children, ordinances in favor of the children, efficient committees concerning children work together, nutrition committee, health board, children welfare advocacy and partnership with the NGOs and stakeholders.

“We are also implementing programs on how to lessen school drop-outs, we have this programs for regular students and also part-time students, we provide livelihood programs. These are the few programs we are implementing to help the children develop their individuality” Cabello said.

The city government has this program for the working students called Afternoon-Saturday Class (ASC) available at the Ilocos Norte National High School. The students will have their class at one to six in the afternoon only, and the whole day of Saturdays.

Laoag City being a first timer entry is anticipating for the result of the national search where it competes with three component cities in the country namely Tagaytay City, Tagum City, and one in Cebu City.

Documents needed for the search were validated by the validation team of the search on September 25-28.

Meanwhile, the municipality of Baccara in Ilocos Norte was also one of the runners-up in the 1st to 3rd class municipalities in region 1 awarded during the culminating ceremony.

The Search for Child Friendly Cities and Municipalities is an advocacy of the Council for the Welfare of Children or CWC where LGUs are given much needed boost to put children at the center of planning and resource allocation. (Cherry Joy D. Garma)