Search for most child-friendly barangay in Mandaue launched

CEBU, Philippines - The search for the most child-friendly barangay in Mandaue City is on.

Attended by city officials, barangay captains, day care workers, barangay health workers, among others, the Mandaue City Council for the Protection of Children (MCCPC) has launched the first ever search for the “2014 Most Child Friendly Barangay.”

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circular No. 2002-121 mandates the creation of Council for the Protection of Children in the city, town and barangay levels to ensure that the Child and Welfare Act is implemented.

In Mandaue City, all 27 barangays have established the council, but only 13 barangays are active.

Jhoaden Lucero, DILG city director said the criteria include organization and composition of Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC), its mode of creation and number of members, 20 percent; functionality of BCPC (meetings and documentation), 10 percent; performance (initiated projects and facilities), 30 percent ; legislative support (resolutions and ordinances passed), 25 percent; project proposals (relevance and completeness), 15 percent.

Prizes include a plaque for every winner and P150,000 worth of child and youth welfare projects for the first prize; P100,000, 2nd prize; P75,000, third prize; P50,000 for the 4th prize, and P50,000, 5th prize.

Sarah Walker-Cortes, wife of Mayor Jonas Cortes and chair of MCCPC decided to start with a higher prize to be able to come out with a high impact project.

Meanwhile, Cortes announced that the groundbreaking of the HOME (Hope of Mandaue) Children’s Center located in Dungo-an, Basak is slated on October 31 at 10 am.

The first phase which includes the construction of a holding center for Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) and street children will cost P19 million including the cost of refilling.

Present during the launching were Councilor Nenita Layese, chair, committee on women and children, councillor Diosdado Suico, CSWS head Violeta Cavada, ABC president Ernie Manatad, lawyer Joan Saniel, director of Children’s Legal Bureau, among others. (FREEMAN)