Binay to deliver State of the Children Address

Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay will deliver his "State of the Children Address" today to cap this year’s celebration of National Children’s Month.

He will join children from 37 public schools and day-care centers at the City Hall Quadrangle for what has been dubbed as the first ever "Children’s Assembly."

Child advocates and members of the Makati Council for the Protection of Children (MCPC) will also join the event scheduled to begin at 8 a.m.

Binay’s is expected to report on how children are doing and how their lives are being enriched in Makati City. He will speak on the achievements of the city government in implementing programs, projects, and services for children.

Makati has prided itself of continuing to provide the best in free education for children through highly competitive public schools. The city has long been known for having outstanding students, who, despite belonging to government-owned elementary and high school educational institutions, continue to win competitions, awards and scholarships both in the country and abroad.

The country’s financial capital has also very few or almost zero crimes against children as a result of the low rate.

During the assembly, Binay will present the city’s children with "four gifts," which intend to make their lives better and give them brighter futures — the city’s Medium Term Development Plan for Children, the Child and Youth Welfare Code, Local Investment Plan for Children, and a copy of the "State of the Children of Makati" report.

Joining the assembly will be Colin Davis, senior program officer of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund.

Davis will also be with Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Luwalhati Pablo and lawyer Frank Chavez, who chairs the Bantay Bata Committee of the Rotary Club of Makati.

Makati City Reps. Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin Jr. and Agapito "Butz" Aquino will deliver their own speeches during the program which ends before noon. – Michael Punongbayan