Child-friendly city

CEBU, Philippines - The problem on rugby boys has become so rampant in Cebu City that many people are already concerned about it, especially since the problem involves children and Cebu City was once awarded as a “child-friendly city.”

 During the stint of then Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña, Cebu City was chosen, three times, as the most “child-friendly city” in Central Visayas by the DSWD’s Council for the Welfare of Children.

The growing number of barangay day-care centers and the establishment of supervised neighborhood playgrounds in 40 sites in Cebu City were among the reasons for the recognition.

 The city also hired personnel to teach street children through the so-called mobile schools, but this was stopped after Rama became mayor in 2010.

DSWD officials said that it is the city’s programs for children that made it win the “child-friendly city” category for three consecutive years.

City Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña said she was so sad that the mobile school for street children was stopped during the administration of Mayor Rama because she believes that street children can still be useful to society.

She cited SP02 Egmedio Felisan who used to be a street child, but because of the government’s effort to save him from the streets, he became one of the best policemen in Cebu City and his family was even awarded by the National Police Commission as the Outstanding Family of the Year. –/QSB (FREEMAN)