CEBU, Philippines - Barangay Subangdaku in Mandaue City was adjudged as the “Most Child-Friendly Barangay” by the Department of Interior and Local Government-Mandaue Chapter.
The giving of the award was conceptualized by the agency in coordination with city government.
Barangay Captain Ernie Manatad received a plaque and a ceremonial check worth P150,000 from Mayor Jonas Cortes and DILG Regional Director Ananias Villacorta in a ceremony held last Thursday afternoon at Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.
The event was attended by barangay captains and workers of 27 barangays, as well as city officials.
Manatad said the award the barangay has received is attributed to the dedication of the their trained teachers in their mobile day care schools, members of the Committee on Women and Children who organized the I-kids (indigent kids) party, as well as the members of the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children.
He said more innovations are expected for their mobile day care center as the barangay has decided to use the prize money for the purchase of more visual materials in order to attract more children to join classes.
Mayor Cortes in his speech commended the barangay officials for their cause for the children whom he described as the future of the country.
“The moral test of a government is how it treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children,” Cortes said.
Villacorta for his part urged everyone to help mold the children become responsible citizens and Christians as they are vulnerable to abuses
Other winners and their respective prizes included Cabancalan, second with P100,000; Mantuyong, third with P75,000; Cubacub, fourth with P50,000; and Tabok, 5th with P25,000.
Other barangays that made it to the top 10 were Casuntingan, Basak, Umapad, Canduman and Paknaan. Each received a certificate of appreciation. — Flor Z. Perolina (FREEMAN)