CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The Consuelo Foundation has chosen Pampanga among the seven provinces in Central Luzon as model for the Child Abuse Prevention and Intervention Network’s (CAPIN) International Organization Standardization (ISO) accreditation.
The Consuelo Foundation, a non-government organization will present Pampanga as model LGU implementer to the ISO, world’s largest developer and publisher of international policy and standard for CAPIN.
It can be noted that the foundation is known for its concern in the protection and welfare of children and it introduces CAPIN to local government units all over the country as their policy for the protection of children.
Charlo Costales, project coordinator of Consuelo Foundation disclosed that among the seven provinces who adopted the network in Region III, only Pampanga was able to institutionalize the implementation of CAPIN to 17 municipalities and this city.
With this, Costales lauded the unwavering support of Gov. Lilia G. Pineda who allotted P5- million pesos for the program and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) as the lead implementing arm of CAPIN.
He said the governor is very supportive to the implementation of CAPIN and this made it possible for the program to reach 17 towns and their respective barangays.
“Dito lang nakapagmainstream ang CAPIN kaya ang Pampanga ang gagawing modelo ng foundation para sa ISO Accreditation. Naniniwala kami na papasa sa international standard ang naging implementation ng programa sa lalawigan ito,” Costales said.
Elizabeth Baybayan, PSWD officer stated that the governor as an advocate of child welfare, is regularly monitoring the execution of the policy and its accomplishment.
“Talagang tinututukan ni Gov. Lilia Pineda ang CAPIN. Lagi siyang nagtatanong kung ano ng status ng implementation nito sa mga munisipyo at gusto niya lagi kaming nagpepresent ng accomplishment report.
Aside from the institutionalization of CAPIN, the provincial government has managed to tap volunteer lawyers for free legal services of child abuse victims.
“It has also established crisis centers and created child and women protection unit in all 9 district and one provincial hospitals in the province and the continuing training for those involved in the management of child abuse cases,”Baybayan said.
It can be recalled that Pampanga has also passed Provincial Ordinance 547 or the Welfare Code for Children of the Province of Pampanga authored by 3rd District Board Member Trina Dizon. Dizon said that it is very significant to have a concrete policy for the protection of children in order to maintain the status of Pampanga as child-friendly province.
“Ipinasa natin ang Provincial Welfare Code for Children upang mas lalo pang palakasin ang CAPIN dito sa lalawigan. Parti din ito ng panaginip ng probinsiya na maging modelo sa pagbibigay proteksyon sa mga kabataan,” the board member said.
The PSWD has also lined-up projects under CAPIN such as the creation of a rescue unit, school for child-friendly barangay, protection and prevention program, management information system and case management protocol evaluation. (Jenna Lumbang, PIO Pampanga)
