MABALACAT CITY—-The field monitoring on the functionality of the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) of the cities and municipalities of Pampanga has started in this city to measure the child-friendly governance status of local government units (LGUs).
The LCPC aims to protect the vulnerability of every child in any form of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Elizabeth E. Baybayan, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer (PSWDO) explained that monitoring the functionality of the council is crucial to sustain national efforts in the localization of the National Strategic Framework for Plan Development for children or child 21 and the Provincial Code for children.
Citing the guidelines, she said the LCPC should conduct regular or special meetings to discuss or tackle program implementation strategies, issues and problems on children that should be given utmost attention or solution and monitoring of children’s situations that are being implemented in the locality to ensure it is responsible in planning and spearheading programs for children in the locality.
Baybayan said the LCPC monitoring is expected to end in November 2017 but will be implemented yearly.
In line with the objective to make the province child- friendly, the Provincial Council for the Protection of Children (PCPC) under the chairmanship of Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda, and support of the Provincial Administrator Atty. Andres S. Pangilinan, also provided strong deterrence and assured special protection and rights to the Capampangan children.
Executive Order No. 02-2016 mandates that the monitoring team will be chaired by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) provincial director, while its members should consist of representatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Provincial Planning and Development Office(PPDO), DepEd Division of Pampanga, Provincial Health Office (PHO), PSWDO, Organization from International Justice Mission (IJM), Academe Representative from Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University (DHVTSU), and non-government and faith-based organization.
By: Aida B. Bungue
