Zamboanga City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development is prodding the Local Government Units to put children’s concerns on top of their agenda through utilizing the allocated 1% of their Internal Revenue Allotment for the implementation of programs and projects for the children.
This is pursuant to Republic Act 9344 as amended by RA 10630 mandating all LGUs to allocate 1% of their IRA to institutionalize programs, projects and activities of the Local Council for Protection of Children (LCPC). The same law also calls on the establishment of a functional LCPC, a council that shall advocate the rights, plans and initiate interventions and monitor children’s programs and projects in the locality.
During the Writeshop on developing and crafting of Regional Situational Analysis for Juvenile Justice and Welfare Progrogram on May 17, 2016 organized by the Regional Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council through DSWD Regional Office, DSWD IX Regional Director Atty. Araceli Solamillo emphasized that when it comes to the welfare of the children, it needs coordination and collaboration among multiple agencies.
“Children’s welfare is not only a Social Worker’s responsibility. It should also be the concern of other government agencies and institutions. And through this activity, all stakeholders can plan and work together to address the gaps and issues related to child protection.” Solamillo said in her opening message.
The preparation of the Local Development Plan for children can also be funded by the 1% IRA to ensure that interventions and programs provided to children are responsive and effective. Aside from this RJJWC Focal Person Criselda Palomo said that LGUs can also look into how they can provide assistance to children in need of special protection, support the development of advocacy materials on children and as well as putting up a local information system on children’s situation and in monitoring and ensuring that national and local laws on children are properly enforced in their respective localities.
This call is in support to the advocacy of institutionalizing the amended Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act that mandates to strengthen the Juvenile Justice System in the Philippines which will be celebrating its 10th year anniversary on May 20, 2016.
Part of the commemoration is the workshop on crafting the regional situational analysis which is attended by the Regional Inter-Agency Committee for Children. The said activity which will run from May 17-18, 2016 aims to conduct rapid assessment of Situational Analysis of Children At Risk (CAR) and Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) in Zamboanga Peninsula. The participants shall also identify the shortfalls and inequities in existing policies, programs and services, thereby, provide set of recommendations for child protection interventions.###
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