The head of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VI recently called on various stakeholders to ensure a safer environment for the children and the youth.
“Let me emphasize that we, the present generation, have the responsibility to ensure that the children and youth live in a safer environment. This means one where they are protected and respected,” said Regional Director Ma. Evelyn B. Macapobre during the orientation on Republic Act 11188 otherwise known as an “Act Providing for the Special Protection of Children in Situation of Armed Conflict.
Macapobre, who also chairs the Regional Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Children in Western Visayas, said there has been an increase in the number of children in armed conflict who reach out to the government.
“I would like to commend our partners for helping DSWD to respond to these cases, particularly Local Government Unit concerned the, the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and members of Regional Task Forces to End Local Communist Armed Conflict and the Local Government Units,” Macapobre said.
She said that the agency has and will always condemn the recruitment of children by armed groups.
“DSWD always advocates for the rights and welfare of children in all our endeavors. Being in armed groups is never a place for them,” she said.
According to Macapobre, they will also work on addressing the gaps of ensuring availability of facilities and resources to support the interventions for CSAC and continue to build partnerships from both government and non-government agencies to help in providing holistic interventions to CSAC.
“Ours is an endeavor that goes beyond this lifetime. Making a child-friendly environment today ensures the development and success of the next generation to follow,” she stressed. (DSWD-6/with contribution from Raji Alvarado)
