By: Pilar S. Mabaquiao
SAN JOSE, Antique – The Province of Antique will kick off the observance of the Children Month with the launching of the 2019 Children’s Code on Nov 4 at the EBJ Freedom Park here.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Antique recently approved Provincial Ordinance No. 2019-184 enacting the 2019 Children’s Code.
Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator Juliana O. Cepe, emphasized the need to pursue the advocacy on child’s rights and implement the ordinance to ensure participation, protection, survival and development of children.
She also encouraged the local officials to support the implementation of the ordinance and allocate funds for projects in making their barangays and institutions child-friendly.
The Provincial Government of Antique has been actively working on the development of child friendly communities way back in the early 2000, during the implementation of Country Program for Children where Antique was the pilot area of United Nations Children’s Fund.
Since then, the presentation of the State of the Children’s Report was made an annual undertaking of the provincial government. This year, Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao will deliver the State of the Children Report on November 29 during the culmination program.
Other activities for the Children’s Month include Quiz Contest, Poster making Contest that will happen on the Culmination Program and disaster simulation exercise in some selected schools to be conducted by the PDRRMO.
Child Development Pre-School Congress will also be held 3rd week of November to showcase the talents and capacities of young children through dances, songs and draw and tell contests.
There will also be advocacy sessions for children of overseas Filipino Workers and student leaders on various topics such as Cyber Crime, Mental health/expression, Financial Literacy, Migration Realities, among other topics.
The Philippine Information Agency and the Provincial Information Office will also hold episodes of their radio program to support the child’s right advocacy, in line with this year’s theme “ Karapatang Pambata: Patuloy na Pahalagahan at Gampanan Tungo sa Magandang Kinabukasan.” (PIA-Antique)
