CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--The Oro Youth Development Office (OYDO) in this city recently completed its search for the Seal of the Most Child-Friendly Police Station with an awarding ceremony dubbed Pasundayag 2023, which highlighted the progress for services on women and child protection.
Co-chair of the Committee on Social Protection of the City Government, Councilor Joyleen Mercedes Balaba, delivered a report on behalf of City Mayor Rolando A. Uy.

"On protection rights, the Regional Juvenile Justice Welfare Committee awarded the City for its documentation as the best practices in the implementation of RA 9344, otherwise known as the Juvenile Justice Welfare Act of 2006, with the BCPC in place at the barangay level. Protection for children at risk (PCR) and children in conflict with the law (CICL) is ensured," she said.

She also said that members of the BCPC, or Barangay Council for the Protection of Children, are always given training on how to deal with different cases of child abuse.

Balaba said that one thing the City Social Welfare Development Office and the Women and Children Protection Desks of the Philippine National Police have done so far is help children who need special protection, children who are at risk, and children who are involved in a conflict.

City Administrator Lawyer Roy Hilario Raagas said not only the awardees present but their respective communities and constituents were the true inspiration for the organized recognition night.

Noting the report of Balaba, he said, "Timaan kana sa dakong inspirasyon ni Mayor Klarex nga gikan sa lumalabay nga administrasyon hangtod karon, ang city government sees to it nga ang kaakuhan sa dakbayan, not only a responsibility, but apil ang paglantaw sa kaayuhan sa kabataan nga mapaingon sa mga adolescent ug youth nga atol and future leaders of our community, matagaan sa igong pagtagad," he said.

(That is a sign of the great inspiration of Mayor Klarex that from the past administration until now, the city government sees to it that the city's ego, not only a responsibility, but including the vision of the well-being of children that can be directed to adolescents and youth and future leaders of our community, will be treated with sufficient attention)

He also reiterated Mayor Rolando Uy’s report about the budget spent for social services, which is nearing 1 billion or 800 million plus, and added that when he had the privilege to serve the City Government in 1993, there were only a few child development centers, which is about more than 50 centers, and at that time, the establishment of women’s desks was still starting.

"Niadtong panahona, ang gobyerno wala pa kaayo naghatag og pagtagad sa concern sa women, apil ang kabataan but 25 years fast forward, the LGU comes to see over the protection of children. Even in the barangay level, naa na’y mga BCPC. Nakita sa pangagamhanan, gikan sa nasyonal paingon sa barangay that there is a need to devote more resources para sa kabataan," he said.

(The government long ago did not yet prioritize women's, youth's, and children’s concerns. The LGU comes to see the protection of children twenty-five years later. Even at the barangay level, there is already a BCPC. Because the government, from the national level to the barangay level, saw that there was a need to devote more resources for our children)

Furthermore, Raagas stated that police stations have multiple roles to play in the community. As a result, it is not only the WCPD's responsibility to protect children, their mothers, and women who are in conflict with the law or face violations of women's rights, but it is also everyone's concern.

"More importantly, nga mao’y gihimo sa atong sa Oro Youth Development Council ug Office, sa atong CSWD, sa City Council Protection for Children headed by our Mayor and co-chaired by Councilor Girlie, mao nga ma-recognize ang mga advocacies and paningkamot sa mga police stations, apil na sa atong mga kabarangayan through the BCPC, inabagan sa mga barangay councils ang inyong mga programa nga ga-cover alang sa kaayuhan sa mga kabataan," he said.

(More importantly, the Oro Youth Development Council, Oro Youth Development Office, and City Council Protection for Children, headed by Mayor Klarex Uy and co-chaired by Councilor Girlie Balaba, recognized the advocacies and efforts regarding child protection of the police stations and barangay level government through the BCPC, with the assistance of barangay councils)

Further, the Pasundayag 2023 did not just honor police stations and officers but also hailed barangay government units that excelled in their services for women and children. These include the Seal for Most Child-Friendly Barangay, BCPC Incentives, Best in Child-Friendly Initiatives, Best in Child-Friendly Spaces, Best in Monitoring and Evaluation, Best in Information and Advocacy, Best in Community Engagement, and Outstanding Women and Children Protection Desk. (IJBD/PIA-10)