MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) acknowledged the essential role of local government units (LGUs) in the promotion and protection of children.

This role was cited by the UN agency during the interception workshop on "Building Community Resilience and Delivery of Essential Services for Post-Conflict Recovery in Lanao del Sur" held here recently.

UNICEF Social Policy Specialist Lea Marasigan said the local government, particularly the local actors, interact with other governments and various organizations to ensure and promote children's rights.

Marasigan shared that the local governance approach is vital as it not only addresses the needs and priorities of every community but also reduces poverty and improves a child's well-being.

"Local governance approach can significantly contribute to reducing child poverty and enhancing children’s well-being. Kung maayos yung serbisyo ng local government unit, yung kanyang pagplano, yung RHU, magandang nutrition services, child protection services ay nakakatulong sa pagdevelop ng well-being ng mga bata (If the service of the local government unit is good, its planning, the RHU, good nutrition services, child protection services will help develop the well-being of the children)," said Marasigan.

She also stated that one of the objectives of their project "Building Community Resilience and Delivery of Essential Services for Post Conflict Recovery in Lanao del Sur" is to promote child-friendly local governance so that the local government unit becomes more child-friendly in addressing the needs of the children and the communities.

As the project lasts in the year 2025, UNICEF hopes that the Provincial Government, the 39 municipalities of the province, and Marawi City, being the target beneficiaries of the said project, will not only become child-friendly but also sustain it even after the project ends.

"What we want to do is to really capacitate the province, the provincial stakeholders, provincial government, and eventually they will be able to sustain it and translate it to providing more robust, technical assistance to the city and the municipalities in Lanao del Sur," said Marasigan. (JND/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)