KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- The Regional Committee for the Welfare of Children (RCWC) in Soccsksargen has vowed to strengthen the “participation rights” of children in the development undertakings of the government.

Recognizing the vital role of every child in nation-building, RCWC chairperson and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Director Loreto Cabaya Jr. called on partner agencies and local government units (LGU) to bolster their efforts to implement children’s rights through their respective CWCs.

“I am calling the attention of our partner agencies and LGUs to take action and comply with the requirements to ensure the effectiveness of programs, plans, and activities for children in our region,” Cabaya reiterated in a recent RCWC meeting held in Koronadal City, as he highlighted the “critical role” of the LGUs and council members.

Cabaya Jr. underscored the importance of giving children an opportunity to participate in decision-making and crafting plans of action, especially in areas concerning them.

The committee revisited the programs and activities implemented in the previous years as well as tackled plans and actions for 2024 based on the recommendations of LGUs, partner agencies, and other stakeholders.

The chair conveyed that upon reviewing, they realized that in order to preserve the best interests of children, they needed to reinforce their implementation strategies, citing that unified and concerted efforts would bring about tangible improvements in the welfare of children across the region.

Meanwhile, Chester Kyle Toledo, a grade 10 student specializing in the science, technology, and engineering (STE) program at Libertad National High School and RCWC child representative, presented the results of last year’s regional children’s consultation to the committee.

“We have identified five priority issues during the children’s consultation we had last November 11–12, 2023,” Toledo announced during the meeting. 

He singled out “teenage pregnancy, mental health problems, lack of child participation, sexual abuse of children, and lack of guidance” from parents and elders as the main issues that had surfaced during the consultation conducted among children.

The consultation was a vital activity to gather children’s input and recommendations for crafting a child-sensitive Regional Plan of Action for Children (RPAC), a document that will serve as a reference for the enactment of a law or policy measure that would prioritize the child’s needs and safeguard their rights.

According to the United Nations Children's Fund, the rights of children are enshrined under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, an international human rights agreement ratified by 196 countries in 1989, including the Philippines, which comprises four main pillars, namely the rights to survival, protection, development, and participation. 

"This means that the government is obliged to take action to ensure that every child in the country, regardless of who they are, equally enjoys the rights under the Convention,” it further said.  

Representing the National Economic and Development Authority in Region 12, Senior Economic Development Specialist Michael Abellana also urged the committee members, particularly the LGUs, to solidify their policies on children and empower the parents to honor the rights of their children.

“[Let’s also] look into how we will empower the parents, because doon nag-uugat yung ibang problema [that's where the other problem is rooted], like mental health. If they are experiencing storms outside their homes and when they go back to their homes they can’t find a safe haven, masisira rin ‘yung [it will destroy the] self-confidence ng bata [of the child],” he pointed out.

Abellana also stressed the need to enhance responsible parenting so that “they will become accountable and more empowered parents in guiding their children.” (AMB - PIA Region 12)