Butuan City –  As the lead agency and chair of the Regional Committee for the Welfare of Children ( RCWC), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga joins today the launching for the annual search of the Most Child Friendly Barangay at the City Hall ground, Butuan City.

DSWD Regional Director Minda B. Brigoli underscored the leadership of the Hon. Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr. and the City Local Government Unit who are child advocates for creating another milestone in coming up with the launching of the Search for the Most Child- Friendly Barangay.

“The DSWD continuously provides technical assistance and coordinates the implementation and enforcement of all laws to the promotion of children’s rights,” RD Brigoli assured.

Ms. Aldie Mae Andoy, DSWD Caraga Sectoral Head added that the search specifically aims to strengthen the participation of the barangays in the city government’s projects and activities; promote child friendliness and awareness of children’s rights in every barangay; encourage the barangays to address issues and concern on children; and to inspire barangays to formulate and implement new programs and services for children, and come up with best practices that can be duplicated by other barangays.

Hon. Mayor Amante said that the annual search institutionalizes a child – friendly environment and governance at the barangay level that promotes and protects child’s welfare and child’s right to survival, development, protection, and participation.

“ We want to sustain a healthy engagement for the best interest and welfare of our children and to be able to come up with a high impact projects,” Mayor Amante mentioned.

Mayor Amante encourages all Barangay Council on the Protection of Children (BCPC) to be functional and ensure budget allocation of 1% of the total Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) for Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) strengthening.

The city had undergone validation on the Child Friendly Local Governance Audit (CFLGA) last August 13, 2014 conducted by the RCWC Caraga member agencies headed by the DSWD.

The said audit was in reference to the Department of Interior Local and Government (DILG) dated April 23, 2014 re: Child Friendly Local Governance Audit Implementing Guidelines and DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2014 – 08 dated July 7 Child – Friendly Local Government Audit (CFLGA).

“We have already submitted the list of passers of the CFLGA to the CWC – Technical Management Group (TMG), to include Butuan City for conferment of the Seal of Child – Friendly Local Governances,” Andoy disclosed.

After the Conferment of the SCFLG, all Seal Recipients will advance to the Presidential Award for Child Friendly Municipalities and Cities.

Butuan City was awarded as regional winner of Child – Friendly Local Government Unit 2012 and had received an amount of Php 50,000.00 as its cash prize in the Presidential Award for Child – Friendly Cities.

The strengths and effectiveness of the child protection system lie in the presence of organized and functional Local Council of the Protection of Children in all government units particularly the Barangay Council on the Protection of Children (BCPC) which is closest to children and their families.

For this year the city vies for Presidential Award for Child Friendly City 2014.  ### ( DSWD FO Caraga)