Some 500 Indigenous Peoples (IP) children from the 21 different schools of San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, gathered in Barangay Carromata to receive health kits and food from the Regional Committee for the Welfare of Children (RCWC) chaired by the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office Caraga in celebration of the National Children’s Month –November 16, 2023.

 

The initiative, Project BAHANDI (Bringing Aspiration and Hope as we Nurture and Develop the young Individuals), is RCWC’s way of meeting children, providing necessities, and advancing their right to know about children’s rights and responsibilities – empowering them for the future.

Addressing teachers, officials, and parents around OIC of the Sectoral Unit of DSWD FO Caraga Raffy Vigil left a challenging statement, “Susama nga thinking ang among gusto ipadayag sa matag-usa labi na sa atong mga duty-bearers – mga ginikanan, partners, empleyado sa gobyerno, nga magpadayon kita og pinasahi ug necessary nga pag tagad sa atong mga kabatan-unan. Dili pwede nga ang kalamboan nga gipangandoy nato, dunay mabiyaan na mga bata. Ang development na atong gi-hunahuna kung walay labot ang mga bata, dili gihapon kalambuan sa tanan (“The thinking that we want to express to each one of us, especially to our duty-bearers – parents, partners, government employees, is that we continue to treat our youth with special and necessary care. If the children are not involved in the development that we are dreaming about, that is still not development for all).”

Moreover, Municipal Mayor Hon. Michael T. Corilla thanked RCWC for giving the time and effort to visit the IP Children of San Miguel and told children always to be proud of who they are, “Dili kita dapat masipog sa kung kinsa kita, dapat proud kita na IP og ayaw kamo kawala og paglaom kay mintras naa pa mi, maningkamot na kamo matagaan og saktong oportunidad para sa inyong kaugmaon (We should not be ashamed of who we are, we should be proud to be an IP and do not lose hope because while we are still here, we will try to get the right opportunity for your future).”

Also present during the activity were representatives from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Caraga, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Caraga, the Philippine National Pulis (PNP), the Philippine Army, Provincial Social Welfare and Development (PWSD) Office of Surigao del Sur, and Department of Education San Miguel Division.

 

November is a month-long celebration of National Children’s Month (NCM), and that is our chance to focus on ways we can help and support them and assist kids who have faced abuse, poverty, natural disasters, and violence.