Vigan receives Seal of Community of Practice on Child-Friendly Local Governance

The City Government of Vigan headed by Mayor Juan Carlo Medina has proved once again that the City is geared towards supporting and initiating children’s rights promotion and protection as it was conferred with the Seal of Community of Practice on Child Friendly Local Governance (Cop CFLG) on November 25 by Regional Council for the Welfare of Children (RCWC) Director Marcelo Nicomedes Castillo at the Vigan Convention Center.,

It was in 2006 when Vigan was first recognized as the Most Child-Friendly City in Region 1. It was then followed by a national recognition in 2008 and 2009, thus making it a Hall of Fame Awardee and the Most Child Friendly Component City in the Philippines in 2010.

The performance assessment of LGUs in delivering social services that promote the welfare of the children started in 2014. The national government spearheaded by the Committee for the Welfare of Children (CWC) had set the criteria focused on health, education, protection and children’s participation.

“There were 12 criteria for the Seal of CoP CFLG and Vigan topped the assessment in the whole Region 1,” Mr. Emmanuel Mapili, CWC Coordinator for RCWC1 said.

The LGUs were assessed based on the following criteria: 1) Percentage reduction in the deaths among children below five years old; 2) Percentage reduction in the number of children under six with below normal weights; 3) Percentage increase in the number of 3-4- year-old children attending center-based day care services; 4) Completion rate for elementary schooling; 5) Absence of child labor or percentage reduction in child labor cases; 6) Percentage reduction in the number of children victims of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation (all forms, including physical violence, sexual abuse, and exploitation, and trafficking in persons); 7) Safety measures for children in the community and schools; 8) Extent of mainstreaming of Children’s rights to survival, development, protection and participation in the core development agenda of LGUs; 9) An ordinance establishing Barangay Violence Against Women and their Children (VAW/C) Desks; 10) 2013 Philhealth accreditation in its main health facility or rural health unit for Maternal Care Services and Primary Care; 11) A Local School Board (LSB) Plan for CY 2013 that is aligned with the School Improvement Plan (SIP); and 12) Completed at least 70% of its LSB Plan for 2013.

Vigan was among the five LGUs in the Philippines who received the Seal of CoP CFLG along with Davao, Naga, Mandaluyong, and New Lucena.

“We are so proud on this another achievement of our City because we are able to sustain the good practices of being a child-friendly city,” CSWD Officer Celerina Agcamaran said. //spf