TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The local council for the protection of children (LCPC) has recently adopted a child protection policy (CPP) which will ensure the protection and safety of children involved in all activities initiated and organized by the city government.
Hayzel Mullat of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) said the guideline was introduced and adopted during the LCPC first quarter meeting.
The CPP aims to promote a child-friendly environment, to increase awareness on child protection and to ensure appropriate actions that will protect children from any form of abuse, neglect, exploitation activities, violence, and harm.
“It will give a clear guidance to keep children safe from harm and abuse, serve as guide in responding appropriately when instances of child abuse happen and as an indicator of the city’s commitment to promote, protect and fulfill children’s right,” Mullat said.
Anchored on Philippine laws and national plans for children, the policy provides preventive strategies or codes of conduct setting ethical boundaries in terms of communication, role, physical contact, role modeling, and travel with children, and so on to avoid harm and violence against children.
The policy covers all officials and personnel of the city government regardless of their work status, all structures and local bodies within the city government, and all persons, companies, and agencies involved in the city government’s activities concerning children, to abide by the policy.
Partner organizations such as Lin-awa Center, Tabuk Refuge of Hope International, transport groups, religious sectors, youth organizations, and other organizations whose advocacy promotes the welfare of children and line agencies in close coordination with all the local functionaries of the city government are also covered by this policy.
Mullat said the CPP will soon be presented before the Sanguniang Panlungsod for approval and for its institutionalization. By Rod Asurin
