CLARK, Pampanga – The 1st National Congress on Adoption, and Child Care for the North, and Central Luzon came to a successful close last Thursday at the Royce Hotel here.
Some 300 participants representing 133 municipalities, and cities from Regions 1, 2, 3, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) attended the national congress organized by the National Authority for Child Care (NACC) in partnership with the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC).
The NACC has successfully stressed to the local government units (LGUs) the importance of the implementation of adoption, and alternative child care services, and programs at the grassroots level.
NACC Undersecretary and Executive Director Janella Ejercito Estrada, in her closing message, also urged LGU officials to prioritize, and implement programs, and services that will ultimately protect the best interest of children.
“Alam ko na kayo ang nararapat at bukod tanging makakatulong upang mas maging epektibo ang mandato at programa ng NACC,” Estrada said.
“Naniniwala ako sa inyong dedikasyon bilang mga ama at ina ng inyong pinamumunuan. Tayo ang magsisilbing tinig at boses ng mga pinaka-kawawang batang ito. Upang muli ay manumbalik ang pag-asa sa buhay na hinaharap at haharapin pa nila,” she added.
Meanwhile, the LGUs of Baguio City, Barlig, Mountain Province, Conner, Apayao, Luba, Abra, Bauang, La Union, Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, Laoac, Pangasinan, Laoag, Ilocos Norte, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, Santa Barbara, Pangasinan, Santol, La Union, Tagudin, Ilocos Sur, Alfonso Castaneda, Nueva Vizcaya, Amulung, Cagayan, Sto. Nino, Cagayan, Reina Mercedes, Isabela, Floridablanca, Pampanga, and Porac, Pampanga. signed a memorandum of agreement with NACC for the implementation of the Philippine Foster Care Program (PFCP) while more than 20 LGUs also pledged their commitment for the adoption and implementation of the PFCP.
CWC Undersecretary Angelo Tapales, Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 3 Regional Director Venus Rebuldela, Department of Interior and Local Government-III Assistant Regional Director Jay Timbreza, and Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Atty. Ethel Marie Degollado-Guiua also graced the event.
Topics such as domestic adoption, inter-country adoption, Simulated Birth Rectification Act, alternative child care, especially the Philippine Foster Care Program, the inclusion of adoption and alternative child care programs as part of sub-indicators and rating system of the Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit, and the Makabayan Helpline were the highlights of the discussions during the National Congress. By HENT