The Child Friendly Movement (CFM) of ,

Introduction

Dumingag, a 4 th class municipality in Zamboanga del Sur, is a landlocked LGU with majority of its 44 barangays separated by rivers and mountains. It has a population of more than 43,000 and a land area of 61,850 hectares. It was reputed for its accessibility problems that, for many years, deprived its people of basic services and increased susceptibility to crime against women and children like rape and physical abuse. In 1998, it had an infant mortality rate of 3.09%, a child mortality rate of 0.19%, a malnutrition rate of 14.80% and a maternal mortality rate of 1.54%. The state of education revealed a high percentage of out-of-school-youths (OSY), low performance of in-school children, and lack of support from parents and the community.

This poor social condition of people in Dumingag brought about pessimism and hopelessness as well as low self-esteem. Before, when they were asked where they came from, they would often deny coming from Dumingag to avoid the stigma of their hometown’s negative image.

This sad state inspired the LGU, through the administration of Mayor Edgardo G. Jamero who assumed office in 1998, to effect a change that is not only physical but intrinsic in nature. His vision then was “To create a habitable and hospitable environment by cleaning up the surrounding, and by bringing back hope and vitality in the hearts of the people”. This envisioned change became possible through the Child Friendly Movement (CFM) Program that was anchored on the following principles:

1. It is easier to bend a tree while still young; hence, this priority undertaking for the children of Dumingag who own the future. 2. The home is the foundation and fountain of all good things; hence, this gigantic task and effort to strengthen the homes and families, and the communities where they belong. 3. Education liberates; hence, this incessant pouring and pooling of efforts and resources to start education at the very roots: the day care centers, close supervision over performance of elementary and high school levels. 4. Anything is possible with convergence; hence, this harmonious interweaving of all sectors such as the LGU, NGOs, PNP, DepEd, Religious Sector, and all else.

The CFM Program

Program Goals and Objectives. The Child Friendly Movement (CFM) is a local government program that was launched in October 1999 and implemented until year 2003. It addresses the following goals, which are directly attuned to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) that the Philippine Government signed as part of an international covenant, to wit: (a) achieve universal primary education; (b) reduce child mortality; (c) promote gender equality and empowerment; and (d) improve maternal health.

Child-Friendly Movement Of Dumaingag, Zamboanga del Sur 1 It targeted as its primary beneficiaries the children, adults, youth, and women of Dumingag with the intention of:

1. Eliminating child abuse, neglect and exploitation by 2005, and making it observable in schools, homes, offices and the whole community; 2. Inculcating and radiating to Dumingagnons most especially to children and their families the essence of women’s and children’s rights; 3. Creating a child-friendly community starting from the basic unit of the Municipality, the homes and families; 4. Encouraging sustainability of the Child-Friendly Movement through well- establish structures, systems and procedures down to the level.

Budget Allocation (2002). The Program got a substantial budget allocation in year 2002 ( Table 1 ) when various government and non- government agencies pulled their resources together.

Table 1. 2002 CFM Budget Allocation (PhP) Program LGU BRGY UNICEF NGO’s TOTAL Component 1. Health and P6.6M 1.6 M .5 M 50T 8.7M Nutrition 2. Education 4.4M 2M 50T 100T 6.5M 3. CNSP 1.1M 10T 5T 1.1M 4. GAD 55T 10T 150T 215T 5. Communication 50T 88T 30T 168T (Advocacy) TOTAL 12.3M 3.6M 570T 335T P16.8M

The contribution of UNICEF was in the form of non-cash items and capacity-building activities while those of non-government organizations like DUSA, KKI, DBG and others were in the form of literacy classes, advocacy and training.

Program Implementation Strategy. Dumingag’s implementation strategy relied on the continued delivery of basic services by the LGU and national agencies. This was accomplished through the convergence of services rendered based on each right of children (Table 2 ).

Table 2. Programs and Implementing Agencies that Addressed Children’s Rights Children’s Rights/ Activity Implementing Program Area Agency Survival Rights Health and Nutrition Nutrition education classes and counseling MNAO Dental outreach (Kiddy Cops) PNP Supplemental feeding MNAO, DSWD Identification Rights Mobile civil registration LCR Kasalan sa Barangay LCR Literacy cum livelihood classes DepEd Development Rig hts Opening/rehabilitation of barangay roads LGU leading to schools Provision of sports equipment and making LGU, DepEd Child-Friendly Movement Of Dumaingag, Zamboanga del Sur 2 Children’s Rights/ Activity Implementing Program Area Agency accessible/open school playgrounds to children Sending of selected children in Dumingag to LGU, UNICEF training and workshops on theater arts, dramatics and inviting resource person to Dumingag for the same purpose Brigada Eskwela DepEd Protection Rights Kabataan Iwas Druga (KID) 96 reformed drug users Sagip Batang Mangagawa Quick Action Team LGU, DOLE (SBMQUAT) Sagip Batang Mangagawa Quick Action Team LGU (SBMQUAT) Prosecution of culprits in Child and Women- DSWD, PNP Abuses Psychological Aid to survivors of Child and SABAKAN (NGO) Women -Abuses Increased Installation of Municipal Streetlights LGU Participation Rights Children’s Night (Children’s Month Celebration) SK Federation, MTWG Presence of Student Government in 1 DepED Elementary and 4 High Schools Children’s Summit DSWD Youth Convention LGU School Publication in 1 Elementary and 4 High DepEd School Kiddy Cops PNP

Processes, Activities and Persons Involved. The CFM went through a long process and involved a substantial number of organizations and persons before it finally realized its intended changes, as may be gleaned in Table 3 .

Table 3. Processes, Activities and Persons Involved in Program Implementation Process Activity Persons Involved Consultation with community LCE, SB Members, Meetings, assemblies leaders LGU Employees Creation of Municipal Council LCE, steering for the Protection of Children Organization of the MCPC committee (MCPC) Provincial Level Creation of Municipal Technical Outside training, seminars on Offices, PPDO, Working Group Child-Friendly Movement PSWDO, etc. Re-echo of the input to Municipal Employees, NGO’s, General Public, Advocacy meetings Capability building with MCPC, MTWG, conducted at all 44 barangays advocacy UNICEF Personnel from 1999-2003 with occasional participation of UNICEF technical personnel. Conduct of 12 planning sessions Planning MTWG from 1999-2003 Series of barangay visitations LCE, MTWG, Community Organization highlighting the Child-Friendly Municipal Employees Child-Friendly Movement Of Dumaingag, Zamboanga del Sur 3 Process Activity Persons Involved Movement through fields/horizons precursor to its creation including health and nutrition, education, values formation/redirection, others. 9 monitoring and evaluation Monitoring and Evaluation MTWG activities from 1999 -2003

Implementing Structure. The local government of Dumingag organized the Municipal Council for the Protection of Children (MCPC), which is chaired by the Municipal Mayor with the Vice-Mayor acting as Vice-Chair. Member organizations include the MSWD, MPDC, MCR, MHO, MBO, DILG, DepEd, SB Chair on Women and Family, SK Federated President, ABC President, MAO, POPCOM, Task Force for Women and Children’s Welfare (NGO), Municipal Treasurer, other NGO’s

Difficulties and How They Were Managed

Initially, the implementers were in a quandary on how the program may be effectively implemented because, even though the children were the beneficiaries of the CFM, only the adult parents can fully grasp its concept and effect the envisioned changes. The business sector also showed initial resistance to the program, particularly on the ordinance on anti-smoking and banning toys related to war and violence. To address these difficulties, program advocates appealed to parental instincts by highlighting the hazardous effect of second hand smoke to children’s health, the uncertainty of depriving children of their right to formal education, and the like. In due time, parents including players in business realized their gains through their children’s well-being.

Success Factors

1. Unswerving commitment and support of the Municipal Mayor; 2. Full support of key officers, community leaders and members generated by active consultation on how issues and concerns may be addressed; 3. Child-friendly policies, ordinances and resolutions passed by the (SB) to complement the LCE’s executive orders; 4. Active and transparent coordination with involved agencies in program implementation; 5. Convergent delivery of services by service providers; 6. Close monitoring, evaluation and assessment of all programs and activities for children; 7. Diligent documentation of all implemented programs to ensure a thorough re-assessment of programs.

Facilitating Mechanisms

Municipal Ordinances crafted by the SB of Dumingag provided guidelines, rules and regulations to ensure observance of Child-Friendly Practices. Ordinance No. 28, series of 2002 “An Ordinance Creating a Child Welfare Code in Dumingag” is the mother of all such ordinances. These

Child-Friendly Movement Of Dumaingag, Zamboanga del Sur 4 ordinances were carefully crafted to address the basic rights of children, as follow:

Ordinances on Survival Rights 1. Right to a name and nationality  Granting the Municipal civil Registrar authority to correct clerical or typographical error and to change nickname and first names in the civil register (Ord. 3,s.02)  Empowering the MCR to correct clerical or typographical error without need of judicial order (Ord. 11,s.02)

2. Use of Iodized Salt  Requiring all food outlets, restaurants, carinderia, stores w/in Dumingag to use iodized salt (Ord. 24, s.1996)

Ordinances on Development Rights Free Education  Financial assistance for scholarship grants to economically disadvantaged/ marginalized handicapped/disabled and deserving students in the municipality of Dumingag (Ord. 38, s.2001)  Requiring all Public and Private buildings for public use, to install and incorporate sports or recreation centers and complexes (Ord. 20,s.01)

Ordinances on Protection Rights 1. Toys related to war and violence  Ban on the use/playing or selling/displaying of toys related to war and violence (Ord. 27,s.’02)

2. Anti Smoking  Declaring the vicinity, compound and premises of the Municipal Hall of Dumingag a “Smoke Free Zone” (Ord. 23,s.’02)  Prohibiting smoking inside government offices (Ord.29,s.’02)

3. Stray Dogs  Mandating all dog owners to tie/keep their pet dogs in their respective premises/compound (Ord.15,s.’02)  Requiring all owners to submit their pet dogs for compulsory anti- rabies vaccination (Ord.19,s.’02)

Program Impacts

The child-friendly environment at school, home and community and the active involvement of parents, teachers and community leaders in the observance of child-friendly practices resulted to noticeable improvements in health conditions ( Table 4 ), elementary and high school enrolment ( Table 5 ), and community awareness on the CFM Program.

More importantly, there was a significant reduction in cases of child abuse, neglect and/or exploitation. This may be verified in terms of the (a) Child-Friendly Movement Of Dumaingag, Zamboanga del Sur 5 reduced number of child laborers, (b) increased participation rate in elementary and secondary schools, and (c) reduced incidence of domestic violence, abuse against women and children (per records of PNP and MSWD).

Table 4. Health and Nutrition Indicators, 1999-2003 Area/ Indicator 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Health Crude Birth Rate (CBR) 23.03 20.65 19.86 10.91 25.16 Crude Death Rate (CDR) 2.07 1.85 1.68 1.44 1.71 Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) 3.22 1.19 6.24 1.20 0 Child Mortality Rate (CMR) 0 0 0.18 0 0 Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) 0 0 0 1.20 0 Nutritional Status of Pre - School Children Moderate and severe 75% 7.2 % 6.86 % 4.23 %

Table 5. Education Indicators, 1998 and 2002 Area/ Indicator 1998 2002 Education

Elementary Level Participation 90.33% 92.19% Rate Drop-out 2.34% 1.66% Rate Survival 60.16% 62.86% Rate 60.21% 64.33% Graduation Rate High School Level Participation Rate 77.40% 82.40% Drop-out Rate 2.76% 1.92% Survival Rate 85.25% 72.00% Graduation Rate 81.65% 76.00% Non-Formal Education Beneficiaries Served 106 182

The delivery of basic services has improved especially with the added social infrastructures like the 9 day care centers, 6 renovated/constructed health centers, 11 spring development projects, 12 classrooms, a separate cell for women and children prisoners, a municipal children’ plaza, municipal tennis court, and 3 rehabilitated barangay roads leading to school sites and health centers.

At this time, there are strong signs of (a) empowered children given their acquired knowledge and understanding of their rights relative to child abuse, neglect and/or exploitation, domestic violence, among others; (b) community awareness of child-friendly practices; and (c) people’s pride in their new identity as responsible members of a child-friendly municipality. With the creation of an overseer body, the MCPC and the MTWG, the sustainability of the program is assured against future political changes that may lead Dumingag back to where it came from.

Child-Friendly Movement Of Dumaingag, Zamboanga del Sur 6 Monitoring Schemes

A Municipal Technical Working Group (MTWG) was organized by the Local Chief Executive (LCE) to plan for the CFM, lobby with the SB for legislative support, and monitor and evaluate. The Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO) facilitated program monitoring and evaluation by requiring the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) to submit their Annual Plan and Accomplishment Report. For his part, the LCE monitored the program through regular unannounced visits to the barangays.

Ensuring Program Sustainability

To sustain the project, the LGU of Dumingag regularly allocates funding for the Child-Friendly Movement. It is primarily taken from the LGU’s Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) and supplemented by other sources from the UNICEF, NGO’s, and National Government Agencies. The unwavering commitment of the stakeholders to the project, which has reached the point where it has become their way of life, is another factor guaranteeing its sustainability. Moreover, the creation and operationalization of the MTWG, MCPC, BCPCs, and CEDAW provides an enabling mechanism that ensured continuous implementation even to the level of barangays. Incentives and rewards in the form of cash prizes given by the LGU to winners of the Search for the Most Child-Friendly Barangay in Dumingag also helped sustain the program. Non-financial rewards came in the form of words of praise, a pat in the back, and simple appreciation freely given to community leaders and members. Such gesture of support for the program encouraged the stakeholders to give their best, hurdle limitations and surpass expectations.

Areas Needing Attention

Convergence of concerned LGU Offices in addressing Gender and Development issues should be intensified. There is also a need to strengthen legal action, prosecution and/or punishment of persons involved in women and child-abuse cases. Barangay Health Centers, especially catchment units, should maintain the basic medical supplies. Barangay Reading Centers should be provided with more reference books and a visitor’s logbook. Moreover, a regular reading center In-charge should be designated to manage the Center. School organizations, aside from the Homeroom School Officers should be encouraged to hone the skills and talents of school children. There is also a need to institutionalize student publications in every school to promote children’s participation. With regards to Day Care Centers, adequate medical supplies for first aid kits and dolls for the playhouses should be provided.

Child-Friendly Movement Of Dumaingag, Zamboanga del Sur 7