2010 Cwc Annual Report

2010 CWC ANNUAL REPORT

MFO 1 Coordination for Plan and Policy Formulation and Monitoring and Evaluation of Enforcement of Laws and Policy Implementation

Policies on Children

For the year 2010, CWC Council Board has passed six (6) resolutions such as:

A Resolution Confirming the Winners and other agreements of the 2009 Presidential Awards for the Child Friendly Municipalities and Cities

The Presidential Award is now on the 8 th year of implementation as a contribution to the Child Friendly Movement. An enriched guideline in the conduct of such was made allowing the National Awards Committee (NAC) directly endorse to the Council Board list of winners in different categories and LGU winners that have been able to garner the Presidential Child- Friendly Municipality/ City for three consecutive years with consistently increasing final scores shall be conferred the Hall of Fame Award. It was the Municipality of New Lucena, Iloilo and City of Naga that garnered such award.

NAC conducts re-assessment and re-validation of the short listed LGUs that joined the search and the following were conferred as winners on the different categories: New Lucena, Iloilo (4 th to 6 th Class Municipality Category); San Mateo, Isabela (1 st to 3 rd Class Municipality Category); Vigan City, Ilocos Sur (Component City Category); Naga City (Independent Component City Category) and Olongapo City (Highly Urbanized City Category).

A Resolution Approving the SBMS Macro Monitoring System Guidelines for National Partner Agencies in Preparing Periodic Statistical and Narrative Reports on Children

The SBMS is a monitoring and reporting tool for the implementation of Child 21, the National Plan of Action for Children (NPAC) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Memorandum of Agreement between CWC and partner agencies were forged to ensure the submission of reports on a regular basis covering the statistical and now with narrative reports that should accompany the statistical tables that are essential in having appropriate analysis and interpretation of the statistical data. Critical nutrition indicators were also integrated in the SBMS tool.

A Resolution Approving the CWC Legislative Agenda for Children for the 15 th Congress

The Philippines as a State party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child 9CRC) is required to undertake all appropriate legislative measures, among others, for the implementation of the rights of the child recognized therein. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has noted the country’s relatively advanced legal framework but still to harmonize and bring into full conformity national legislation with provisions of the CRC. For the 15 th Congress, the following are the Council Board approved legislative agenda:

1. Strengthening the Council for the Welfare of Children 2. Strengthening Family and Alternative Parental Care Arrangements through Foster Care; 3. Calling for the Prohibition of Corporal Punishment; 4. Removing the Distinction/ Discrimination Against Illegitimate Children; 5. Protecting Children Affected by Armed Conflict and 6. Amending the Law on Statutory Rape.

A Resolution Endorsing the Private Individuals to the CWC Board for Appointment by the President

Executive Order 233, series of 1987, states that there should be three (3) private individuals including a child/ youth representative to comprise the CWC Council Board with a term of two years. In 2010, all of them had served the term as stipulated and now on a hold-over capacity while awaiting for appointments of the new private individuals. There are five individuals endorsed by the Council Board to the Office of the President including one child/ youth representative.

A Resolution Approving the Conduct of the Study on Violence against Children and its Terms of Reference

Violence against children is one more major concern but there is yet a lack of comprehensive action to fully address the various situations that violate the rights of children. CWC organized a structure called the National Network to End Violence against Children to oversee that efforts are pursued to address the situation of children affected by violence. A National Strategic Framework to End Violence was developed. However, despite the framework and the corresponding plan, there is the absence of baseline data on VAC that would allow the country to track its progress from time to time. A national baseline study will allow better understanding of the scale and nature of violence against children and establish statistically verifiable baseline at the national level of data.

A Resolution Approving the National Strategy Framework on the Country HIV Response on Children and Young People

The HIV and AIDS epidemic in the country has been kept low for so many years however, the infection rate is rising at an unprecedented rate with a profile that is getting younger through 2

the years. The 2009-2010 Operational Plan of the 4 th AIDS Medium Term Plan has made apparent the urgency to scale up the country response for the best interest of children and young people. Thus, this framework was developed by the Committee on HIV and AIDS to effectively address their needs and maximize our contribution to the country’s national response. The framework will serve as the basis for the design, implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of HIV and AIDS responses that will be strategic for children and young people nationwide.

ENACTMENT OF THE NEW LAW ON BREASTFEEDING

Republic Act No. 10028 (Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2010) was enacted into law in 16 March 2010. It amends Republic Act No. 7600 (The Rooming–In and Breastfeeding Act of 1992) by promoting breastfeeding and providing specific measures for opportunities for mothers to continue expressing their milk and/or breastfeeding their infant or young child in their places of work. The new law provides that there shall be lactation stations mandatorily established in all public or private health and non–health places of work. Lactation stations are rooms or areas in the workplace or public places where nursing mothers can breastfeed, express their milk or wash up comfortably and store their expressed milk afterwards. Standards for such room or area shall be established by the Department of Health.

Workers/employees who are nursing mothers shall be granted lactation periods or break intervals to breastfeed or express their milk for their babies in their workplaces. These shall be in addition to the regular breaks for meals and shall be counted as compensable hours worked which shall not exceed a total of forty minutes for every eight–hour working period.

To encourage establishments to provide for lactation stations for their nursing workers/employees, incentives shall be provided in the form of deductible expenses for income tax purposes up to twice the actual amount incurred under certain circumstances. Government offices, on the other hand, shall receive additional appropriation equivalent to the savings that may be derived resulting in complying with the new law.

To raise awareness on the importance of and further promote breastfeeding, the new law declared August of every year nationwide as Breastfeeding Awareness Month.

If found not implementing this law, private non–health establishments shall be imposed a fine of P50,000.00 up to P200,000.00 on first offense, P200,000.00 up to P500,000.00 on second offense, and P500,000.00 up to P1,000,000.00 with cancelled or revoked license or work permit on their offense. For violating health institutions, the health secretary shall impose sanctions against them that may be in the form of reprimand, censure or suspension of permit ot operate. For erring government officials, administrative penalties shall be imposed on them through a reprimand on first offense, suspension from one day up to 30 days on second offense, and dismissal on third offense.

ENACTMENT OF THE NEWBORN HEARING SCREENING LAW

There is now a new law on newborn hearing screening. Republic Act No. 9709 (Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention Act of 2009) was passed into law in 12 August 2009. It provides that the government shall establish the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program (UNHSP) for the comprehensive program for the prevention, early detection and diagnosis of congenital hearing loss among the newborns and infants. It supplements the Newborn Screening Program institutionalized by virtue of Republic Act No. 9288 (Newborn Screening Act of 2004) . The Newborn Screening Program helps decrease the prevalence of the five associated disorders – phenylketonuria (PKU), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), congenital hypothyroidism (CH), galactosemia (GAL) and glucose–6–phosphate dehydogenase (G6PD) – which causes mental disorders and death to newborns, infants and younger children.

The UNHSP shall bring about measures that shall prevent and diagnose early congenital hearing loss among infants, provide referral, follow–up, recall and early intervention services to such children, and support services to their families in the communities. These services shall be undertaken by Newborn Hearing Screening Centers which shall be established nationwide.

The Department of Health (DOH) is mandated by this law to be the lead agency, through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), particularly the Philippine National Ear Institute (PNEI), in implementing its provisions.

Under this law, the Advisory Committee on Newborn Screening created under RA 9288, shall ensure its implementation. To do such, the committee’s membership shall be expanded to include the representatives of the Philippine Society of Otorhinolaryngology and the Philippine Society of Audiology in addition to its original members which are the following:

1. Secretary of the Department of Health (Chairman); 2. Executive Director of the NIH (Vice Chairperson); 3. Undersecretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government; 4. Executive Director of the Council for the Welfare of Children; 5. Director of the Newborn Screening Reference Center; and 6. Three (3) representatives who are a pediatrician, obstetrician, endocrinologist, family physician, nurse or midwife, either from the public or the private sector.

PRIORITY LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR CHILDREN FOR THE 15TH CONGRESS

With the onset of the 15 th Congress last year, the Council for the Welfare of Children has come up with another Legislative Agenda for Children. The agenda was CWC’s response to implementing the requirement of the Convention of the Rights of the Child and as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that, as a State party to both, the Philippines adopts legislative measures, among others, as may be necessary to give effect to the rights of the child.

Despite the number of legislative initiatives on children the Philippines already has, however, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Children remains concerned that efforts still need to be done to bring national legislation into full conformity and harmony with the CRC’s provisions and principles . Particularly on issues and concerns on anti–corporal punishment, the age of statutory rape and the status of children born out of wedlock, among others.

In its continuing review on policies on children, the CWC Secretariat also came up with other items for the proposed next legislative agenda, such as, the strengthening of CWC, which would include increased allocation of strengthening of CWC, the removal of the distinction/discrimination against illegitimate children, and the protection of children affected by armed conflict.

The following are the priority items of the legislative agenda for children for the 15 th Congress as approved by the CWC Board during its 3 rd Quarter meeting on 29 September 2010:

1. Strengthening of the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC)

To continue and strengthen measures to improve coherence of efforts for children, there is a need to strengthen the authority of CWC as the main coordinating body for children and ensure the allocation of adequate human, financial and technical resources for CWC. Part of this would be the increased budget allocation to give priority to children.

2. Strengthening of Family and Alternative Parental Care Arrangements Through Foster Care

Need to strengthen the provision of temporary alternative parental care for children who are deprived of family care and protection through foster care.

3. Calling for the Prohibition of Corporal Punishment

Ban corporal punishment, including humiliating and degrading punishments and other forms of child violence, in the home, schools and institutions. Punishing children, even as discipline, through physical, emotional or psychological harm, is violation of their human rights. It provides for positive discipline as an alternative instead. 5

4. Amending the Law on Statutory Rape

Amend Article 335 of Act No. 3815 (Revised Penal Code) , as amended, by raising the age on the law on statutory rape from twelve (12) years old to sixteen (16) years old.

5. Removing the Distinction/Discrimination Against Illegitimate Children

To remove the unequal status of children born out of wedlock, there is a need to enact a law to secure their right to equal treatment, including their right to equal inheritance and abolish their discriminatory classification as “illegitimate”.

6. Protecting Children Affected by Armed Conflict .

Need to ensure that CIAC are not treated as CICL. As they’re also victims, there is a need to strengthen their demobilization from armed forces/groups, their physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration. And need to address the situation of displaced children and ensure their access to basic services.

Rapid Registration and Family Tracing: A pilot project TROPICAL STORM (TS) ONDOY AND TYPHOON (TY) PEPENG

The undertaking of the project was implemented in two phases for a period of six months in 2010 through the financial assistance of UNICEF-Manila. It was developed as a response to the 319 case reports submitted by the national partners of the Council for the Welfare of Children as a result of two emergencies: TS Ondoy and TY Pepeng that hit the country in the last quarter of 2009.

Of the 325 cases reported to CWC, only 105 cases were validated as SUMRD while 220 were non-SUMRD from the areas of Manila, Mandaluyong City, Pasay City, Quezon City, Caloocan City, Bulacan and Rizal Province.

Further breakdown of the cases shows that there were 47 cases of children verified as dead, 1 case of unaccompanied child, 5 separated, 22 missing and 30 reunited cases. Those 21 classified under the category “others” were found out to be clients of some CPWG member agencies who were not affected by the two emergencies.

Out of the 257 cases, there are 21 cases that were referred for various social interventions. Of the 21 cases, 5 were referred for medical assistance, 1 for the cancellation of simulated birth certificate, 2 for temporary care and 13 for educational assistance.

There were also cases of sexual abuse that surfaced in the evacuation centers and such cases were referred to the respective local social welfare office that has jurisdiction of the case for immediate case management and intevention.

Among the proposed recommendations as a result of the project were: a) Local Government Units participation and involvement in undertaking the rapid registration project to ensure comprehensive targeting and synergy in the provision of services / interventions to ligitimate children victims of emergencies. b) Provision of capability building activities at different levels: LGUs and local partners to focus on the pre and post disaster management with focus on child protection in emergencies; and Child Protection Working Group (CPWG) members to be given comprehensive session on rapid registration project vis-à-vis disaster concerns of children victims of emergencies. c) Timelines and relevance of undertaking projects should be an important phase in the development and implementation of the project. d) Project results could be one of the tools in the development of a National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Framework (NDRRMF) as stipulated in RA 10121, otherwise known as, “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act”; and e) Advocate for the institutionalization of the Rapid Registration and Family Tracing System in the local government through DILG with the support of DSWD.

Rapid Assessment Activity: Isabela Province (Typhoon Juan)

The advent of Typhoon Juan that hit the northeastern part of the country in October 2010 gave another experience for selected members of the Child Protection Working Group (CPWG) to undertake a rapid assessment activity in the Province of Isabela particularly among the three devastated coastal municipalities namely: Palanan, Maconacon and Divilacan. The team reached the areas on board the Philippine Navy Patrol Boat-PG372 (BRP Alfredo Peckson), under the command of Alfredo Todio (Commanding Officer-CO) and 13 of his crew. Also, the team was also assisted extended by the DSWD Field Office II and the Philippine Ports Authority- Dingalan, Aurora Province (the group’s strarting point).

At that time, only few donors have reached the areas given the hazards of the high water level and non-access of transportation to these coastal municipalities. Commanding Officer Todio and the entire crew of the Philippine Navy Patrol Boat managed to bring the taems to their respecive destinations despite the rough seas.

The devastation of TY Juan left the three (3) coastal areas broken particularly the infrastructures, farmlands and other sources of livelihood, limited and some had shortage of food supplies, among others. As an immediate repercussion, the children could not attend their classes because of trauma and financial difficulties considering that most parents are still recovering. There was an added risk on the safety of the population in Divilacan where the crocodile sanctuary was destroyed.

Notwithstanding the harsh damages caused by the emergency of typhoon Juan, there were no children who got separated, unaccompanied, missing aor were dead. The Officials and residents are one in saying that they are thankful that the disaster occurred at daytime because they were able to protect themeselves and sought refuge immediately from their respective local officials under the leadership of their respective chief executive namely: Mayor Angelo Bernardo (Palanan); Mayor Erlinda Domingo (Maconacon) and Mayor Venturo Bulan (Divilacan).

MFO 2 Advocacy and Mobilization of Resources

CHILD – FRIENDLY LGUS CONFERRED PRESIDENTIAL AWARD

The awarding ceremony of the 2009 Presidential Award for Child Friendly Municipalities and Cities was held on 22 April 2010 at the Heroes Hall, Malacanan Palace. The Award was conferred by no less than Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to five National Awardees. Naga City and New, Lucena, Iloilo bagged the Hall of Fame Awards having awarded for three consecutive years.

The President also presented the special citation to Most Child Health Conscious LGU for their exemplary performance on child and maternal care. Recipients of the Special Citation were: New Lucena, Iloilo, Tayabas, Quezon, Naga City and Tagaytay City. These LGUs are all national finalist to the Presidential Award.

Major sponsors of the 2009 Presidential Award are DSWD, DOH, NNC, DILG, PCSO, DOLE and the ECCD Council.

The Awarding ceremony was also graced by former Secretary Esperanza Cabral of DOH, Undersecretary Alicia Bala of DSWD, Undersecretary Austere Panadero of DILG, Assistant Secretary and NNC Executive Director Ma. Bernardita T. Flores and CWC OIC-Executive Director Parisya Taradji. ______Appendix: 1. List of National Awardees and Hall of Fame 2. List of Regional Awardees

2009 Presidential Award for Child Friendly Municipalities and Cities National Awardees: 4th – 6th Class Municipal Category - New Lucena, Iloilo 1st – 3rd Class Municipal Category - San Mateo, Isabela Component City Category - Vigay City Independent Component City - Naga City Highly Urbanized City - Olongapo City

Hall of Fame: 1. New Lucena, Iloilo 2. Naga City

List of Regional Awardees: Category Region LGU Awardees

4th – 6th Class Municipal CAR Sabangan, Mt. Province

2 Sta. Teresita, Cagayan

4A Padre Burgos, Quezon

6 New Lucena, Iloilo

7 Pilar, Cebu

8 Allen, Northern Samar

10 Lugait, Misamis Oriental

1st – 3rd Class Municipal CAR La Trinidad, Benguet

1 Bani, Pangasinan

2 San Mateo, Isabela

3 Mariveles, Bataan

4A Tayabas, Quezon

6 Jordan, Guimaras

7 Tubigon, Bohol

10 Pangantucan, Bukidnon

Component City 1 Vigan City

4A Tagaytay City

4B Calapan City

6 Talisay City

7 Dumaguete City

9 Dipolog City

10 Malaybalay City

11 Tagum City

CARAGA Surigao City

Independent Component 2 Santiago City City 5 Naga City

Highly Urbanized City 3 Olongapo City

4B Puerto Princesa City

6 Bacolod City

7 Cebu City

CARAGA Butuan City

NCR Makati City

ASSESSMENT OF 2007-2010 COMMUNICATION PLAN AND DEVELOPMENT OF BRIGHT CHILD COMMUNICATION PLAN FOR 2011-2013

CWC facilitated the Communication Planning for Bright Child in August at Dapitan Resort Hotel Pavilion, Dapitan City. This was participated in by Regions VI, VII, VIII, IX, NCR representatives and some CWC member agencies. They were tasked to formulate agency communication plan for 2011-2013 and to submit the polished and approved plan to CWC. Submission of Bright

Child Communication Plans were made by representatives from NCR, Region VI and VII submitted.

During the workshop, the participants/representatives from National DSWD, DILG, NNC, NCCT, DOH, PPI, CWC, RSCWCs (NCR, VI, VII), Sarangani, Zamboanga City and Mt. Province) cited some of their commitments to Bright Child such as:

• to craft and implement the communication plan for Bright Child; • to continuously do/conduct Media Forum for children whereby the school children, even the IP group of children be shared with the children’s rights, the UN Millennium Development Goals and the Tri-media education and climate change; • to advocate children’s welfare programs; to capacitate LGUs and other intermediaries in the efficient & effective implementation of child friendly programs & services; • to e ncourage stakeholders to give their full support & participation whatever programs and projects in the school & community; • to advocate the department’s Memorandum Circulars on children to our local chief executives & other local sanggunians; to advocate for the rights of children ; and • to s upport the advocacy part of the plan and t o continue writing stories on children.

LAUNCH OF STUDY ON VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN

CWC in cooperation with Plan and UNICEF Manila, launched the study, Towards a Child-Friendly Education Environment: A National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children in Selected Public Schools on August 10, 2010 at The Sulo Riviera Hotel, Quzon City.

No less than the CWC Chairperson and Social Welfare Secretary Corazo Juliano Soliman graced the occasion with other guests – Undersecretary Albert Muyot of the Department of Education, Country Representative Vanessa J. Tobin of UNICEF, Country Director Michael Diamond of Plan and former DSWD Secretary Lina B. Laigo. All extended their support to help mitigate violence happening to children. This was expressed through the signing of the pledge of commitment which echoes these messages – YES TO SAFE LEARNING, STOP VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN.

VIDES presented a creative play presentation by children of VIDES, wherein the highlights of the play were on the results of the study, information on the different forms of abuses and violence against children in public school setting.

OBSERVANCE OF CHILDREN’S MONTH

Children’s Month (CM) Poster Development and Reproduction

The design for the poster was focused on the Children’s Month theme which is “Kung Bright Child ang gusto, Mundo’y Ingatan mo !”. The CM poster was also used as backdrop in events in places like SM malls nationwide especially on 27 October 2010 where there were simultaneous celebrations. The poster served also as one of the sets of footage on television shows/programs/news. This was seen especially during ongoing interview with the head of the agency or guest who tackled children’s issues and child rights advocacy.

Posters were distributed to partners and other concerned agencies which were used as one of their advocacy materials during their events, activities, sessions, etc.

GUESTINGS AT RADIO AND TV STATIONS • Facilitated/coordinated the guesting a. Guestings @ One Morning Show

Liturgical Celebrations at Channel 4 and at the Light of Jesus (LOJ) Ministry- The Feast at Philippine International Convention Center (PICC)

The Holy Masses served as one of the highlighted activities of Children’s Month celebration. This was meant to inspire the partners especially the public with spiritual messages and homilies towards a sustainable collaboration. The objectives of the activity were to heighten awareness on children’s month celebration through airing of masses and sharing of insights from the priest celebrants; to provide inputs/reflections to religious who will be delivering sermons on Sunday masses; and to disseminate messages on children’s month with focus on the theme.

The October 3, 2010 at 8:00 in the morning, Holy mass at Channel 4 was officiated by Fr. Joey Faller (the healing priest) at Channel 4. This was attended by around 100 parishioners from Quezon City. The mass was sponsored by St. Peter’s Community. During the mass proper and within the homily, Fr. Faller mentioned that October is children’s month and he called everyone to protect children.

Mass @ NBN with some parishioners of St. Peter Community Light of Jesus Ministry (The Feast) @ PICC with Bro. Bo Sanchez

CWC provided assorted biscuits to the Children Ministry of LOJ and these were received by the Chairperson of the ministry

LAUNCH OF BATA, BATA… • Attended the launch of Bata, bata …anong mga batas ang aking magagawa?

Launch of Bata, bata… @ Congress exhibit

Sessions on Environmental/Climate Change

The lecture/sessions on environment and climate change were collaborated with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)/Special Concerns Office and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA). The sessions were participated in by some students from Rondon. Jose P. Laurel and San Francisco High Schools in Quezon City.

The activity sessions’ main objective was to increase awareness of children as partners in caring and protecting the environment Specifically, the activities hope to acquire knowledge on policies and other protection and preventive measures on environment; to build networks or social alliance in caring for the environment; and to inculcate in the minds of children their responsibilities and important role to safe guard the environment.

Game (bingo) on the application of knowledge gained from the lectures

CHILD RIGHTS ADVOCACY THROUGH PLAY

• RATED: PG @ PETA THEATER

With the growing issues and problems on children, violence against children is considered as one of the concerns of the Council for the Welfare of Children. There are groups and other private individuals who are now on the move to stop this form of violence whether it is in the family, school, institutions, or in the community.

The month, was observed with CWC’s collaboration with the Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA) in promoting the rights of the child particularly the right to protection and development. PETA through its ARTS Zone Project shall be providing opportunity to CWC & its partners to see a play on positive discipline . PETA’s ARTS Zone Program is an educational campaign on children’s right to safety and violence through theater and the arts.

The play, Rated: PG is written by Liza Magtoto and directed by Mae Quesada-Medina and with music by award-winning composer Vincent A. De Jesus. The play was done through the support of Terres des Hommes Germany and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Throughout the play, the dynamics of a family are presented, the most poignant of which is – how does one raise a child to be a disciplined and responsible being?

These are just one of the too many options to achieve such, the adults having once been children themselves and gone through being raised and disciplined through the old ways – spanking, hitting, sometimes verbal abuse when committing mistakes.

The play aimed to increase awareness on the effects of corporal punishment to children; to gain knowledge on the “what-ifs, whys, and wherefores” of disciplining the young without having to experience corporal punishment; and to have better understanding on developmental stage of a child and have/build strong bond between parent and child.

• RATED: PG for school children

Students and teachers from Isabelo de los Reyes Elementary Schools with some parents and children from Tondo community benefitted from the PETA play. There were two plays which were provided for free to the viewers. CWC was able to tapped some people from the Tondo community where VIDES is doing their pastoral work.

BRIGHT CHILD SHOWS WITH MAKABATA PARA SA BAYAN

The Bright Child Show is an activity that utilizes the effective combination of education and entertainment. The objective is to disseminate information on the Bright Child through social

19 artistry. The concept was developed by Makabata Para sa Bayan, Inc. and sophisticated by the Council for the Welfare of Children in the context of child rights and life stages of development.

The partnership with Makabata para sa Bayan, Inc. has widened its network of collaborations especially in intensifying the advocacy campaign for Bright Child. For this year, two Bright Child (BC) Shows were conducted at Atimonan, Quezon and Tagaytay City. The shows were intended to encourage more involvement of local government units in creating child-friendly LGUs. The local government of Atimonan and Tagaytay City expressed their desire to provide the basic needs of children especially the young children.

The BC Show specific objectives were to strengthen support for Bright Child campaign at the local level; to give educational fun and interactive show for children, parents and to the community as a whole; and to create more advocates on Bright Child, especially at the local level.

The participants, including parents and local officials were informed of the importance of basic services and programs in the early development of young children. Adults were challenged on their role as parents and child rights advocacy especially in protecting their children from all forms of abuse. Aside from the Bright Child Campaign, campaign to end violence against children and reminding children of the good values were covered. Children were encouraged to emulate good and positive values from adults during the show.

OUTSTANDING NEWS FEATURE ON CHILDREN

Review & Validation of Entries to the Search for Outstanding News feature on Children

The Council, through the CWC Communication Committee and in partnership with the Philippine Press Institute (PPI) collaborated in the Search for the Outstanding Bright Child News Feature on Children. The search was initiated in commemoration of the 21 st year of ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 20 th Nov. 1990. The contest was opened to all community daily and weekly publications that are members of PPI outside Metro Manila.

The contest aimed to mobilize the journalists to participate so as to be catalysts and advocates on child rights in their respective communities and organizations; to identify and recognize outstanding journalists for their active support to child-friendly journalism; to strengthen collaboration with media partners in disseminating child programs and services; and to motivate and mobilize possible partners to support the Bright Child campaign.

In October 2010, the CWC Communication Committee (ComCom) reviewed and validated the 56 entries which mostly came from Cebu, Davao and Bicol. The ComCom forwarded the nominees to CWC Head which were in turn submitted to the Board of Judges. The Board of Judges finally selected one winner from daily publication with 4 other publications with recognition as entries to the final judging.

Specifically, the objectives of the search were to recognize publication for an exceptionally well-written and in-depth news feature on children; to encourage more media to support children’s month celebration and bright child campaign; and to build networks of media for more responsible coverage on children’s concern.

CULMINATING ACTIVITY @ SM MOA

“KUNG BRIGHT CHILD ANG GUSTO, MUNDO’Y INGATAN MO!”

The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) is in its 7 th year of strengthening the Bright Child Campaign through expansion and networking with non-government agencies like VIDES International and other business sectors. SM Super Malls- Shopping Center Management Corporation (SM-SCMC) is continuing its support to this Bright Child Campaign through their SM-SCMC Children’s Committee which was organized in 2007. The Council’s Bright Child Campaign is continuously raising the populace awareness on the importance of providing the basic services for children. With SM-SCMC and VIDES International, around 500 children with adults from Manila, Pasay and Quezon City experienced and had the opportunity to share their talents and their gifts through their concert entitled “Tugsayawit Para sa Kalikasan ”. There were games, talent show, learning/educational exposure at SM Science Discovery Center.

The whole day program anchored on this year’s children’s month theme- “Kung Bright Child Ang Gusto, Mundo’y Ingatan Mo !”. The activities called for support to our Bright Child campaign on environment and climate change.

For this year’s observance of children’s month, the SM-SCMC Children’s Committee in its 4 th year of partnering with CWC in child rights advocacy, offered support through hosting a simultaneous celebration in 40 malls nationwide.

The main objective of this simultaneous celebration was to encourage and strengthen the Bright Child Campaign and to gain more support from all sectors to continuously protect and promote child rights.

It was envisioned also that through these activities that there will be an increase on the level of awareness of the audience (children and adults) on the campaign on rights of the child, Bright Child, climate change and caring for the environment. It was expected too that there will be an increase in the number of child rights advocates in establishments and other sectors; have strengthened commitment of SM-SCMC Children’s Committee and more networks/volunteers on child rights advocacy; and have gained support from partners in propagating/disseminating

25 the Bright Child Campaign; and have provided venue for children to play and show their knowledge on the “saving the earth”, share their gifts through arts.

SIMULTANEOUS NATIONWIDE CULMINATING CELEBRATION OF CHILDREN’S MONTH

The simultaneous nationwide celebration of children’s month was achieved through SM-SCMC Children’s Committee in 40 malls in the country. The simultaneous celebration aimed to raise awareness on the rights and responsibilities of the child to keep their environment clean and safe; to live with good values (as bright child); to study well, to be healthy and be protected from all forms of abuse.

During the brief program in malls, the children were able to meet mall management group such as the mall manager, clinic nurse, cinema usher, bank teller, security, etc. This was done to create an atmosphere of familiarity and comfort when children ask for assistance while they are in the mall.

The Regional Sub-Committees for the Welfare of Children (RSCWC) were tapped to provide educational and entertaining programs, coordinate/provide children 60 six to ten year old children and adult companions and to coordinate with SM Mall Manager in the area in the conduct of the program.

ASEAN CHILDREN’S FORUM - PRESS CONFERENCE

CWC together with RSCWC III Chair and Region III PIA Director was able to facilitate the press conference which was held at Subic. Press releases were provided to the media people and script for the facilitator of the press conference served as a guide for DSWD III Regional Information Officer in running the conference.

Below are the aired and published news in radio, TV stations and print on the FIRST ASEAN CHILDREN’S FORUM-PRESS CONFERENCE held last October 22 in Fontana Leisure Parks, Clark Field-Pampanga:

News Paper Date Bulacan Herald October 25-31 Central Chronicle November 1 The Voice October 31-Novemeber 5 Pampanga Sunstar October 23

Radio Stations Date Pampanga DWRW-FM DWGV-AM DWCL-FM Bataan Smile Radio Tarlac DZMC-FM October 27 DZTC-AM Zambales Radyo Natin Nueva Ecija DZXO DWWG-FM DWJJ

TV Stations Date CLTV 36 ABS-CBN Ch 46 October 22 Global News Network-Infomax

NETWORKING WITH CHILD RIGHTS ADVOCATES

a. Advocating with Good Neighbors International Country Director & staff

The Council continued to expand its social networks thereby encouraging more and new allies in promoting the rights and welfare of children. In partnership with Good Neighbors International, Council planned to have more child rights advocacy and strengthen the bright child through the barangay captains and officials, parents, and children.

Good Neighbors Philippines is an international humanitarian and development non- governmental organization in General Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) , and one of the largest in South Korea. The organization aimed to improve quality of life and educational standards, as well as to provide aid in areas of civil unrest or natural disasters.

They aim to support initiatives that cater the needs of children in difficult situations such as less privileged, orphans, children with disabilities, and victims of natural disasters. They also aim to capacitate and help increase the knowledge of the community leaders especially the barangay officials in protecting children in there are of responsibility through sessions on child rights, etc. and to strengthen partnership towards a child-friendly community.

Through the commemoration of the 20 th year of ratification of Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), CWC supported the Good Neighbors International in having a Child Rights Day . This was celebrated with the children, parents, day care workers and teachers together with the local officials in Rizal, Rodriguez. The day was really a whole day of fun for children.

a CHILD RIGHTS DAY with children

1ST National Children’s Congress @ Rizal, Laguna

CWC’s Bright Child Campaign Bags an Award

The CWC’s Bright Child Campaign was recognized as Child Friendly Advocacy by the National Council for Children’s Television’s Lingkod TV Awards 2010. The awarding was held at Church by the Ruins, Fort Santiago, Manila last 28 th Dec. 2010. The recognition was a result of a survey conducted in 1,000 schools in the country with more than 12,000 students and teachers.

“YES to the MDGs and CRC” @ Malacañan Palace, Manila

This “YES to the MDGs and CRC” event was a product of collaboration with the Barangay Councilors League of the Philippines (BCLP). The BCLP is a duly-organized league of elective barangay (village) kagawads/ councilors as institutionalized under the Section 508 of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 for the primary purpose of strengthening and providing continued education, enhancement of knowledge and services to the grass-root leaders of the community, the barangay legislators. Among its basic mandates is to promote and protect the basic rights and welfare of all the members of society, including women and children. Thus, CWC recognized them as the new collaborator of the council in promoting child rights.

In line with the Barangay Councilors League of the Philippines’ (BCLP) objectives to promote and protect the inherent rights and welfare of the children in our society, the BCLP have considered special awareness-raising activities and programs to highlight the various dimensions of children’s lives, putting the spotlight on the promotion of values, the rights of children, the social and developmental aspects of children’s lives, and addressing new challenges facing children.

A festive activity was conducted with the President of the Philippines as the keynote speaker. Initially, it was a plan to gather enough number of children, children’s groups, and child rights advocates to express strong support for the Philippines to further intensify its implementation of children’s programs and services and in achieving the MDGs; to call for the national leadership to unify the holistic programs being implemented by the national and local government units and NGOs aligned to children’s welfare and rights; and to provide the children themselves a venue where they could freely express and show themselves as a true source of national pride, inspiration and hope by way of highlighting their god-given talents, skills and knowledge in the forms of musical, intellectual, and other forms of artistry.

With the opportunity given to the Council to hold a festive activity in the presence of the Country’s new President, an afternoon event with and for children was achieve. It was a venue to hand over the pledge of commitment (as stated below) which was signed by CWC Chairperson- DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano Soliman and BCLP President Julio Jaime to the President Benigno S. Aquino III. A brief and creative play on the situation on children and their wishes were portrayed by selected children from National Committee on Children and Youth Participation (NCCYP) and VIDES children.

Gift giving & iec materials dissemination

MONITORING OF DAILY NEWS ON CHILDREN

CWC prepared daily summary of newspaper articles which was forwarded to the concerned Coordinators for response and appropriate action, especially in terms of policy formulation and program interventions.

For the year, a 2009 account of newspaper articles on suicide was prepared and forwarded to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The said article was published in the Social Welfare and Development Journal Vol. 4, Issue 2, May-August 2010.

MFO 3 Technical Assistance to Strengthen Capabilities of Intermediaries (RSCWCs, NGOs and LGUs)

CWC HOLDS 2009 RSCWC CONFERENCE

The CWC once again held its annual conference for the Regional Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Children (RSCWC) with special focus on the protection approach to internally displaced women, children and families This annual undertaking is seen as a venue for sharing good practices, lessons learned and new developments/updates on child-related policies,

36 programs and activities. It is also seen as an opportunity for convergence and partnership among the CWC regional, national structures as well as CWC Secretariat.

The technical inputs from select resource persons and sharing of accomplishments provided an environment for new learnings and insights and posted a number of challenges for the RSCWCs being the CWC’s strong partners and links to the sub-national level. Among the areas of RSCWC’s Commitments are:

Popularize the Philippine 3 rd and 4 th CRC report and the Concluding Observations;

Strengthen advocacy to push for the passage of child-related bills and RSCWC to pursue local activities to drum-up passage of bills especially the Foster Care Bill;

Enhance RSCWC operations by coming-up with Regional Annual State Children Report and make use of it in addressing children’s concerns and promoting children’s rights and welfare;

Expand the Presidential Award for LGUs and the network of learning communities by strengthening advocacy and technical assistance to LGUs, revisiting standards and mechanics, expanding the search to include Child Friendly Provinces and Regions, increasing the cash prizes and introduce special citations and

Expand network to non-traditional but strategic partners, intensify advocacy and capability building on the organization and strengthen Local Council for the Protection of Children and Barangay Councils for the Protection of Children.

The Conference was made substantive with these quotes “We belong to one family committed to assume leadership in improving the lives of Filipino children”, core values and strategic platforms identified as “Team Approach” and “Bottom-Up” and reaching a common goal by institutionalizing child welfare system in governance with the target of increasing the number of child-friendly Local Government Units.

The 2009 conference which was held on April 22-24, 2010 at the A. Venue Hotel Suites, Makati City was participated in by 47 RSCWC members from the 17 Regions composed of the Chairpersons, Focal Persons and by the Regional Directors of some member agencies of the RSCWC. The CWC National Structure was also represented in the said conference.

NCCYP SUPPORTS STRENGTHENING IN-COUNTRY MECHANISMS ON CHILD AND YOUTH PARTICIPATION

The National Committee on Child and Youth Participation being managed by CWC commits to enhance and widen opportunities for child participation in the Philippines. Since its creation in 2005, the NCCYP served as the main machinery in steering plans, programs and activities on

37 child participation in the Philippines which includes the popularization of the National Framework on Child and Youth Participation.

During the same year, the NCCYP laid the groundwork for the conduct of a Study on Child and Youth Participation in the Philippines in an attempt to generate proposed enhancements to the CYP Framework. The support extended by the Committee NGO-member agencies in the reconstitution of the Children Basic Sector of the National Anti-Poverty Commission is also a major contribution to CWC priorities and undertaking. The Committee assisted in facilitating the application of accredited barangay children’s association that joined the sectoral assembly held in February 2010.

More importantly, the NCCYP served as a member of the Steering Committee of the Philippine ASEAN Children’s Forum sharing decision making and direction setting together with DSWD, DFA, NAPC, CWC and UNICEF.

FIRST ASEAN CHILDREN’S FORUM A CELEBRATION OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS

“The ASEAN Children’s Forum is our voice in promoting children’s rights.” This is how the children delegates from the ten member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) envision the ACF to be when they conferred in a four-day conference to discuss children’s issues in the region and its corresponding strategies, and call for action to their governments.

A total of thirty-two (32) children delegates ages 12 to 17 attended the first ACF held on October 19 to 22, 2010 at the Fontana Leisure Parks, Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines. Seven of these children are children with disabilities . They were given time to speak about various concerns including HIV/AIDS, children and the internet, environment, poverty, child labor, opportunities for children with disabilities and child participation.

The major agenda of the Forum focused on developing a common understanding among the children delegates of what the ACF should be. The children came up with the proposed Terms of Reference of the ACF including its objectives, frequency, criteria and process for selecting delegates. The children were also introduced to how the ACF is linked with the existing ASEAN structure.

The first ACF was graced by Philippine government officials led by DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman and representatives from the sponsoring agencies such as UNICEF, the Southeast Asia Regional Cooperation on Human Development (SEARCH) and the ASEAN Secretariat.

The children believe that one way of achieving the ACF vision is through the use of ACF website which can be a medium for the children all over the region to exchange ideas and address their 38 concerns directly to their leaders. Through the ACF, the children spoke. It is their hope that adults will listen.

CWC: Makabata Na, Pampamilya Pa!

This two-day staff and family development activity was conducted at Golden Sunset Resort, Calatagan, Batangas on June 12-13, 2010. The objective was to provide venue for family strengthening among CWC personnel and their families.

Various group dynamics activities were conducted ranging from Getting to Know Each Other to “Ang Pamilyang Pinoy” games which deepen appreciation of the Filipino Family. Staff and family members actively participated the activities highlighting the importance of family through role playing; among others was a reality situation whereby either the mother or the father is an overseas Filipino worker ( OFW) and the spouse left behind struggles to cope with the challenges of child-rearing and the other roles that must be fulfilled brought about by single parenting.

The staff and their families had the chance to enjoy the sports and physical fitness and other outdoor/bonding activities (e.g. swimming, volleyball, etc.).

The personnel and development activity that was conducted did not only provide venue to promote bonding and strengthen the relationships among CWC personnel but also relationship among family members as well. It created an inter-family atmosphere and connection as well as reaffirmed views and goals towards a stronger family and organization.

The CWC Family all smiles, enjoying, participating in actions.

Financial Report CY 2010

Summary

Council for the Welfare of Children Committees, Sub-Committees and AdHocs

Council Board

Chairmanship Department of Social Welfare & Development Council for the Welfare of Children Department of Health Department of Education Department of Labor & Employment Department of Interior & Local Government Department of Agriculture Department of Justice National Economic & Development Authority National Nutrition Council National Anti-Poverty Commission-Children Basic Sector Philippine Information Agency 3 Private Individuals

Technical Management Group

Chairmanship Council for the Welfare of Children

Department of Social Welfare & Development Department of Health Department of Education Department of Labor & Employment Department of Interior & Local Government Department of Agriculture Department of Justice National Economic & Development Authority National Nutrition Council National Council of Social Development National Youth Commission Parenting Foundation

Committee on Family and Alternative Parental Care (ComFAPC)

Chairmanship Parenting Foundation of the Philippines Co-Chairmanship NORFIL Foundation Department of Social Welfare & Development - Social Technology Bureau Overseas Worker and Welfare Administration- Policy Development & Programs Bureau Kaisahang Buhay Foundation CGM- Home of Joy Foster Care Foundation of the Philippines CRIBS Foundation Concordia Children’s Services Association of Child Caring Agencies of the Philippines Migrante Anak Pamilya Foundation Bantay Bata 163 National Council of Social Development Adoptive Families Foundation SOS Children’s Village Council for the Welfare of Children

Committee on Children with HIV-AIDS

Chairmanship Department of Health-National Center for Disease Prevention & Control Co-Chairmanship Lunduyan Foundation Department of Social Welfare & Development-Social Technology Bureau Department of Interior & Local Government-NBOO Department of Education-Bureau of Alternative Learning System/Health & Nutrition Center 43

Philippine National AIDS Council Philippine Information Agency-IAPD National Youth Commission Liga ng Mga Barangay SK National Federation Precious Jewels Ministry The Salvation Army AIDS Society of the Philippines Positive Action Foundation Phils. (PAFPI) Pinoy Plus Achieve ERDA Foundation Remedios AIDS Foundation, Inc. UNICEF Philippines Council for the Welfare of Children

Committee on Children in Need of Special Protection

Chairmanship Department of Social Welfare & Development Co-Chairmanship NORFIL Foundation

Department of Interior & Local Government-NBOO National Council on Disability Affairs Lunduyan Foundation Parenting Foundation of the Philippines Department of Health-NCDPC Philippine Coalition to Protect CIAC Council for the Welfare of Children

Sub-Committee on Children Affected By Armed Conflict and Displacement

Chairmanship Department of the Interior & Local Government- NBOO Co-Chairmanship Philippine Coalition to Protect Children Involved in Armed Conflict (Protect CIAC)

National Commission on Muslim Filipinos formerly Office of Muslim Affairs National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Citizen’s Disaster Response Center UP Institute of Islamic Studies Department of National Defense-Office of Civil Defense Urban Poor Associates Department of Interior & Local Government 44

Medical Action Group, Incorporated Department of Health- National Center for Disease Prevention & Control Hope for the Youth Foundation Balay Rehabilitation Center, Inc. Summer Institute of Linguistics Philippines Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Armed Forces of the Philippines Philippine National Police Commission on Human Rights Department of Social Welfare & Development Department of Education Young Moro Professional Network, Inc. Philippine Human Rights Information Center World Vision Development Foundation ChildFund Philippines UNICEF Philippines Council for the Welfare of Children

Sub-Committee on Children With Disabilities

Chairmanship NORFIL Foundation, Inc. Co-Chairmanship National Council on Disability Affairs

Department of Social Welfare & Development Department of Education Department of Interior & Local Government-NBOO Department of Health- National Center for Disease Prevention & Control Department of Labor & Employment Autism Society of the Philippines Liliane Foundation AD/HD Society of the Phiippines Parent Advocates for Visually Impaired Children Breaking Barriers for Children & Youth Council for the Welfare & Development

• Sub-Committee on Sexually Abused and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children

Chairmanship Lunduyan Foundation Co-Chairmanship Department of Social Welfare & Development

ECPAT Philippines 45

Directorate for Police Community Relations – Philippine National Police

Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Sexual Abuse Laura Vicuña Foundation, Inc Department of Local and Employment National Bureau of Investigation - Violence against Women and Children Division

Department of Tourism National Council of Social Development Department of Education- Bureau of Secondary Education Department of Education-Bureau of Elementary Education Philippine Information Agency Department of Interior and Local Government-NBOO Visayan Forum Foundation, Inc. Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management- Philippine National Police Department of Health- Center for Family & Environmental Health Council for the Welfare of Children

National Network for Street Children

Chairmanship Council for the Welfare of Children Department of Social Welfare & Development Department of Interior & Local Government Department of Education - Bureau of Elementary Education - Bureau of Secondary Education - Bureau of Alternative Education Childhope Asia Philippines Children’s Laboratory National Council of Social Development National Economic and Development Authority UNICEF Philippines

BCPC Technical Advisory Group

Council for the Welfare of Children Department of Social Welfare & Development Department of Interior & Local Government ERDA Foundation Child Fund Philippines Childhope Asia Philippines 46

Consuelo Foundation Plan Philippines World Vision Development Foundation Save the Children Liga ng mga Barangay Local Government Academy UNICEF Philippines

National Network to End Violence Against Children

Council for the Welfare of Children Parenting Foundation Department of Social Welfare & Development - Social Technology Bureau - Standards Bureau - DSWD-NCR Philippine National Police-DIDM Department of Education - Bureau of Elementary Education - Bureau of Secondary Education - Bureau of Alternative Education Department of Interior & Local Government-NBOO Department of Labor & Employment- BWSC Lunduyan Foundation ECPAT Philippines Open Heart Foundation Child Fund Philippines Save the Children Plan Philippines Children’s Laboratory National Council of Social Development UNICEF Philippines

Technical Working Group on Macro Monitoring System for Children

Chairmanship Council for the Welfare of Children

National Statistical Coordinating Board Commission on Human Rights Technical Education and Skills Development National Bureau of Investigation Department of Health Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns-Department of Labor and Employment 47

Department of Education Department of the Interior & Local Government Trade Union Congress of the Philippines Department of Social Welfare & Development PhilHealth Bureau of Jail Management & Penology Women & Children Protection Center – Philippine National Police National Statistics office National Council on Disability Affairs Inter-Country Adoption Board Dangerous Drugs Board Commission on Election Department of Justice National Nutrition Council National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Philippine Information Agency Government Service Insurance System National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Juvenile Justice Welfare Council NGO Coalition on CRC Reporting

Philippine Information Agency Council for the Welfare of Children

CWC Communication Committee

Chairmanship Department of Social Welfare & Development Department of Education-NCCT Department of Labor & Employment Department of Justice Philippine Information Agency Department of Health Philippine Press Institute National Nutrition Council Department of Interior & Local Government Council for the Welfare of Children

National Award Committee (NAC)

Philippine Information Agency Department of Health National Nutrition Council Department of Interior and Local Government

Department of Social Welfare and Development Department of Education National Economic and Development Authority ERDA Foundation Department of Labor and Employment Save the Children

RSCWC Chairpersons

I – Dir. Leonardo C. Reynoso II – Dir. Arnel B. Garcia III – Dir. Adelina S. Apostoli IV A – Dir. Honorita B. Bayudan IV B – Dir. Violeta A. Cruz V – Dir. Remia T. Tapispisan VI – Dir. Minda B. Brigoli VII – Dir. Ma. Evelyn B. Macapobre VIII – Dir. Leticia T. Corillo IX – Dir. Teodulo R. Romo, Jr. X – Dir. Aracelli F. Solamillo XI – Dir. Ester A. Versoza XII – Dir. Bai Zorahayda T. Taha CARAGA – Dir. Mercedita P. Jabagat ARMM – Regional Secretary Hadja Pombaen Karon Kader CAR – Dir. Porfiria M. Bernardez NCR – Dir. Thelsa P. Biolena

National Committee on Children and Youth Participation (NCCYP)

ChildFund Philippines ERDA PLAN Philippines Hope for the Youth World Vision Development Foundation National Anti-Poverty Commission –Basic Sector Unit Lingap Pangkabataan Inc. End Child Prostitution Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT) UNICEF Kamalayan Development Foundation Kabataan News Network Commission on Human Rights DSWD-PMB Balay Rehabilitation Center

Families and Children for Empowerment and Development (FCED) Kanlungan sa Er-Ma Ministry , Inc. Lunduyan Foundation Open Heart Foundation Laura Vicuña Fdn., In. Childhope Asia ECLIPSE Foundation for Adolescent Development I-CAN Foundation Phils., Inc. LAKAS NCSD NCCT Save the Children Share a Child Movement TATAG Virlanie Foundation NYC Sun for All Children Children’s Laboratory Visayan Forum Fdn., Inc.