DAVAO CITY, Philippines – For the fifth time, Davao City got the Presidential Award for the most child-friendly city.
The same award was received by the city on the years, 1998, 1999, 2013, and 2014, making it a hall of famer.
President Rodrigo Duterte presented the award on Monday to the officials of Davao in Malacañang.
In a City Information Office dispatch, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte said, “the award was a proof that the programs and projects intended for the protection of the rights and welfare of the children of the city are yielding positive results.”
“Congratulations to the people of Davao and the officials of the city government who made Davao City a safe and enjoyable place for children to live,” she said.
“Let us keep responding to the pressing needs of our children to be educated, fed, clothed, and provided with a safe home,” the Mayor added.
Florie May Tacang, executive director of Kaugmaon for Children’s Rights and Social Development, Inc. also lauded the city for bagging the award but said, “the award poses a greater challenge to comprehensively craft project appropriately for the children.”
“It was reported last week that there are more than 20,000 children who are involved in drugs, of which 1,988 are from Davao Region,” Tacang said.
“We do not know how many from Davao City,” she told Davao Today in an interview.
She said some of these children are pushing drugs which in the international platform is considered the worst form of child labor.
“There must be a comprehensive program to prevent children from getting involved in drugs,” she added.
She said there is a need to implement “community-based initiatives to divert attention of children from abusing substance, teenage pregnancy, safe from sexually transmitted diseases, and to address the factors why children are being involved in child labor, prostitution, and trafficking.”
Mayor Duterte, on the other hand, said the Dabawenyos should claim the recognition collectively and take the award as a challenge to continue making Davao a place where children can enjoy their freedom and a city where children’s rights are protected and upheld.
Atty. Lawrence Bantiding of the assistant city administrator for operations, and Ms. Maria Luisa Bermudo, chief of the Davao City Social Services and Development Office received the award. (davaotoday.com)
