THE Regional Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Children (RSCWC) Davao Region is strengthening its advocacy for the adoption of the Children’s Relief Emergency and Protection Act and Localizing Comprehensive Program for Children among the local government units in the region.
Regional Coordinator Bhong Binondo of the RCWC-Davao said that there’s an urgent need to develop and implement the crucial programs of government at all levels — province, LGU, and barangay — to comply with Republic Act 10821 (Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act) and relevant DILG memorandum circulars.
“Kailngan maplastar gyud ang plano sa imerhensiya sa bata sa LGU plan including the province LGUs and the barangay, enforced the Republic Act 10821 katong Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act, unya naa puy memorandum circular ang DILG kung unsaon ni pag localize kaning comprehensive emergency program for children,” Binondo stated.
(The child emergency plan must be implemented in the LGU plan including the province LGU’s and the barangay, enforced Republic Act 10821 or the Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act, and the DILG will have a memorandum circular on how to localize this comprehensive emergency program for children.)
The enforcement of RA 10821 would strengthen the regional interagency monitoring task force, allowing it to provide technical assistance, especially in the face of frequent disasters.
He further emphasized the critical importance of developing early warning systems tailored for children with disabilities and profiling children in high-risk areas, as these individuals are frequently overlooked during evacuations; these steps are vital for the successful implementation of the Republic Act.
Localizing the child protection in emergencies should be heavily responded to by an inter-council collaboration between the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) and the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (LDRRMC).
“The local government must collaborate katong local council for the protection of children (LCPC) ug katong Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, sila duha ang mandahan sa balaod ug sa memorandum to work together,” said Binondo.
(The local government must collaborate with the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) and the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, both of whom are mandated by law and the memorandum to work together.)
In addition, he emphasized that it’s crucial for the local governments to prioritize handling children’s needs before, during, and after emergencies.
Binondo said that the whole system should also be leveraged to ensure children’s specific needs, especially those related to children with disability are integrated into emergency plans. PIA DAVAO
