The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) yesterday announced that close to 90 percent of local government units (LGUs) have set up their Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) that promotes children’s rights and implements child-centered programs at the local level.
Citing reports from the National Barangay Operations Office (NBOO) and DILG regional offices, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo said that 89.49 percent or a total of 37,612 of the 42,026 LGUs in the country have organized or reorganized their children councils as of December 2011.
Meanwhile, 15 barangays have not reorganized their LCPC, while 15 provinces, six cities, 1,112 municipalities and 3,368 barangays have not submitted their reports yet.
The report did not include LGUs in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Of the 37,612 LCPCs, 60 are at the provincial level, 128 at the city level, 1,271 in municipalities and 36,153 in barangays.
Robredo, however, explained that organization of LCPCs does not automatically translate to its ideal functionality. “The department evaluates the functionality of these councils based on their performance along the following areas: Organization, meetings,policies, plans and budget and accomplishments on programs, projects and activities related to children’s welfare and protection,” he said.
LCPCs can be categorized as “Ideal” or having a rating of 80 to 100 percent for satisfying all the requirements for all the indicators; “Mature” or with a rating of 51 to 79 percent for satisfying the requirements for organization and meeting and any of the sub-indicators; “Progressive” or a rating of 21 to 50 percent for satisfying the requirements for organization and meeting and some of the sub-indicators; and “Basic” or a rating of 20 percent and below for satisfying the requirements for organization and meetings only.
Based on the report, Robredo said that of the 37,612 LCPCs assessed nationwide, 5,324 are Ideal; 14,345 are Mature; 11,629 are Progressive; and 6,314 are Basic. As for data on ideal functionality,reports have it that cities had the highest percentage of increase with 24 percent, followed by the municipalities with 12 percent, and provinces with 8 percent, while barangays decreased by 6 percent.
“With these information, we shall undertake initiatives to increase the awareness of LGUs on the importance of LCPCs in carrying out programs that will protect and benefit children,” the DILG Chief said. “We are also calling on LGUs to put the rights and welfare of children,who belong to one of the most vulnerable sectors in society, on top of their priorities by setting up and strengthening their LCPCs,” he added.
Source: Manila Bulletin
