Naga City now holds an unbroken record as a Child-Friendly City for six consecutive years!
This was revealed by Mayor Nelson S. Legacion during his 4th State of the Children report on Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Regent Hotel, Naga City The event capped the 2023 Children’s Month Celebration.
Legacion remarked that this feat was achieved through the concerted effort of the Naga City Council for the Welfare and Protection of Children (NCCWPC), Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC), and Barangay Children’s Organization (BCO) in the city’s 27 barangays.
“I would like to commend the NCCWPC and Children’s Affairs Office Executive Director and City Administrator Elmer Baldemoro, every BCPC and BCO in the 27 barangays of Naga, all our stakeholders, partner agencies, various groups, and organizations for this achievement. Congratulations to all of us!” the chief executive cheered.
Naga City Mayor Nelson Legacion PhotoII JRMadrid/PIA 5-Camarines Sur
Best Practices
At the forefront of Legacion’s agenda is a strong emphasis on education. His aim is to imbue the significance of education as a powerful tool against poverty and a catalyst for change, drawing inspiration from his own transformative experiences.
To ensure a more enabling and empowering environment for the Nagueňos, particularly for children living in the upland areas of the city, five classrooms were erected in various outskirts of Naga City in the span of four years. It includes one (1) elementary school in Sitio Yabu, in Brgy. Carolina, one of the highland barangays in Naga City, and four (4) other secondary schools far from the city’s Central Business District (CBD) – Brgys. San Isidro, Balatas, Sta. Cruz and Mabolo.
Some students face challenges in continuing their education due to financial difficulties.
A minimum fare of P20.00 just to be able to come to school oftentimes serves as the biggest hurdle the students have to pass. In response, the city government initiated the Bike to School program. Over 115 bicycles were distributed to poor but deserving students.
When hunger knocks in, the cognitive function of students also becomes impaired.
Under the Quality Universal Education Empowerment in Naga (QUEEN), there are already 20,000 child beneficiaries both from elementary and secondary schools who are assured of regular rice subsidy and financial assistance from the city government.
The city government also gives cash incentives to children of solo parents who showed exemplary performance in class in line with the provision of City Ordinance No. 2020-136 authored by then City Councilor and now City Administrator Elmer Baldemoro. It has already benefitted 340 recipients to date.
Under the Early Childhood Care and Development Division of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (ECCDD-CSWDO), 3, 493 preschoolers are enrolled in 71 Educare centers.
Naga City’s program for children did not only go unnoticed in the eyes of other LGUs in the country but also in international organizations. Last March, Naga City was among the cities invited to participate in the Child-Friendly Cities Forum sponsored by UNICEF.
Members of the Naga City Council for the Welfare and Protection of Children (NCCWPC) during Mayor Nelson Legaacion’s 4th State of the Children Report, Saturday, Nov. 18 at the Regent Hotel, Naga City
A thriving community contributes to the well-being of families. Legacion asserts that ensuring a child’s right to survival requires accessible facilities for addressing health emergencies. Recently, a state-of-the-art Naga City General Hospital, boasting a 200-bed capacity was inaugurated at Brgy. Balatas. It will soon be operational. The hospital will cater to Maternal and Child Care, Pediatric Care, Nutrition, and Dietetics services.
Last March 22, a collaborative effort between the Philippine Heart Center and Bicol Medical Center (BMC) enabled 25 children with heart ailments who receive free cardiovascular surgeries, 44 % of children under one year old, are already fully immunized from vaccine-preventable diseases.
The city government also looks at the plight of Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) and Children at Risk (CAR), especially street children and children in need of special protection.
To ensure that they are protected from threats and harm to their environment, Naga Children’s Home (NCH) was erected. To date, 82 children have been given assistance while 48 are now staying at the NCH.
There are also several child representatives who are allowed to join the Training of Trainers on the formulation of the Comprehensive local Juvenile Intervention program and have their voices in the crafting of child rights-based local ordinances.
Championing the Rights of Children
Baldemoro, who served as the city councilor of Naga at the time, established the mission of the Naga City Council for the Welfare and Protection of Children (NCCWPC) with the goal of maintaining a city that is child-friendly for every Kaakian (child) Nagueño. This involves creating programs that prioritize the best interests of the child.
The institutionalization of NCCWPC was formalized through Ordinance No. 2014-068, paving the way for the establishment of the Children’s Affairs Office. This aligns with the objectives outlined in DILG Memo 2012-94, which seeks to strengthen the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC).
“Naga City persists in fostering innovation and establishing initiatives that prioritize the well-being of children. The children’s sector is integrated into the Annual Investment Program, with an allocated budget of approximately P10 million each year.”- Mayor Nelson Legacion
Also under the supervision of Mayor Legacion, the Children Affairs Office (CAO) was created to assist children in need of special protection and refer cases filed against child abusers to proper agencies. Under the said office, capability-building programs were also conducted to enhance the knowledge and skills of the personnel in handling children’s programs.
Baldemoro expressed great satisfaction with the accolades, especially receiving the recognition for six consecutive years. However, he emphasized that their programs were not designed to secure awards but were instead implemented with the primary focus on the well-being of children.
“Hindi lang naman tayo after the award, ang gusto natin ay talagang maibigay sa mga bata yung para sa kanila, and kahit na Hall of Fame na tayo, we continue to innovate yung mga programs for children. So, hindi lang tayo satisfied doon sa mga existing programs and projects, kundi nag-iisip pa tayo ng mga bago pwedeng gawin sa mga bata, (We’re not just after the award; what we really want is to provide what is truly for the children. Even though we’re already in the Hall of Fame, we continue to innovate programs for children. So, we’re not only satisfied with the existing programs and projects; we’re also thinking of new things that can be done for the children),” Baldemoro remarked.
In 2021, Naga City became the pioneering local government unit (LGU) to develop the Comprehensive Local Juvenile Intervention Program (CLJIP), which was subsequently implemented across the city’s 27 barangays.
Baldemoro said that the city’s substantial support played a crucial role in achieving these successes. He also expressed his gratitude to the Chair, Committee on Children – Councilor Omar Buenafe and NCCWPC Co-Chair Councilor Gayle Abonal.
Naga City Council for the Welfare and Protection of Children (NCCWPC) former Chairperson, and Children’s Affairs Office Executive Director and City Administrator Elmer Baldemoro (PIA 5/Camarines Sur)
Naga City Officials with Mayor Nelson Legacion ( 2nd from right); City Administrator Elmer Baldemoro (far left); Vice Mayor Nene De Asis (2nd from left) and Committee on Children – Councilor Omar Buenafe (far right) Standing at the back: L-R: City Councilor Salvador Del Castillo (far left); Co-Chair Councilor Gayle Abonal (4th from left); Councilor Oying Rosales (2nd from right) and Councilor ABC President Dodit Beltran (far right). Photo II JRMadrid: PIA 5/Camarines Sur
“The City Government of Naga through Mayor Nelson Legacion is very thankful, to the members of the Naga City Council for the Welfare and Protection of Children, the different offices, and the partner agencies, and also the other sectors – lalo na po yung mga NGO, PO outside the city government of Naga, nakatulong for the programs for children, and also the 27 Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPCs). Without their cooperation, seguro po, hindi makakamit ng Naga yung for 6 consecutive years na recipient tayo ng Chlild Friendly Local Governance.”
Mayor Legacion affirmed that the city is committed to ongoing innovation, ensuring that every child in Naga has a secure sanctuary.
“By 2025, the City of Naga will be a home that will cultivate a safe place for happy, healthy, and resilient children that have access to inclusive and quality education and will be a model city for others,” Legacion said in closing. (PIA 5/Camarines Sur)
