RCWC readies activities for 2022 NCM celebration

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

The Regional Committee for the Welfare of Children (RCWC) chaired by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga are now preparing the lined-up activities for this year’s 30thNational Children’s Month (NCM) celebration in November.

This year’s NCM will kick-off on November 3 through a conduct of an opening program with expected participants of 70 from various government agencies, non-government organizations, and private stakeholders.

The RCWC members have agreed to conduct the following activities:

· Kapihan sa SM City Butuan to be conducted by the Philippine Information Agency Caraga scheduled on November 4, 2022 at the 3rd Floor Events Center of SM City Butuan; · Outreach Program scheduled on November 10-11, 2022 at the residential facilities of Balay Silonganan,, Bethany Homes, Gesu Eucaristico Children’s Inc. (GECI) in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte, and Bahay PagAsa in Tubay, Agusan del Norte;

· Outreach Program scheduled on November 24, 2022 in an Indigenous Peoples (IP) community at Barangay Sabang Gibong in the municipality of Talacogon in Agusan del Sur; and · Contests such as – Caraga CAN Logo Making; MakaBatang Corner (Best Advocay Corner); and Caraga, MakaBata Ka Ba? Virtual Quiz Show.

According to DSWD Caraga Regional Director Mari-flor Dollaga-Libang, the National Children’s Month is an annual observance on the gains of the continuous pursuit towards the protection of the rights of children, promotion of their welfare and in commemoration of the promulgation of the first international instrument that acknowledges and recognizes the rights of children as integral and core to human rights through the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) to which the Philippines is a signatory.

“By virtue of Republic Act 10661 or the National Children’s Month Act, the Children’s Month is observed every November and usually bears a unique focus year by year,” said Dollaga-Libang.

She added that this year’s NCM will focus on the mental health of the children bearing the theme “Kalusugan, Kaisipan, at Kapakanan ng Bawat Bata Ating Tutukan! (JPG/PIA-Caraga)