DAY care pupils donned in their animated costumes from the city’s 15 barangays flocked to the City Hall Atrium to take part in the Children’s Month Celebration spearheaded by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWD).
Themed as “Kalusugan, Kaisipan at Kapakanan ng Bawat Bata Ating Tutukan,” the activity is anchored on the World Health Organization’s advocacy which states that health should be a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
City Mayor Jane Yap during her message stressed the importance of strengthening education and health among children.
“As we have been conscious of the effects of the pandemic in the mental health of our children, we encourage the teachers to be gentle and listen to their students. Moreso, we will continually push through with our programs in education and health. The Tagbilaran City College will soon add courses, installation of air conditioning units to our daycare centers will soon be completed, and the vaccination drive among the infants in the city will be intensified,” the mayor said.
The whole-day activity started with a motorcade followed by a Holy Mass. A costume contest among the day-care pupils from the 15 barangays was held in the atrium, with the kids doing their own modelling to showcase their fancy costumes. Gifts and tokens were also given to the kids.
Republic Act 10661 or the National Children’s Month Act is celebrated every November and commemorates the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on 20 November 1989. Under section 3 of the law, the CWC, National Youth Commission, and the Department of Social Welfare Development were designated as the lead agencies for the conduct of the celebration.
The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) seeks to address the mental health and well-being of children, the CWC pushed for the review of the Mental Health Law to include children’s welfare. The month-long celebration aims to instill in the Filipino consciousness as well as sustain the promotion and protection of children’s rights. (Jeanette Busano)
