Children's rights, welfare in MisOcc strengthened

The Misamis Occidental Provincial Inter-Agency Monitoring Task Force (PIMTF) evaluates documents substantiating the functionality of local children’s councils of the 17 local government units (LGUs) of the province. (DILG Misamis Occidental)

The Misamis Occidental Provincial Inter-Agency Monitoring Task Force (PIMTF) conducted an evaluation on the functionality of the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) in each of the 17 cities and municipalities of the province.

The assessment was particularly in implementing plans for the promotion of child and youth welfare in their respective localities, to ensure that the children’s rights and welfare are mainstreamed in the development of plans of local government units.

The main objective of this assessment is to ensure that the LCPCs are functional, relevant, and effective in carrying out policies, programs, and projects on all significant areas of concern for children. Thus, the need to make the LCPC functional is crucial to sustain national efforts in the localization of the National Strategic Framework for Plan Development for Children.

Each Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) in each of the 17 cities and municipalities of the province was evaluated during the monitoring activity through a table assessment composed of the representatives of the different concerned agencies.

LGOO V Dannica Vicente spearheaded the assessment and highlighted the roles of the IMTF ensuring that programs for children are implemented at the local level, which further strengthens the commitment of LGUs to protect the future of the country.

Thus, since the LCPC is responsible for planning and spearheading programs for children at the local level with the end view of making the locality child friendly, it is through the monitoring that the LGUs and other concerned entities are given guidelines and evaluation tools for assessing the functionality of their programs.

The council is assessed based on its Organizational Stability; Child-focused policies and Plans; Budget Allocation and Utilization; and Service Delivery Monitoring and Management for Children.

Accordingly, the level of LCPC functionality is Basic, when it receives a rating of 20% or less; Progressive when it scores 21-50% rating; Mature when it gets a rating of 51-79%; and Ideal when the LGU obtains the 80-100% rating.

Members of the Provincial Inter-Agency Monitoring Team (RIMTF) chaired by the DILG are composed of representatives from the Provincial Health and Nutrition Office representative Nikki Silayon, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Representative Margie Banque, Department of Education Representative Johnny Beloy, and Provincial Planning and Development Office Representative Hyacinth Baloncio assisted by the DILG Representatives Carel Cotales and Geila de Los Angeles.(DILG Misamis Occidental/PIA Misamis Occidental)