SK failure to support child programs dismays Tomas

Mayor Tomas Osmeña was dismayed over the reported non-cooperation of the Sangguniang Kabataan in carrying out welfare programs for children in the barangays.

This after his wife, Margot, co-chairman of the Cebu City Task Force on the Welfare and Protection of Street Children, delivered her State of the Children Report in yesterday's City Council session.

"I have to be frank about this that there's poor participation of the SK. And that's the irony of it," the mayor said. "Whereas, the welfare of children should have been part of the programs and concerns of the SK, other people have taken the responsibility of doing such."

Margot stressed in her report that the SK should be more involved in their barangays.

"They are not visible," Margot said when interviewed by the media after giving her report. She said the SK members should have actively carried out youth programs considering that such is part of their sworn duties.

Margot highlighted in her report the goals they have achieved to improve the quality of life of children like establishing Operational Children's Resource Center, health and nutrition concerns, establishing Child-Friendly School System, passing children's code, Annual Investment Plan for Children, Local Development Plan for the Children, among others.

"Let this State of the Children's Report serve as an inventory of programs and actions promoting, protecting and upholding children's welfare and interest in Cebu City. And remember, this is all about the Cebuano child," Margot emphasized.

She also took pride in announcing that the city was cited for being Most Child-Friendly City in the country beating the cities of Davao, Quezon, Pasay and Manila.

The city has been appropriating over P200 million for programs on children, she said.

Margot also pointed out that they had successfully conducted a door-to-door immunization program. Last year, 95.78 percent or 22,549 children out of the targeted 23,542 were immunized.

She also mentioned the decrease in infant mortality rate from 17.55 in 2001 to 6.95 in 2005. There was also a decrease in under-five mortality rate from 1.73 in 2002 to 1.26 in 2005.

With the implementation of Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice System Act, Margot said that 887 cases of Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) benefited the police diversion program and 700 cases of CICL were diverted in the community since 2002.

Also, Margot said that 36 children from the Cebu City Operation Second Chance Center were already transferred to the Balay Pasilungan; seven children were moved to the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth in Argao, while 53 children were released to parents. - Garry B. Lao