74 kids attend 2-day National Children Conference in Danao

At least 74 children from all over the Philippines gathered yesterday at the start of the two-day National Children's Conference at the Intosan Resort Hotel and Restaurant in Danao City.

The conference, with the theme "One Caring and Sharing Community for Children", was aimed at reviewing the commitments done through the Siem Reap Declaration for the World Fit For Children, and the Millennium Development Goals.

The conference would also work to formulate a national agenda that would be presented to the proposed Southeast Asia Conference, set criteria of children's participation and identify facilitators to that conference.

Teodulo Romo, regional director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, in his keynote message said, "no child shall be lost upon birth, and we should see to it that every child enjoys his or her rights."

Romo dared the participants "to translate into concrete actions the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child" by adopting an agenda to eradicate poverty and hunger, education for all children, gender equality, healthcare services, and environment protection, among others.

Romo also acknowledged the important role of various non-government organizations in partnerships with the national, regional and local government units in making the millennium development goals a reality.

The government has made commitments and program initiatives to improve the conditions and situations of the Filipino children, especially the eradication of poverty and hunger, said Romo.

Romo cited the strengthening of micro-enterprise development (micro financing) at the grassroots level, in line with the government's anti-poverty programs, that would improve the situation of children in the country.

The National Children's Conference is organized by the Unicef, and the National Council for the Welfare of Children, in partnership with the National Committee on Child and Youth Participation, some 32 NGOs in the country, and 13 children facilitators. - Gregg M. Rubio