City makes it to national level in 'child-friendly' search

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City is chosen among the short list of local government units to vie for the Most Child Friendly Cities for this year at the national level.

Cathy Yso, city social welfare and development officer, said that it is the first time that Cebu City is included among the LGUs nominated to receive the Presidential Award for Child Friendly Cities and Municipalities nationwide.

A letter sent by Ma. Elena Caraballo of the Council for the Welfare of Children said that the awarding of the search will push through tomorrow, March 12, at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañang Palace.

Yso said that Cebu City was already recognized with the same award at the regional level for the past three consecutive years.

“That had qualified us for the nationwide search aside from the fact that we really have ongoing child friendly programs,” Yso said.

Margot Osmeña, and hopefully Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, will be joining them to receive the award tomorrow.

The mayor is anyway also in Manila tomorrow for business engagements, she said.

Yso added that at the regional level, the city received P50,000 cash.

At the national level, awardees will receive P350,000 worth of projects for children's programs.

The nationwide search, which is a project of the Council for the Welfare of Children, will award cash prizes and trophies to winners in the top three categories – the highly-urbanized and chartered cities, the first- to third-class municipalities and component cities, and the fourth- to sixth-class municipalities.

Eighty-nine LGUs will vie for these top three categories. – Ferliza C. Contratista/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)