Positive discipline works but remains a challenge

CEBU, Philippines - Efforts to shift into a positive approach from the traditional corporal punishment against erring children have been found to work, at least in Cebu.

“Sa pagkakarun, ang success jud namo sa among barangay kay nakapagawas mi ug kaugalingong… usa ka barangay ordinance of positive discipline kung diin ang among constituents didto among napasabot nga naa tay balaod karun ug mas epektibo kaning gitawag nato ug positive discipline. Nga kung mu-disiplina ka sa imong mga anak, dili na kinahanglan mugamit pa nianang gitawag nato ug corporal punishment,” said Zenaida Amores, councilwoman of Barangay Labangon and president of the Bantay Banay Volunteers Association.

Current state of implementation of the so-called “positive discipline” approach was tackled during the media briefing of the Gawad Gabay project yesterday.

The briefing was attended by officials from Plan Project Philippines, Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), teachers association, as well as advocates of non-violence Barangays Labangon and Guadalupe in Cebu City, Talisay City.

Amores said Labangon is allocating P20,000 for capability building, seminars, training and lectures on positive discipline in coordination with Lihok Filipina Foundation and Bantay Banay.

She believes education is important in the effective implementation of the approach, considering that abusive action often begins at home.

In Barangay Guadalupe, parents are being trained in positive discipline but one of the coordinators, Susan Araneta, the challenge is huge.

“Sa ako man gani, kay single parent man gud ko nya ang akong anak tulo, dili baya lalim, so ang akong gihimo sa una nakong anak, mu dapat jud ko kay ako pa guy mangita ug kwarta nya inig abot nako daghan kaayo’gg trabahoon sa balay. Sukad ato, naka-realize ko nga di diay angay nga dapatan ang bata kundi ato lang storyaan,” she said.

Corporal punishment, the kind that uses physical force or objects like canning, is a discipline method that is regarded as cruel and degrading to children. Meanwhile, positive discipline refers to holistic and proactive parenting or teaching style that helps children develop appropriate behavior in short or long terms.

Support

Cebu City acting mayor Margarita Osmeña said the focus should always be the child.

“It’s not about you and me. It’s always about the child,” she reminded those implementing the programs.

Osmeña is supporting Gawad Gabay’s The Positive Discipline Project, which aims to contribute to the protection of children from all forms of violence. It aims to improve the capacity of civil society and the government to implement policies and strengthen programs that would stop corporal punishment and bullying.

She said understanding the distinction between discipline and punishment is what parents normally face every day.

“There was this fine line and it’s always that… I guess it’s between the distinction of discipline and punishment, right? And I think that is what we face every day, even as parents.” Osmeña said.

“Hopefully we can learn to learn from our own experiences and mistakes so that we don’t commit it with them, but getting that altogether, that is again the challenge that we need,” she said.

She assured that the city’s Commission on Welfare and Protection of Children will be active again.

“Politics has nothing to do with it. It is really about that little human being who has a future,” she said.

Campaign

In Talisay, City, only one case of abuse has been reported as of May this year, a far cry from the 15 cases reported in 2015, said Lowella Vestil of the Talisay City Social Welfare.

“We campaign to stop child abuse,” Vestil said.

Talisay is the first city to pass the Anti-Corporal Bill, which promotes positive and non-violent discipline of children. One of the programs being implemented there is the Youth Home Facility, which serves as temporary home for street children and abused ones.

In 2012, Talisay was awarded Most Child Friendly City.

Angelika Ramirez of the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) said they are hoping that President-elect Rodrigo Duterte will help them support the campaign against child abuse.

Gawad Gabay aims for a positive discipline project from homes, schools and communities upholding child protection and promoting positive non-violent discipline to children.

 “Luyo atong tanan nga mga balita update gikan sa Cebu City, Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), Talisay City nagpadayun gihapon ang atong tinguha nga mas mapakuyanap, to spread the good news of positive discipline,” said Jayson Lozano, Project Manager of Plan International Inc. — (FREEMAN)