League of Barangays hails UN support to Filipino children

The Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas (League of Barangays in the Philippines , led by its president James Marty Lim, endorsed a plan that would ensure children’s access to health, nutrition, education and safety.

Lim said the Liga fully supports the Country Program Action Plans (CPAPs) co-signed by the government with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City recently.

The plans were based on studies conducted by various UN organizations in the country showing that majority of Filipino children are disadvantaged.

According to the UNICEF, children in some geographic locations are more disadvantaged than others because their areas are more exposed to natural disasters. Minority status and low-income levels also contribute to the difficulties experienced by children.

UNICEF country representative Dr. Nicolas Alipui said their program of action for Filipino children targets 24 cities and provinces that have been identified as focus areas. UNICEF will spend around $43 million for the initiative.

The UNPF , meanwhile said its program, which has a budget of $26 million, aims to direct more health benefits to poor Filipinos. The UNPF campaign seeks to reduce fertility, improve maternal health, prevent HIV/AIDS, build capacities of policymakers, managers and service providers, and empower the poor.

As for the UNDP, it identified indigenous peoples, landless farmers and workers, small landholders, artisan fisherfolk and the informal sector of the country as the poorest and most vulnerable in the population. The UNDP intends to address poverty by achieving the UN’s Millennium Development Goals through the reduction of poverty, fostering democratic governance, energy and environment for sustainable development and crisis prevention and recovery.

"The children in the barangays identified as depressed areas will benefit greatly from the UN aid," Lim said.

National Economic and Development Administration (NEDA) Director General and Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri signed the CPAPs in behalf of the Philippine government. UNDP, UNPF and UNICEF country representatives Deborah Landey, Dr. Zahidul Huque and Dr. Nicolas Alipui signed for the United Nations. Also present at the signing were Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit, DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and representatives from partner organizations from the private sector and the government.