Dagupan City expands child-friendly programs in barangays

By Verdelle de Vera

The city of Dagupan is now planning to expand its child-friendly initiatives in the barangays, following a meeting by the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) with the local government and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) at CSI Stadia on July 3.

Attended by the city’s department heads and barangay captains, the meeting aimed to orient the barangay councils on the functions and responsibilities of the LCPC’s counterpart in the barangays.

Topics focusing on child protection such as the rights of the Filipino children, Republic Act 7610 or the “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act” and Republic Act 9262 or “Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004” were also discussed during the meeting.

DILG Provincial Director Agnes De Leon disclosed how the expansion of the child-friendly programs in the barangays could help in the preparation of the Council for the Welfare of Children’s (CWC) evaluation for the Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities.

With Dagupan being conferred as child-friendly city national finalist for three consecutive years, De Leon expressed confidence that with the help of the BCPC’s commitment, the city may finally be bestowed the coveted award.

In the same occasion, a presentation on the LCPC’s accomplishments last year was made by Officer-in-Charge of the City Planning and Development Office Engr. Josephine Corpuz, while DILG City Director Melinda Buada discussed the responsibilities of the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children.

Meanwhile, Mayor Belen T. Fernandez, in her message, stressed the importance of learning and understanding children’s rights.

“The children have always been our city’s priority. And it is important for us to know the rights of our children because this will be the guide not just for the city, but for each barangay, so we will be able to know what we can do for the youth,” said Fernandez.

Fernandez also discussed the local government’s initiatives in line with upholding the basic rights of the children such as constructing more educational infrastructures, establishing an “Anti-Bullying” hotline and launching programs such as “Lehitimo Ako, Batang Dagupeno”, “Manlingkor Ya Kalangweran” and “Junior Health Advocates”. 

(Reposted from Dagupan City offical website. Photo credit: wikipedia)

Barangay ID system in Davao pushed

By Lilian C. Mellejor

Members of the City Council here have expressed support to the barangay identification (ID) system ahead of the National ID System being pushed by the national government.
While the barangay ID system is mainly for security purposes, Councilor Ma. Belen Acosta on Tuesday said this can also be helpful,  mostly to informal workers.

Acosta, the chairperson of the Committee on Public Safety, said the informal workers include those who conduct immediate repairs of electricity connection and minor construction works in the neighborhood.

Acosta said these workers do not normally have valid government IDs , for example from the Social Security System (SSS), because of the nature of their work.

Acosta said the barangay IDs can be included as among the recognized government identification cards, as long as these are signed by the barangay captain.

City Council Majority Floorleader J Melchor Quitain Jr. said there are already about 15 barangays that have passed resolutions requiring their residents to secure IDs.

However, Quitain opposed one barangay resolution that calls for persons with pending criminal cases not to be issued with the proposed ID. He said this runs counter to the "presumption of innocence" doctrine, which says everyone is considered innocent unless proven guilty.

The barangay ID system started after the declaration of martial law last year to identify residents and transients.

Identification cards have been required after the city police intensified its anti-criminality and terrorism campaign first under the Oplan Bulabog, then the Oplan Kalinaw. Persons with no IDs are profiled by the barangays.

Both Quitain and Acosta believe the localized ID system can be a tool for peace and order pending the approval of the National ID system.

The House of Representatives and the Senate ratified their own versions of the National Identification (ID) system. The proposed bill seeks to integrate and interconnect some 30 redundant government IDs by coming out with one national ID system, or PhilSys which will have three components -- the PhilSys Number, the PhilID and PhilSys Registry.

The PhilID will be a non-transferable card containing on its face the PSN, full name, facial image, date of birth, address and fingerprints of the individual. 

(Reposted from Philippine News Agency website.  Original title: Davao City dads back barangay ID system)

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Government to recruit 42,000 barangay journalists

Interior Undersecretary Martin Diño on Saturday said the government will recruit at least 42,000 barangay news reporters soon.

"Si (Communications) Secretary Martin Andanar, may project kami na ilulunsad. Magkakaroon ng reporters, 42,000 reporters na tuturuan ng barangay journalism," Diño told Super Radyo dzBB.

He said the barangay reporters will be responsible in ensuring government transparency at the barangay level.

He said the recruitment of barangay reporters is part of the government satellite network (GSN) project of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

There are a total of 42,036 barangays in the Philippines as of February 2018, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

In a memorandum circular released in December 2017, the DILG said public information officers from the provincial down to the barangay level will undergo a citizen journalism training that will be provided by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Diño said that the PCOO has already set aside a budget for the implementation of the program.                              

(Reposted from GMA News. Original title: Diño says gov't to deploy 42,000 barangay reporters)

Photo Credit: GMA News

Palawan barangay tops Region IV-B clean & green award

By Manalen Galicia

Barangay Ipilan in Brooke’s Point is now recognized as the “cleanest and greenest LGU barangay” in the entire MIMAROPA (Region IV-B) region.
 
The recognition was awarded Thursday by the Environmental Management Bureau as part of its ongoing national search for the Cleanest and Greenest LGU Model Barangay. Ipilan will now compete as the Region IV-B’s entry in an ongoing national search initiated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
 
Remie Mostiero the head of Municipal Environmental  Resources Office MENRO  said in a text message to Palawan News that Barangay Ipilan won in the Class C category of the nationwide search (or barangays from 1st and 2nd class municipalities).

Ipilan baranggay captain Melchor Inog also said they received a cash prize of P200,000 and a certificate of recognition during the awarding ceremony in Manila.
The nationwide search is being conducted by the National Solid Waste Management Commission, with the national winner to slated to receive a P1 million cash prize. Judging is based on the candidate barangay’s practices on waste segregation, operations of Materials Recovery Facility and level of efforts of the LGU’s solid waste management boards.
Baranggay Ipilan had previously been awarded by the municipality as its “Cleanest and Greenest Barangay.”

(Reposted from Palawan News. Original title: Barangay Ipilan is region's cleanest and greenest. Photo credit: File Photo, Palawan News)