Cebu Daily News
First Posted 10:15:00 10/19/2009
Filed Under: Welfare
THE LAPU-LAPU City government will continue to fund programs for children’s welfare.
The commitment was made by Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza during his State of the Children Report last Saturday.
“The well-being of our children is one of the key indicators of a healthy and sustainable city,” said Radaza’s speech as read by city first lady Paz Radaza, barangay captain of Mactan.
“In fact, Lapu-Lapu ensures that the funds and manpower are apportioned annually in order to provide the basic services to our children and offer them quality child care.” Radaza did not mention an amount that would be spent for child care and development.
The mayor was not able to attend last Saturday’s State of the Children Report because he was reportedly not feeling well. His wife represented him and read his speech.
Since confirming her plans to run for mayor of Lapu-Lapu, Paz has been attending speaking engagements on behalf of the mayor.
First was during “Businessmen’s Night.” She also attended the launching of the city’s solid waste management programs. The State of the Children Report was the third time she represented the mayor.
In the speech, Mayor Radaza said the city government was carrying out programs for the welfare of children such as regular pre-natal check-ups in government centers, newborn screening, milk feeding, supplemental feeding of cereals and milk, immunization, and a breastfeeding program.
The city government has an “Under Five Clinic” facility for vaccination, deworming, and growth monitoring of children under five years of age.
Plans are on the way for the civil registration of all births and of children in need of special care.
“The city continues its adopt-a-school program plus daycare and special education programs for children with disabilities and out-of-school-youths,” Radaza said.
The mayor said the city government had put up Home Care Centers and Child Minding Centers in various barangays of the city with partnership from the private sector and non-government organizations.
In a study conducted by Child Hope Asia Philippines published online, Lapu-Lapu is one of the cities with the most street children, last counted at 139,967.
The study, conducted in March 2003, defines “street children” as children who either live or work on the streets, spending a significant amount of time engaged in different occupations with or without the care and protection of responsible adults. The study surveyed children under 18 years old.
Meanwhile, Paz claimed that more than half of the barangay captains in the city had urged her to run for mayor to replace her husband, who is on his last term.
She stressed that she was capable to run for mayor since she had long been a barangay captain and had been first lady for nine years.
Paz, chairman of the committee for women, child protection and nutrition, initiated the state of children’s report, now on its third year. /REPORTER DALE G. ISRAEL AND CORRESPONDENT CARINE ASUTILLA
