Republic of the Philippines

Province of Tarlac
Municipality of Camiling
Office of the Municipal Mayor

State of the Children Report

delivered by Mayor Erlon C. Agustin
during the 2022 Children’s Month Celebration

Today, we are once again gathered to celebrate the National Children’s Month
which bears the theme ““Kalusugan, Kaisipan, at Kapakanan ng Bawat Bata Ating
Tutukan!” As we come together in celebrating this year’s children’s month, it prompts all
of us to support and take part in this campaign. The designation of a month dedicated to
the Filipino children highlights the significance of the role of children within the Filipino
family and within the Philippine society.

With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, environments where children

thrive were disrupted and these affected the rights of the children to survive, develop, to
be protected, and participate safely and fully. Whilst, with the vision of becoming a child-
friendly municipality, the LGU persistently carries out policies, programs, projects and
activities that promote and protect the children’s rights amidst the pandemic.

The children are one of the most important assets of our nation, thus we should
invest on them and make the children’s welfare a priority development agenda. With this,
allow me to present to you the outcomes of our concerted efforts in the promotion and
protection of the children’s rights.

First, on the Right of Children to Participate:

Chosen representatives from the different Day Care Centers were called to partake
in this year’s municipal-wide Children’s Congress. The nature of these activity is for
children to be provided with opportunities to showcase their talents and skills geared
towards championing children’s rights and welfare in this new normal perspective. The
winners from the municipal level of this event will represent the municipality in the
provincial Children’s congress.

Second, on the children’s Right to Protection

This year, we have recorded 34 cases of violations involving children: seven of

which are violations involving Republic Act 7610 and the other twenty against Republic
Act 9262. There are also seven cases involving child-in-conflict with the law (CICL).

In these cases of children in need of special protection, children at risk and children
in conflict with the law, the municipal DSWD provided counselling jointly with the PNP-
Women and Children Protection Desk Officer. The social workers confer with parents to
discuss with them the essential processes prior and during case filings. Transportation
assistance is also provided.
 Republic of the Philippines
Province of Tarlac
Municipality of Camiling
Office of the Municipal Mayor

Third, is the children’s Right to Health

Advocacies on the right to health of children is strengthened by means of spreading

awareness and providing maternal health care and education through facility-based birthing
and exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months, giving instructions to children eligible for
Vitamin A supplementation, deworming, tooth brushing drills of day care children, dental
check-ups and mass fluoride application in all barangays.

On nutrition, data gathered on the prevalence of underweight, severely underweight

and stunting among 0–59-month-old children in the municipality has been continually
decreasing for the past three years. We look forward to sustain this trend and eventually
making every child in the municipality achieve optimum health status. In line with this, the
municipal DSWD in collaboration with the Office for Agricultural Services have put up a
Communal Garden where the yields are to be extended to the children in the barangay
especially those identified to be malnourished.

On another note, children with disabilities are served by our municipal DSWD by
granting them assistive devices. Behind these continued efforts in reaching out to the
barangay level are our 285 Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) and 63 Barangay Nutrition
Scholars (BNS) who provide their valued assistance to our professional health personnel
in implementing the various health programs in the promotion of children’s right to health.

Lastly, is for the children’s Right to Education

The right to education is a fundamental human right and in the very core of this
right is the development of programs designed to foster and expand the delivery of basic
services with emphasis on education benefits and opportunities, especially for the children.

At present, we have 73 fully functioning child development centers (CDC) with

2200 children enrolled this year. Some of which are funded by the LGU in ensuring that
every barangay will have its own day care center paving the way for better access to early
childhood education. Provision of supplies and instructional materials to day care workers
has been also spearheaded by our municipal DSWD that safeguard continuity of learning
in the midst of pandemic.

In addition, the municipality’s functional Local School Board in collaboration with

the Department of Education representatives, consistently employs programs, projects and
activities to aid the schools in this new normal set-up. Such include the provision of office
supplies, office equipment, information and communication equipment, repair and
maintenance of school buildings and facilities, and the constructions of various
 Republic of the Philippines
Province of Tarlac
Municipality of Camiling
Office of the Municipal Mayor

classrooms and multi-purpose buildings that assisted the schools in the new learning
modalities and in preparation for the reopening of face-to-face class.

As for the future, it is in our greatest hope that the municipality of Camiling will
become a crest of inspiration for everyone to steadfastly spawn window of opportunities
and innovations for the promotion and protection of Children’s Rights.

Together, we can work hand-in-hand to be able to invest our programs and services
to our children. This generation may come to pass but our legacy and achievements shall
remain and will benefit the future ones. Thank you very much! Mabuhay ang Kabataang
Camileño!