DAGUPAN CITY – The city’s different departments initiated various programs for children to protect and ensure that their needs are well provided as children are the most vulnerable and high-risk members of the society who depend largely on adults and the fact that they cannot yet take care of their own interests.
Public Order and Safety Office chief retired SPO4 Carlito Ocampo conducted lectures and orientation on traffic signages to Grade six school children of West Central Elementary School 1 at West Central Elementary School 1 on December 15.
The road safety lecture aims to teach the children important tips on what to do to ensure their safety and welfare while walking or crossing city streets in going to school.
The City Agriculture Office and the City Accounting Office through their heads City Agriculture Officer Emma J. Molina and Melissa Mendoza taught the school children of Lucao Elementary School on planting vegetables and on how to earn a living out of their produce on December 19.
Molina disclosed that the City Agriculture Office staff will be going back to the school to lecture on them on how to make organic fertilizer to protect their plants from pests and further improve their “Gulayan sa Paaralan” project while the City Accounting Office staff oriented the children on the importance of money and on how to use it to finance their needs in school.
“It is very important that our children learn how to earn and value their money and start developing them to become entrepreneurs,” said Mendoza.
Molina distributed assorted plant seeds to the children and encouraged them to plant at home, and sell the extra to earn money which will form part of their earnings to sustain their needs in school.
The Civil Registry Office, on the other hand, launched its “Lehitimo Ako, Batang Dagupenyo” which seeks to provide free legitimization to young Dagupenos who were born out of wedlock to parents who are not disqualified by any impediment and ensure their successional rights under the law aside from the right to bear the surname of his father and mother and receive support from them.
The City Social Welfare and Development Office conducted leadership training for out of school youths to enable them to fully realize their full potentials thus becoming self reliant, economically productive and responsible citizens. They were trained also as peer facilitators on teenage pregnancy and instill in them the importance of community volunteerism and good relationship with other members of their community.
The City Health Office (CHO) under Dr. Ophelia T. Rivera is promoting the junior advocate health officer program in schools where the city through the CHO will establish a direct linkage with children. Rivera also taught the children how to stay healthy and to mentor other children. The children can also get direct assistance from CHO for treatment and for medicines and vitamins.
Mayor Belen T. Fernandez, who encouraged the different department heads to go out of their offices and help the children on various programs on safety and survival, tapped the participation of the Girls Scout of the Philippines for their sustainable community projects which won national recognition with their Dagupan City Council President Zenaida L. Sinlao and Council Executive Lerma P. Nicomedez.
The Public Employment and Services Office (PESO) launched a mega job fair on December 16 to help young Dagupenos find jobs and employment here and abroad.
“I want these children, especially those belonging from indigent families to obtain their rights because I believe that those who have less in life should have more in laws. Dagupan is a haven for children,” said Fernandez. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/Dec. 19, 2017)