The city government of Koronadal is now working to promote child-friendly initiatives while completing the application for the Child-friendly Local Governance Audit (CFLGA), a mandatory audit chaired by the DILG in support of the country’s commitments to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

LGU which passes the CFLGA will be granted with the Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance (SCFLG) by the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) Board. Passing the CFLGA is the LGU’s passport to being awarded with the Seal of Child Friendly Local Governance (SCFLG), which recognizes LGU efforts towards building a child-friendly Philippines. It is a mark of distinction for LGUs who deliver outstanding performance for the well-being of the children.

Part of the city government efforts is the appointment of a “Child Representative” that will represent the children sector in the City Council for the Protection of Children (CCPC). Prior to the appointment, the said representative have undergone 5 stages of the selection process.

The CSWDO, on the other hand, noted a significant decrease in the number of CICL endorsed in the Bahay Pag-asa. The rapid progress of the case, which resulted in the placement of a “Children in Conflict with the Law” or CICL in Bahay Pag-asa in a short period of time, was one of the positive news shared by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO). According to Child Protection Specialist/ SWO III Aynodin S. Morohom, four (4) CICLs who had been detained at the center for a long time have recently been released back to their communities and families. There are currently only six (6) people staying at the center, implying a savings of local government funds. In comparison to previous years, there are fewer CICLs in the center this year. Morohom claims that the government spends at least ₱150.00 per person per day on food and other necessities.

The city government will also be drafting a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with neighboring LGUs in the event that their residence is caught in the city. The MOA will strengthen the partnership of LGUs such as the Local Government of Lutayan and all LGUs in the province to provide counterparts in terms of food allocation to their residents detained in the Bahay Pag-asa. Only Koronadal currently has its own Bahay Pag-asa in the province, while LGU Surallah is still working on establishing a functional center.

For a more holistic approach to recovery, the Bahay Pag-asa took advantage of the opportunity to collaborate with various sectors and other allied agencies that provide skill enhancement training, spiritual interventions, and feedings, among other things. As a result of their training at the Agricultural Training Institute, they have already harvested lettuce this December. In fact, some of the products were sold in order to generate revenue. Other livelihood activities were also assigned to the CICL in order to prepare them for integration into the community and their families.

Meanwhile, There are currently only six (6) people staying at the center, implying a savings of local government funds. In comparison to previous years, there are fewer CICLs in the center this year. Morohom claims that the government spends at least ₱150.00 per person per day on food and other necessities.

On the other hand, the CSWDO is planning to train teachers in public schools on juvenile case protocols and to make them aware of their role in child protection in the coming months.

Barangay officials will also be trained in the coming months on how to manage the data management system in relation to the CFLGA. This will serve as a national data bank that will assess local governments’ delivery of services focusing on children and youth welfare while identifying intervention outcomes.

The aforementioned activities are simply remarkable steps and milestones in ensuring the progressive realization of children’s rights, resulting in positive outcomes for children towards a child-friendly City of Koronadal.