80% of LGUs set up local councils to protect children

More than 80 percent of the local government units (LGUs) in the country have set up their local councils for the protection of children (LCPC) that promotes children’s rights and implements child-centered programs at the local level, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, citing reports from the National Barangay Operations Office (NBOO) and the Department’s regional offices, said 83 percent or a total of 36,527 of the 43,279 LGUs in the country have organized or reorganized their children councils as of last year, while 512 did not organize them at all.

On the other hand, 20 provinces, 17 cities, 174 municipalities and 3,876 barangays did not submit their report.

Of the 36,527 LCPCs, 55 are at the provincial level, 114 at the city level, 1,195 in municipalities and 35,163 in barangays, he said.

Robredo, however, explained that organization of LCPCs does not automatically translate to its ideal functionality.

“The Department evaluates the functionality of these councils based on their performance along the following areas, such as organization, meetings, policies, plans and budget and accomplishments on programs, projects and activities related to children’s welfare and protection,” he said.

LCPCs can be categorized as ideal or having a rating of 80 to 100 percent for satisfying all the requirements for all the indicators; mature or with a rating of 51 to79 percent for satisfying the requirements for organization and meeting and any of the sub-indicators; progressive or a rating of 21 to 50 percent for satisfying the requirements for organization and meeting and some of the sub-indicators; and basic or a rating of 20 percent and below for satisfying the requirements for organization and/or meetings only.

Based on the same report, Robredo said that of the total of 37,193 LCPCs assessed nationwide, 5,581 are ideal; 14,018 are mature; 11,547 are progressive; and 6,047 are basic.

“With these information, the Department shall focus more efforts in sustaining the functionality of the LCPCs as well as undertake appropriate interventions to make them truly functional,” he said.

Yearly, the DILG through the NBOO and its Regional Offices, conducts the monitoring and assessment of the functionality of LCPCs to determine how much efforts are being given by LGUs in addressing the concerns of children at the local level.

“I call on all LGUs to put the rights and welfare of children, who belong to one of the most vulnerable sectors in the society on top of their priority by setting up and strengthening their LCPCs,” he said. –Gina Peralta-Elorde, Daily Tribune