Council vows to sustain children’s education advocacy

TACLOBAN CITY, Nov. 22 (PNA) -– The Regional Sub-committee for the Welfare of Children (RSCWC) in Eastern Visayas will continue the advocacy for a child’s education even beyond the National Children’s Month celebration.

The council, led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, has been going around communities in the region to teach the value of education.

Aron Villena, DSWD-RSCWC staff, said the advocacy will continue the whole year round to answer all child-related issues.

This year’s celebration is anchored on the theme, “Isulong: Kalidad na edukasyon para sa lahat ng bata (quality education for all children)”.

“In the past 23 years, we’ve been focusing on social protection. It is now time to advocate for education because other social problems involving minors such as teenage pregnancy, has been alarming. The main reason why this happens is because of lack of education,” Villena added.

In line with the celebration, the Council for the Welfare of Children launched the one million Lapis (a local term for pencil) campaign. The drive aims to gather one million pencils from partner agencies, to be distributed to underprivileged learners in fourth to sixth class towns nationwide.

“We recognize the importance of children not just in the family, but also in the community. The purpose of this celebration is to advocate the rights of children,” Villena emphasized.

The RSCWC under the DSWD, is a coordination body which monitors the policy issuance and is in charge of the activities for the National children’s month.

Republic Act 10661 signed by then President Benigno S. Aquino III declares the month of November as National Children’s Month. The declaration commemorates the adoption of the Convention on the rights of the child by the United Nations General assembly on 20 November 1989. (PNA)

 LAP/SQM/Yancy Marie T. Claridad (OJT)