The City Government of Davao, through its initiatives on child protection, got a high score during the 2024 Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit (CFLGA).
The Department of the Interior and Local Government – Davao City on January 23, 2025 sent a congratulatory letter to the City Government of Davao for getting an overall rating of 90.55 percent, making it eligible for the Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance.
DILG-Davao City Director Vicky P. Sarcena said in the letter that the recognition was pursuant to the Third Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) meeting held on September 19, 2024.
“This achievement proves the commitment of the City Government of Davao to ensuring the protection, welfare, and development of children through effective and child-centered governance. It is a significant milestone in advancement in our communities,” Sarcena said.
Special Office for Children’s Concerns (SOCC) Officer-In-Charge Gerlyn V. Arciaga, told Madayaw Davao on Thursday, that they are happy with the CFLGA 2024 Rating.
“Kami po sa SOCC ang Secretariat sa Davao City Council for the Protection of Children (DCCPC) happy kaayo tungod kay nagapasabot kini nga ang efforts, programs, and, projects for the children in Davao City na-address niya ang concerns and issues sa mga bata sa Davao City (We at the SOCC, the Secretariat for the DCCPC, are happy about this [rating] because it meant that the efforts, programs, and projects for the children in Davao City were able to address the concerns and issues of the children in Davao City),” she said.
Arciaga said that the city would not have gotten the rating without the financial and technical support of the City Mayor’s Office, support through the policy-making of the Sangguniang Panlugsod’s Committee on Women, Children, and Family Relations Chair Trisha Anne Villafuerte, and the support and effort of the DCCPC members.
Arciaga said that for 2025, the DCCPC will focus on lobbying for more city ordinances that will ensure the protection of children, push for the development of a children’s database, continue capacity building for the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children through the CSWDO, and promote advocacy on child mental health and against child abuse.
“We are conducting all of these so that we will maintain our rating and to instill, protect, and uphold the rights of the children para mahatagan og maayo nga future ang mga bata sa Davao City (this, inorder to give the children of Davao City a better future),” Arciaga said. CIO
