The City Council on Tuesday condemned the rising cases of child abuse following the recent death of a two-year-old toddler.
Councilor Avegayle Ortiz, in her privilege speech at the regular session of the Sangguniang Panglungsod on Nov. 22, said she was appalled at the rising cases of child-abuse in the city’s communities.
The latest case of child abuse involved two-year-old boy named John Earl Cagalitan who was beaten to death in Calinan District by his guardians on November 14.
The boy was entrusted to his mother’s relatives, Sarah Jane Alcain and husband Ronilo, while his mother was working in Bahrain.
“While we condemn such detestable incident and even as we clamor for immediate justice, we are concerned that it also creates a manifestation that such incident runs counter to our identity as the most child friendly city,” Ortiz said.
He called on the city council to give more immediate attention and action to the rising incidence of child abuse.
She mentioned that what happened to the child and other incidents reminded everyone to be extra vigilant, not only for our family, home, and surroundings and that people must extend their honest concern to their local Dabawenyos.
“Meanwhile, without setting aside the necessary discipline to our children, I remind all the parents and guardians to be ideals of responsible parenthood,” Ortiz pointed out, adding that every child needs love and concern.
Ortiz said that she wants to review and reevaluate the Barangay Council for the Protection of Childred (BCPC) and to to strengthen the existing government programs relating to children.
“We need to review BCPC and introduce new policies or programs to address the needs of our children,” she explained.
She also appeals to the barangay officials to consider the welfare of the children as primary concern by fully implementing the mandate of the BCPC for child abuse to be avoided, reiterating that the anti-child abuse hotline must reach out to the far-flung communities in Davao City and must be made known to all.
The anti-child abuse hotline is (0908) 818 4444.
Ortiz is also inviting all concerned individuals, particularly in the barangays, to create a system of monitoring people and inform the existing government policies relating to our children.
“The best interest of the child is paramount important and the welfare of the child is everybody’s concern,” Ortiz concluded.
