SUBANGDAKU barangay captain Ernie Manatad receives the most child-friendly barangay award from Mayor Jonas Cortes (Contributed)
Subangdaku won the search for the Most Child Friendly Barangay in Mandaue City.
Subangdaku barangay captain Ernie Manatad received P150,000 cash prize and a plaque of recognition in a ceremony held last Wednesday at the Mandaue City Sports Complex.
“The award encourages us to continue what we are doing and strive for more. I dedicate this award to all the children of barangay Subangdaku,” Subangdaku barangay captain Ernie Manatad said.
The prize money will be used to purchase a close-packed tent as mobile daycare classroom for children who are not enrolled at the barangay’s daycare center.
“There are a lot of children who haven’t enrolled in the daycare center (due to its limited capacity),” Manatad said.
The tent will be manned by a group of teachers organized by the barangay to teach children from the different sitios.
Second placer barangay Cabancalan received P100,000, Mantuyong got P75,000 (3rd place), Cubacub pocketed P50,000 (4th place) and Tabok took home P25,000 (5th place).
Workers and department heads of Mandaue City were also awarded for their efforts in child protection.
Regional Director Ananias Villacorta of the Department of Interior and Local Government in Central Visayas encouraged parents and the local government units (LGUs) to work together to protect and uphold the children’s rights.
“Dapat kita tanan magbantay ug magprotektar sa atong mga kabataan. Magtinabangay ang mga ginikanan ug local government units (We should all cooperate and protect the children. Parents should work together with the local government units),” Villacorta said during the awarding ceremony last Wednesday at the Mandaue City Sports Complex.
He said barangay officials and residents should consolidate ideas and strategies to ensure child protection measures and reduce the number of street children.
“Magsakit akong dughan makakita aning mga batang nangatulog sa dalan. (It’s heartrending to see these children sleep on the streets). We can see all these things in highly-urbanized areas,” he said.
The Mandaue City government organized the search in celebration of the Children’s Month this October and to give recognition to the barangays that have been consistently conducting activities and programs designed to protect the rights and welfare of the children.
The event was also attended by Mayor Jonas Cortes and department heads. /Correspondent anie m. paujana