MORE NEWS, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE

New Zealand, Unicef reps pledge children’s fund for Mt Province
By Angel Baybay

BONTOC, Mountain Province --- The continued funding of children’s programs in the province will continue in the coming years with the assurance of the New Zealand government to give financial assistance through the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).

The pledge was made by New Zealand ambassador to the Philippines Andrew Matheson during his recent visit to the province.

The diplomat was accompanied by his wife Susan, and UNICEF representative to the Philippines Vanessa Tobin, Dr. Martha Cayad-an of UNICEF and Tobias Haque, Patricia Tan, and Imelda Benitez of the New Zealand embassy.

Satisfied with how programs were implemented Matheson said he will see to it that the partnership between his country and the “indigenous” children in the province will continue.

New Zealand has been giving funds since 2003. “I am satisfied with what I saw. From the eyes of the children, I could feel the need for them to be given more support,” Matheson said.

For her part, UNICEF representative to the country Vanessa Tobin described as satisfactory and encouraging the outcome of the funded interventions implemented in the province.

With the sixth phase of the program about to end, she said the province has chances of being included in the next phase. “I am pleased to see for myself the changes resulting from the programs of UNICEF in the province. With this, I assure the people that the program will continue to consider the unmet concerns of the children in this province when we start planning the next phase,” Tobin said.

But he added there are certain areas that needed attention. Specifically, she mentioned the incidence of child and maternal deaths which is relatively low but which should be eliminated.

She cited cases of unenrolled children in the province. With the participation of concerned sectors, she hopes that all children should finish at least secondary education.

Gov. Maximo Dalog thanked the New Zealand government and the UNICEF for their concern for the children in the province. “We could not find a word that could express our thanks for all the assistance you gave to the province. We could have not reached this far without you,” the governor said.

Matheson and his entourage visited the Bontoc General Hospital before he went to Bauko and Tadian.

It was Matheson’s first trip outside Manila after assuming his post three weeks ago.

Tobin promised to attend next year’s Lang-ay Festival while Matheson left his word that he will be back to the province before his tour of duty in the country ends.