Bontoc gets nat’l award for kids’ prog

By Alpine Killa

BONTOC, Mountain Province – The municipality of Bontoc was awarded one of recipients of Seal of Child Friendly Local Governance (SCFLG) for 2018.

The award, received by Sangguniang Bayan member Viola Okko and Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Fe Toyokan on Nov. 13 in Baguio City, marked the town’s fifth time to be recognized as an SCFLG awardee since it was launched in 2014.

Bontoc passed with flying colors the Child- Friendly Local Governance Audit (CFLGA), an annual assessment of the performance of Local Government Units (LGUs) in implementing child-friendly programs and services intended to promote and uplift the welfare of children.

It uses indicators covering governance and the four core rights of children, namely: survival, development, protection, and participation.

Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey credited the award to the collaborative effort of the officials and employees of the municipal government, partner agencies, and stakeholders, and the Bontoc community.

“The municipal government cannot take full credit for this award. 

This is not an award of the Bontoc LGU alone, rather, an award of our ili  ay Kalalaychan (community which loves). This is the result of our passion in giving priority to the welfare of our children,” Odsey said.

With this, he thanked everyone for their efforts, time, and commitment in ensuring that the needs of children are addressed and their well-being, promoted.

The mayor said programs of the municipal government to the most vulnerable sector of the society- the children or the young will be sustained.

Among these are the free newborn screening given to infants born at home or in barangay birthing clinics; financial aid in support to the athletes who compete in the Cordillera Administrative Region Athletic Association (CARAA), Provincial Athletic Meet and District Meet; Aid to Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts; financial aid to elementary, secondary and senior high schools; financial assistance to Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL); and increase in the honoraria of Day Care Workers.

In response, MSWD Officer Toyokan thanked the present administration under the leadership of Odsey for giving primary importance to the welfare of the children.

She said all issues concerning children in the locality are immediately acted upon.

Toyokan backed the pronouncement of the mayor that the award is a result of the concerted efforts of all the stakeholders in the community.

“It is because of all the efforts of everyone that we have been a consistent awardee of the Seal of Child Friendly Local Governance since it started in 2014. Everybody did their part," Toyokan remarked.

It is to be noted that the audit result has also a bearing in LGU’s quest for the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) of which the municipality of Bontoc has been an awardee for three consecutive years covering 2017, 2018, and 2019.