Cordillera gov’t agencies set development programs

By Virginia N. Anceno

BAGUIO CITY -- The Regional Development Council’s social development committee tackled and announced social development concerns in the Cordillera focusing on unmet needs, plight of vulnerable sectors and implementation of programs to address these here Nov. 15.
    Committee vice-chair and National Economic Development Authority regional director Susan A. Sumbeling got support for passage of the magna carta of daycare workers which shall provide minimum benefits to child development workers. 
    “With this, the workers could ensure the best care and attention to every early childhood learner in the barangays,” she said. 
    This will be presented in the RDC meeting on Dec. 9.       
    Sumbeling also pressed for sustainable implementation of the social protection program for adolescent mothers and children after its initial implementation in provinces, cities and municipalities.  
    On health, regional director Rio Magpantay will partner with local government units to convince parents to get their children vaccinated.   
    On social protection, assistant regional director Amelyn Cabrera of Dept. of Social Welfare And Development will conduct an intensive information and advocacy campaign on rights and women with the observance of the 18-day campaign to end violence against women which  started Nov. 25.
    On housing, regional director Maria Amoroso of the Dept. of Human Settlements and Urban Development shall prioritize technical assistance to local government units with high homeless families.
    On education, Commission on Higher Education along with TESDA and Dept. of Educaiton will also conduct information and advocacy campaign celebrating Education Week on Dec. 12-16 through a media forum tackling scholarships and grants for faculty and technical-vocational students. 
    “This is to lure students to return to school, especially that by next year, face-to-face classroom setup will be fully implemented,” CHED representative Menzie Kuengan said.   
    Private sector representatives also proposed some interventions such as using the five percent GAD fund among state universities and colleges and the establishment of a comprehensive database for persons with disabilities to enable them to access government programs since no agency maintains a unified record.
    The meeting was presided by Arnel Cabanisas, committee co-chair and PSR for Social Development.
    Mayor Joseph Sto. Niño B. Bernos of La Paz, Abra, also the national president of the League of Municipalities was recently appointed as committee chair by RDC chairman and Apayao Gov. Elias C. Bulut, Jr.