In line with the goal of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program to promote children’s rights, a National Children’s Congress (NCC) will be conducted on October 29-30, 2012 at the Bayview Hotel in Manila. To be attended by 500 children beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya, this is the first congress since the implementation of the program in 2008.

The NCC will be a venue to imbibe on children a sense of nationalism, promote awareness, and make their voices heard on issues directly affecting them. The event will serve as the culminating activity for the National Children’s Month celebration with the theme “Bright Child ay Siguraduhin, Responsableng Pamamahayag ay Palaganapin!”

As “a congress of children, run by children, for children,” the NCC will be facilitated by different children ambassadors of NGOs and partner-organizations like the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

In connection with the theme of Children’s Month, there will be question-and-answer session with media personalities. Workshops, games, presentations, and discussions on children’s rights and the role of children in Pantawid Pamilya will also be facilitated to encourage full participation of delegates.

Capping the event is the awarding ceremony for the winners of the National Search for Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children. This award is given to recognize the exemplary compliance of beneficiaries to program conditionalities. The winners are 10-14 year- old beneficiaries who have set excellent examples at home, in school, and in the community.

The Pantawid Pamilya is a human development program and social protection strategy of the national government that invests in the health and education of poor children, 0-14 years old. It is widely known as the Philippine conditional cash transfer program.

As of 10 October 2012, the program has 3,086,427 household beneficiaries nationwide.