Eighty-eight children beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program will participate in the 7th Pantawid Pamilya National Children’s Congress (NCC) on November 26-30, 2018 in the National Capital Region.
The assembly, which is part of DSWD’s celebration of the National Children’s Month, in partnership with the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), will carry the theme “Bata, Magkaisa Tungo sa Bayang Mapagkalinga”. It will tackle the importance of making the country a nurturing and safe place where Filipino children can live and fulfill their dreams. NCC will also educate participants on the rights, roles, and responsibilities of a child.
“Children are also drivers of development. Through the conduct of NCC, children beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilya are empowered to assert their right to voice their insights and experiences on what it takes to have a peaceful nation that can address their needs and protect them from different forms of abuse. As the lead agency that protects the rights and promotes the welfare of children, the Department works with other government agencies and policymakers toward achieving a ‘bayang mapagkalinga’ which Filipino children deserve,” DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista said.
NCC is a five-day gathering where provincial winners of the Search for Exemplary Pantawid Pamilya Children will discuss current issues that affect them and propose solutions to address them. This year, the congress will focus on Pantawid Pamilya children’s shared vision of a safe and nurturing society, how to achieve it through the help of the adults who surround them and the government that serves them, and how to influence other children to make this dream to fruition.
NCC uses the arts as development approach that employs singing, dancing, acting, visual arts, writing, and other activities that hone the participants’ creativity in expressing themselves, while instilling the value of leadership and volunteerism to help others and be part in the development of their own family and community. The children’s voices and hopes can be used as basis in reviewing the policies and procedures that can facilitate building a ‘bayang mapagkalinga’, through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
The presentation of NCC outputs will be held during the Araw ng Kabataan on December 1, 2018.