Bontoc updates children’s code

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Officials recently approved an ordinance updating the town’s Comprehensive Child Support System.

Known as the Children’s Welfare and Protection Code, it covers the rights of the child to survival, development, protection and participation.

The Sangguniang Bayan highlighted the code seeks to address the needs of the children in the different barangays to recognize their rights to life and full development of their potential and to protect and promote the physical, mental, social, moral and spiritual well-being of the children.

Councilor Viola Okko who chairs the committee on women, children, family and civil society said the updating of the Municipal Children’s Welfare and Protection Code was made possible because of the collective efforts of the members of the municipal council and their harmonious alliance with the local chief executive.

The updated municipal children’s code is also considered as one of their best gift to the most vulnerable sector of the societythe children or the young.

Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey said the accomplishment of the municipal government is the product of shared efforts and collective bright ideas which benefit the municipality and the people.

Odsey underscored the children’s code aims to ensure the protection of children against all forms of abuse and exploitation; advocate for children's rights and promote their welfare and development; to ensure that children's rights are given priority attention both in government and civil society; and to improve the quality of life of children in the municipality enabling them to fully develop their potentials and participate in community life and nation building.

On the survival rights of children, the municipal government will ensure a 100 percent registration of births that occurred in Bontoc to guarantee the rights of a child to an identity and nationality and implement other programs that will benefit and protect the children.

The Municipal Children’s Code is believe to reduce the incidence of child abuse that upset the sovereignty to the promotion of social justice and human rights as stated in the United Nation Convention for the Rights of the Child.