POSITIVE PARENTING
The Council for the Welfare Children (CWC), which has been in the forefront in the fight for children’s rights in the local government units (LGUs) across the country, is pushing for the passage of a law promoting positive parenting in 2024.
The CWC said they are pushing for legislation promoting positive parenting as against imposing harsh discipline. The law, they said, would encourage and help parents in raising their children into becoming independent adults without necessarily imposing harsh discipline.
Meanwhile, it has vowed to work closely with other government agencies, particularly the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), to address online child sexual abuse and exploitation.
CWC reported 19,131 cases of violence against children and other child rights violations in 2022. Out of this number, 18,513 were violations involving child abuse, rape and acts of lasciviousness as provided under Republic Act 7610, also known as the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
It is also working with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as well as with the private sector to curb down the violence and sexual abuse against children.
Under the leadership of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the CWC is mandated to confer Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance annually to deserving LGUs through the Child-Friendly Local Governance audit.
In 2022, there was a 110 percent increase in the number of LGUs conferred with Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance — from 372 in 2021, it increased to 782 in 2022.
On October 21, 2023, the CWC also relaunched the Makabata Helpline with the landline 1383. It also entered an MOU with the Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS) for its MAKABATA TELERADYO, its first radio program in 49 years.
The MAKABATA TELERADYO started airing in Radyo Pilipinas 3 every Saturday between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 am, serving as a mouthpiece for the youth where they can air their concerns and grievances. The radio program can also be accessed via the official Facebook page of the CWC.