Quisumbing delivers state of the children address
At least 1,200 students attended the State of the Children's Address of Mandaue City Mayor Luigi Quisumbing, delivered at the city's Cultural and Sports Complex yesterday morning.
This is the first children's address of Mayor Luigi Quisumbing in line with the celebration of National Children's Month this November.
Around 400 pupils from various day care centers and another 800 students from Mandaue City Comprehensive School heard the mayor's speech.
Quisumbing said that the city government will continue to improve their lives in terms of welfare, health, nutrition, as well as their education.
“Children are our legacy and our greatest assets. They own the future that we keep talking about and always aim to improve,” Quisumbing said in his speech.
Quisumbing said in his speech that the percentage of underweight children aged 0-71 months has dropped to 1.79 percent this year, from 1.94 percent in 2016.
“This means that mothers and unborn children are healthy and given proper care before and during childbirth,” he said.
He also added that the city's infant mortality rate is at four deaths per 1,000 live births from January to June this year.
Quisumbing said the figure is lower than the country's rate of 16.1 deaths per live birth.
As for the Under-5 Mortality Rate, the city has a record of three deaths per 1,000 live births, a low record compared to the country's 21.8 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Quisumbing said the positive progress stemmed from the efforts of the City Health Department which has continued to implement national and local programs for children and infants.
He also emphasized that the city has instituted a Child Welfare Code for the protection of the youth and children, following the discovery of an abandoned male newborn infant in Barangay Tipolo last October 31.
“The baby is now in the custody of DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development). Our Social Welfare, in coordination with other agencies is currently investigating the incident,” he said, and also expressing his thanks to the barangay tanod for their quick response.
The mayor said he hopes that the child will be brought back to his parents and that this will not happen in the future.
He also said in his speech that most of the students of the city are excelling in regional, national, and international competitions in curricular and co-curricular activities.
“I congratulate all our awardees and their coaches for bringing honor to our humble city,” he said.