In line with the current administration’s war against illegal drugs, this year’s observance of the Children’s Month highlights the theme, “Bata: Iligtas sa Droga.”

As part of this celebration, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 02 (FO2)   lead the members of the Regional Council for the Welfare of Children (RCWC) in a team building activity for some children in Peňablanca, Cagayan.

 The advocacy activity kicked off with a motorcade at the FO2, Carig Sur and proceeded around Tuguegarao City. Joining the RCWC members during the said motorcade are the Indigenous Peoples (IP) children from Aguggadan, Parabba and Bugatay, Peňablanca. Facilitating the motorcade and the security of the participants were members of the Police Regional Office 02.

Children participants enjoyed the various fun games, prizes and gifts from RCWC.

Among the notable highlights of the celebration was the Dental Mission conducted by the Department of Health (DOH). Around 110 IP children benefited from the provision of oral health services by the DOH which includes lecture on proper oral hygiene, dental cleaning and application of fluoride. They also received dental kits.

“We are very grateful to our partner agencies, LGUs and Civil Society Organizations who were part of this yearly celebration. Today, we were able to bring smiles to our IP children in this part of Cagayan and impart to them our advocacy against illegal drugs,” said DSWD FO2 Officer-In-Charge Lucia S. Alan.

Meanwhile, during the said event, FO Focal Person on Children, Ms. Ramonita Malubag, granted a live phone-patched interview over DWPE Radyo ng Bayan providing updates on the activity as it happens.

Republic Act No. 10661 declares the month of November of every year as National Children’s Month (NCM).  This declaration commemorates the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by the United Nations General Assembly on       20 November 1989, and seeks to instil its significance in the Filipino consciousness.

The members of the RCWC who were part of the successful event are the following: Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Justice (DOJ), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Agriculture (DA), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), National Nutrition Council (NNC), Population Commission (POPCOM), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Green Meadow, Pugad Lawin, Rotary Rainbow Tuguegarao City, Police Regional Office 02, KBP-DZCV, Local Government Units of  Tuguegarao City, Cauayan City, Ilagan City, Santiago City, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Offices of Cagayan, Isabela,  Quirino, Nueva Vizcaya and  Batanes. ### By: Gela Flor R. Perez, Regional Information Officer II