For four years now, Cotabato’s Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) got the highest ranking based on the assessment conducted by the Regional Inter-Agency Monitoring Task Force (RIMTF) early this year.
RIMTF was tasked to assess the Functionality of the Provincial Council for the Protection of Children based on various indicators such as policies and programs implemented, activities and other efforts of the provincial government to ensure the survival, protection, and developmentof our children. In a letter, Department of Interior and Local Government Regional Director Josephine Cabrido-Leysa congratulated the provincial government of Cotabato after result of the evaluation showed that the province has been adjudged with top percentage or Ideal Level.
LCPC is the core local institution for child-related programs established to sustain national efforts in the localization of the National Strategic Framework for Plan Development for Children. It facilitates and implements children’s programs in the localities. In Cotabato Province, LCPC has been organized at all levels – provincial, city, municipal, and barangay and serves as umbrella organization for children’s concerns.
Among the child and youth programs implemented in the province are summer camping activities for elementary (Summer Kids Peace Camp) and youth leaders (Cotabato Young Leaders Congress) to forge camaraderie among them, develop their leadership potentials and improve their survival skills.
Cotabato Province also has an upgraded crisis intervention center (Home for Women and Chidren), or temporary shelter for women and children who are victims of abuse where rehabilitation activities are conducted. A temporary shelter for Children in Conflict with the Law or minor offenders is also on its way as its construction is set to be completed this year.
Meanwhile, twelve (12) LCPC from the province was also ranked with Ideal Level of Functionality namely: Tulunan, Arakan, Alamada, Midsayap, Mlang, Kidapawan City, Matalam, Kabacan, Pikit, Pigcawayan, Magpet and Makilala. A cash incentive of P20,000was given to the said LGUs by the provincial government.//lqg/
