The Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division of Antique on Monday opened its Child Rights in Education Desk (CREDe) and child protection unit for learners to ensure that they are accorded their rights.
“Some teachers were also victims of harsh discipline while they were still a child so they thought that it’s okay for them to do so also,” Schools Division Superintendent Felisa Beriong said in her message during the launch.
Beriong said there is no excuse for the teacher or any adult in hurting the child even when there are no other people around looking at them for they tend to lose sense of worth.
She added a child has the right to education, health, participation, religion and to have his views heard.
He has also the right to rest, play, and protection against all forms of violence, abuse, neglect, and maltreatment, she said.
DepEd Antique School Governance and Operations chief Evelyn Remo, whose office will manage the CREDe and the child protection unit, said they will collaborate and create convergence with the other government agencies in terms of safeguarding the rights of the child.
“There will already be a specific office also that will take care of the program at the DepEd Division,” she said in her message.
The CREDe will formulate policies taking into consideration the best interest of the child.
DepEd proposes especially for the provincial government to establish “Duyan kang Paglaum” or Cradle of Hope in all municipalities in Antique to serve as shelter of children who are victims of any form of abuse, neglect, and exploitation as part of the function of the child protection unit.
It is also proposed that the DepEd and other government agencies have a one-stop shop in the schools in Antique to hold birth registration for their learners.
Various government agencies like the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police, and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office committed to assist DepEd realize the program.
DILG provincial director Cherryl Tacda said this proposal of the DepEd is “something attainable” by the local government units (LGUs) that now have the national cash allotment, formerly the Internal Revenue Allocation (IRA), under the first year of the Mandanas ruling.
With its implementation, LGUs have increased allocation in their financial resources, enabling them to fully implement the full devolution of powers from the national government to them as provided for in the Local Government Code.
Tacda even proposed a one child friendly corner not only with DepEd but also in other government agencies.
“Being child-friendly is a way of life and it goes beyond implementing policies even,”she added.
Source: Philippines News Agency
