Republic
of the Philippines
PROVINCE
OF PANGASINAN
Municipality
of Bayambang
Office
of the Mayor
STATE
OF THE CHILDREN’S REPORT
OF THE
MUNICIPALITY OF BAYAMBANG, PANGASINAN
YEAR 2020
INTRODUCTION
In
the Revolution against Poverty of the Municipality of Bayambang, children are
amongst the most important sectors as they are the ones who will inherit the results
of the current efforts of the Local Government Unit. However, aside from being
the most important, children are also considered one the most vulnerable as
they still need the support and guidance of the people around them. This has
led to countless and continuous efforts of the LGU to ensure that they get
proper nutrition and support from conception to birth to their education.
LGU-Bayambang
sees to it that Section II, par. a, b, and d of “The Children Code of the
Municipality of Bayambang, Province of Pangasinan,” which states that it is the
declared policy of the Municipality of Bayambang “to effectively promote, fully
enhance and institutionalize the survival, protection, development and
participation of children [and protect their rights] within the framework of
advancing in general the furtherance of integrated, sustainable and equitable development,”
is observed and adhered to. Various offices and agencies converge to safeguard
the safety and guarantee the right to proper health, nutrition, protection,
education, and leisure of young Bayambangueños (0-17 years old) especially
those under 7 years of age.
SURVIVAL
•
Immunization Program
The
Rural Health Units I, II, and III reported the following numbers of children
fully immunized with these vaccines in 2020: BCG (897), FIC (806), OPV3 (1,692),
MCVI (2,178), PENTA3 (1,598), and Hepa B1 (666). This is to strengthen and
increase their survival capacity in view of the increasing pressures of daily
life. Likewise, mothers of these children have been provided with supplementary
vitamins and needed vaccinations during prenatal check-ups to sustain their
capacity to take care of their children.
•
Measles, Rubella, Oral Polio Supplemental Immunization Program
The
RHU I and II have exceeded their target of 95% in the Measles, Rubella, and Oral
Polio Supplemental Immunization Program implemented from October 26 to November
25, 2020, with 11,518 children below 5 years of age vaccinated for measles and
rubella and 13,192 vaccinated for oral polio virus, thus attaining a 104.31%
and 102% vaccination rate, respectively.
•
Operation Timbang Plus OPT)
In
January to March 2020, during the monthly Operation Timbang, RHU I, II, and III
conducted barangay check-ups including laboratory exams and nutritional
assessment and provision of necessary medicines and multivitamins for 7,863
malnourished children.
Additionally,
during the first quarter, some 11,869 0-59 month-old children in 77 barangays
(based on the OPT data of 2020) were regularly monitored by Barangay Nutrition
Scholars and Barangay Health Workers for weight and height to determine their
nutritional status by getting their weight, length or height.
•
Vitamin A Supplementation
Vitamin
A supplementation is given every April and October. RHU I gave vitamin A
supplementation in April to 789 (104%) 1-4 year old and 6,031 (97%) 5-9 year
old children, and in October to 636 children (92%) 6-11 months old and 5,516
children (96%) 12-59 months old. RHU II and III gave vitamin A supplementation
in April to 569 (107%) children 6-11 months old, and 4370 (97%) children 12-59
months old. In October, vitamin A supplementation was given to 556 (104%)
children 6-11 months of age and 4,274 (95%) children 12-59 months of age. A
grand total of 10,982 children were covered.
•
Deworming and Iron Supplementation
In
designated months of the year, deworming and iron supplementation are conducted
for children of various ages. In August, RHU I dewormed 6,539 (102%) 1-4 year
olds, 2,236 (28%) 5-9 year olds, and 960 (6%) 10-19 year olds, with a total of
9,555 children 1 to 19 years of age. In January and July, RHU II and III dewormed
5,494 (January) and 6,676 (July) children 1 to 19 years old. A total of 21,725
children 1 to 19 years of age were dewormed.
In
RHU II and III, vitamin A supplementation was provided to 569 (107%) 6-11 month
olds and 4,370 (97%) 12-59 month olds in April and 556 (104%) 6-11 month olds
and 4,274 (95%) 12-59 month olds in October.
•
Fluoridization/Oral Health Education
We
believe that in the area of dental health, prevention is better than cure. On
August 3, the RHU I, II, and III started a series of activities including topical
fluoride application, toothbrushing drill, and oral health education for the
youth. The dentists of RHU and DOH went throughout the different barangays
under their catchment area to serve those who were ages 6 to 21. They also
conducted oral health education at the Pugo Evacuation Center.
•
Medical Mission
The
medical mission held in January 28-31, 2020 with the help of the Philippine
Medical Association in Chicago (PMAC) and other groups also had children as
beneficiaries, whether for general check-up, minor or major surgery, including
dental surgery and eye operations. Most notable were the 9 children with
strabismus and other eye abnormalities who were operated on for free, saving one
of their eyes from blindness.
•
Komprehensibong Serbisyo sa Bayan
The
same is true with Komprehensibong Serbisyo sa Bayan, the municipal government’s
outreach program in the outlying barangays. This particular program, which
includes a host of medical and non-medical services, has routinely served
children, including free circumcision for prepubescent boys, tooth-brushing
drill, feeding activity, and the usual general medical services, including
giveaways of toothbrush, toothpaste, vitamins, and medicine. This would have
continued smoothly if it were not for the restrictive conditions brought about
by the pandemic.
•
Mayor’s Action Center Services for Emergency Situations/Special Cases
The
Mayor’s Action Center has also extended help to children in emergency
situations, such as serious burn and medical conditions that require
hospitalization in Manila and even abroad.
•
Nutrition Office’s 90-Day Supplemental Feeding Program for Pregnant Women
To
prevent low birth weight and stunting among 2-year-old children, the Municipal
Nutrition Action Office together with the RHUs also held a 90-Day Supplemental
Feeding Program for Pregnant Women in 77 barangays from July 29-October 26,
2020, with 1281 beneficiaries wherein 92% of babies born by the pregnant beneficiaries
had normal birthweights during and after the course of the program. Feeding
supplies included eggs, fresh milk, rice, oil, iodized salt, monggo (mung
beans) and dilis (anchovies). This was funded by the National Nutrition Council,
while the LGU implemented and monitored the project.
• STAC Kids Receive Help Anew from Victory
Church
On
June 27, 2020, the Victory Christian Fellowship Church of Bayambang again
coordinated with the MSWDO to extend help to the members of Stimulation
Therapeutic Activity Center (STAC) of Bayambang. Victory Church distributed
food packs, fruits, and vitamins (sourced from the Nutrition Office) to 46
children with disability who were enrolled in STAC-Bayambang. The church group
was unable to give the usual set of activities due to the imposed restrictions
during the pandemic.
On
September 2, 2020, a birthday celebrant of the Victory Christian Fellowship of
Bayambang, celebrated her birthday by giving homemade banana loaves and yogurt
to 46 children with disability (CWD) enrolled in STAC-Bayambang. They were
assisted by MSWDO-STAC in the house-to-house distribution.
On
October 20, 2020, Ms. Yvonne Bautista celebrated her birthday by giving food
packs, hygiene kit and school supplies to 68 CWDs.
• NGOs Give Toys and Other Goodies to CWDs
On Christmas Day, local conducted a gift-giving activity for children with disability, including enrollees at the Stimulation Therapeutic Activity Center. It was a brainchild of the Bayambang Municipal Association of Non-Governmental Organizations Inc. (MANGOs) President Vilma Q. Dalope, which was supported by Reaction 166-Animal Kingdom Base Radio Communication Group Inc., Xtreme Riders Club Pangasinan Inc., and Bayambang Bayanihan Lions Club International. The CWDs received used toys and a fastfood treat.
• Nutrition Month 2020 Celebration
In July, the Nutrition Month 2020 was celebrated with the theme, “Batang Pinoy,
Sana Tall. Iwas Stunting, Sama All; Iwas All din sa COVID-19.” As part of the
celebration, the activities included a Buntis Forum, Nutri-Vlogging Contest,
and Vertical Pallet Garden Contest to heighten public awareness on stunting and
how to avoid it through proper nutrition.
•
LGU Distributes Donated Fresh Milk
On
August 28, 2020, LGU-Bayambang received fresh milk and white cheese donated by
General Francisco Bravo from the Bravo Dairy Cooperative in San Nicolas,
Pangasinan. Almost 600 tetrapaks of fresh milk and 70 cups of white cheese were
given to underweight and stunted day care pupils under the Bayambang Child
Development Workers and distributed by the MSWDO and the Nutrition Section
•
Relief Packs for PWD Children
On
April 22, as part of the LGU’s anti-COVID-19 response, the MSWDO distributed
relief packs to persons with disability (PWDs) in different barangays. The
beneficiaries included children who were listed as PWDs.
• Supplemental Feeding Program for Malnourished
Children
The
Nutrition Office launched DSWD’s Supplementary Feeding Program, to help 1,000
malnourished children be restored to health. 4,000 packs of ingredients for
nutritious meals were distributed to help ease the burden of deprived families
during the community quarantine.
• DSWD Supplemental Feeding Program in CDCs
Through
the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO), the LGU has provided
supplemental feeding to 2,902 preschool children enrolled at 73 Child
Development Centers (CDCs). Under MSWDO’s supervision, the Barangay Child
Development Workers (CDWs), together with the Barangay Council, Barangay
Nutrition Scholars, Barangay Health Workers and Day Care Parents Organization
worked hand in hand in distributing food packs from the DSWD.
•
Fresh Fruits for Quarantined Kids
The
Nutrition Office, with the help of MDRRMO, distributed fresh fruits for several
weeks for children who were kept in the Community Isolation Facility after they
were found to have contacted a COVID-19-positive patient.
The
RHUs also gave multivitamins to all children at the Pugo Community Quarantine
Facility (26 children) and San Gabriel 1st
Isolation Facility (40 children).
With
this supplementation, the children were provided with the vitamins and minerals
they needed in order to avoid nutritional deficiency and boost their immune
system while on quarantine.
•
Local Farmers’ Harvest as Relief Goods for Vulnerable Children under Monitoring
Relief
food packs were distributed in the 77 barangays for those considered by the
Nutrition Office as “vulnerable children.” Only nutritious relief goods were
distributed, and these were from the fruit and vegetable harvests of the local
farmers, with the help of the MAO using the fund of the MDRRM Council. The
local government bought such products for a double purpose: to provide
nutritious food to vulnerable population while providing extra income for the
farmers during lockdown and quarantine caused by the pandemic. Each food pack
reserved for a child contained freshly harvested pumpkin, eggplant, tomatoes,
horseradish, and melon or honeydew. It also contained a dozen of eggs.
·
Virtual Learning: Healthy
Young Ones
In
October 2020, RHU II and III conducted a virtual learning version of the health
educational series, “Healthy Young Ones,” which included topics such as HIV,
mental health awareness, and sexual orientation and gender identity expression
(SOGIE) for 14 to 19 year-old teens, to address the increasing rate of teenage
pregnancy, incidence of HIV infection, and depression during the pandemic. The
participants were teens enrolled in school as well as out-of-school youth,
together totaling 76 individuals.
DEVELOPMENT
•
Maintenance of Child Development Centers (CDCs)
Through
the MSWDO, the Municipality has maintained the 73 CDCs wherein preschool
children 3-4 years of age were enrolled. These 73 CDCs are operated by Child
Development Workers (CDWs) being trained jointly by the DSWD Field Office I,
Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and the Bayambang MSWDO. These
CDWs are being monitored and supervised by the MSWD Officer in line with the
effective implementation of the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD)
Program of the DSWD. Through the ECCD Program, the education, health and
nutrition status of the pre-schoolers enrolled at the different CDCs are being
monitored.
•
CDC and CDW Accreditation
73
of the CDCs and 17 CDWs were accredited by the DSWD on October 1-4, 2019, 17 of
which have complied totally with DSWD standards and were given accreditation
certificates. Those who did not attain 100% compliance were given the chance to
learn and enhance their knowledge in the proper maintenance of DCCs and in
meeting the objectives of the ECCD Programs.
The
modes of support by the LGU in the operation of the CDWs come in the form of
providing facilities like monobloc chairs and tables, repair of the CDCs and
incentives for CDWs in the form of quarterly cash incentive in addition to the
monthly honorarium provided through the barangay IRA, and clothing allowance
through the MSWDO’s regular budget being allocated for children’s welfare. In
the barangays, 1% of the budget goes to the Children’s Welfare Fund, which may
be spent on books or other items beneficial to them.
•
Maintenance of STAC
Another
program being maintained is the operation of the Stimulation and Therapeutic
Activity Center (STAC) where 46 children with disability are enrolled for
special education (SPED) and physical therapy (PT), specifically 24 in SPED and
22 in PT; 22 of STAC members are in school. Some of the programs being
implemented are hydrotherapy, social enhancement activities, provision of
assistive devices, etc.
• SEF Expenditure
Our
Special Education Fund (SEF) for 2020 is worth P5,000,000, and this amount
includes my salary for one year. So far, the expenditure has only reached up to
P943,354.42. The budget for SEF will be spent for our students’ educational
needs in the new normal such as printers and laptops (District I), and construction
materials for handwashing facilities (District II).
•
Free School Supplies for Public Schools
As
in the previous years, school supplies procured by the LGU from the P6M
Children’s Welfare Fund were distributed by the Local School Board, with the
help of the MDRRMO and General Services Office, to DCCs and all public elementary
schools in Bayambang: 71,152 notebooks, 14,353 pad papers, 7,816 pencils,
10,122 ballpens, 18,086 school bags, and 17,788 umbrellas. The distribution
started on July 19 and included all 50 public elementary schools in Bayambang
as recipients. This is a concrete proof of our belief that education remains
the real key to stamp out poverty in our municipality.
• Engineering Office Construction Projects
On
top of the aforementioned handwashing facilities, the Engineering Office had
construction projects that directly benefited the education sector: the Administration
Office Bldg. of the Bayambang National High School’s Senior High School
Department and the Ataynan Elementary School Access Road.
•
Distribution of Free Slippers at Macayocayo Elementary School
On
March 2, the Bayambang Poverty Reduction Action Team (BPRAT) distributed free
slippers at Macayocayo Elementary School. The slippers were proceeds from the
Padyak Laban sa Kahirapan bicycle fun ride held on August 28, 2019 by the BPRAT
in commemoration of the second anniversary of the Rebolusyon Laban sa
Kahirapan.
•
Honesty Store Project
Our
Honesty Store project continued to thrive in 10 selected elementary schools and
high schools to inculcate among our children the culture of honesty at a young
age in place of the culture of corruption. They would have been operational if
not for the closure of the schools in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
•
Community-Based Literacy Program
In
2020, due to the pandemic, we could not continue the Community-Based Literacy
Program which was aimed at helping local youth grappling with difficulty in
reading to enhance their skills, with the help of the Pangasinan State
University-Bayambang Campus and volunteer teachers from the Department of
Education. In this project, there were 11 students and 38 volunteer teachers
involved.
•
Community-Based Distant Learning Enhancement Program
However,
we launched a brand-new program and we went big with it. The BPRAT on October
26, 2020 launched at Inanlorenza Covered Court the Community-Based Distant
Learning Enhancement Program to provide extra assistance to Grades 7, 8, 9 and
10 students during the pandemic through face-to-face learning in a
well-ventilated venue such as covered court to ensure physical distancing.
I
believe that face-to-face learning is still the most effective modality of
teaching our children, not its online equivalent, thus this proposed
intervention, which was agreed upon by all the stakeholders: parents,
Department of Education (DepEd) (Bayambang National High School and Tanolong
National High School officials and teachers, Public Schools District
Superintendents), Pangasinan State University-Bayambang College of Education,
and barangay councils.
There
was an enhancement program in English, Math, and Science every Wednesday and
Friday using the educational video created by BPRAT based on the write-up of selected
content creators from DepEd and evaluators from Pangasinan State University-Bayambang
College of Education. The videos used were designed so that they were not a duplication
of learning materials from DepEd, and that they were localized and
contextualized to make it easier for the students to relate to the lessons.
Five
video editors and six teachers were hired as Job Order employees especially for
this purpose.
BPRAT
is scheduled to monitor the program to make sure it is an effective adjunct to learning
among local youth.
• Municipal Library Services; Subscription to
World Book Online
The
Municipal Library continues to cater to clients, many of whom are children.
There is even a reading area section at the ground floor specially reserved for
small kids.
With
our full support, the Bayambang Municipal Library became the first municipal library
in the Philippines to subscribe to World Book Online. Local teachers and
students, and even our LGU employees, now have free access to a wealth of
reference materials that cannot be easily accessed elsewhere.
• LGU Distributes Wifi Routers Donated by
Smart-PLDT to DepEd Bayambang I & II
On
July 9, Smart-PLDT Communications donated 50 portable wifi routers to selected schools
and Sangguniang Kabataan Councils, thanks to the initiative of Councilor Benjamin
Francisco de Vera, Sangguniang Kabataan Federation, and Local Youth Development
Office. The SK officials in turn offered the free wifi connection to students
for their online learning.
•
Books for the CDCs
On
November 20, the MSWDO, using funds from the Mayor's Office, distributed reference
materials, including children's story books, for all CDCs of Bayambang.
Although the new preferred mode of learning has been the modular route, the
books could still be used through video or virtual storytelling for our child
development learners.
On
top of this, the Kasama Kita sa Barangay Foundation Inc. (KKSBFI) donated
additional books, which, of course, is a major boost to this project.
• PESO Services for OFW’s Children
The
Public Employment Services Office has helped process the application for scholarship
assistance offered by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) or DOLE in
a joint agreement with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and
DepEd for a number of children of overseas Filipino workers who hail from Bayambang.
The
other forms of assistance from PESO have not been implemented this year due to
the pandemic: assistance in processing applications for DOLE’s Summer Program
for Employment of Students and tie-up with DepEd for on-the-job trainings for
students.
• Smart Classrooms in PSU
KKSBFI
also donated 6 smart TVs to PSU-Bayambang Campus in order to come up with 6 smart
classrooms in PSU Bayambang. Smart TVs make learning more interactive and thus
engaging.
• Other Forms of Educational Assistance
My
office has donated 4 Risograph machines and 13,000 reams of newsprint paper for
use in printing modules.
• Modern Mini-Amusement Park
A
concrete proof of the municipality’s warm regard for its youngest members is
the Mini-Amusement Park at the Public Plaza consisting of a train ride,
mini-Ferris wheel, carousel, and modern playground with the usual set of
amenities. Opened in December 2017, these fun rides became operational since
then, initially for free, then later on with the major rides being availed of
for a fee of P30, but only in order to make the operations self-sufficient.
Unfortunately,
the Mini-Amusement Park had to stop operations since the outbreak of the
pandemic in March 2020.
PROTECTION
• PNP VAWC Desk
As
mandated by law, the Bayambang Municipal Police Station maintains an official
Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) Desk, and every barangay also has a
designated officer to man the VAWC desk.
• PNP Campus Desk
For
the security of our students, we designated a PNP desk located near the gate of
PSU-Bayambang.
POSO
personnel are also assigned at Bonifacio St. and Magsaysay Ave. where many
students cross the streets coming from their school and on their way home.
• Virtual
NSED 2020
On
September 10 and November 27, Bayambang MDRRMO facilitated the conduct of a
Virtual Tabletop Exercise as part of Bayambang’s participation in the 3rd and 4th
Quarter Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill 2020 in place of the actual
drill due to the quarantine restrictions.
• LCPC
We
have an active Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) which helps
us in policy-making and monitoring, thus giving our overall plans for our youth
a clear direction, with participation from the private sector, as well as a
body that will assure that the projects lined up are being implemented.
• LCR
Services
As
legal protection of sorts, the Municipal Civil Registry routinely processes the
birth certificates of newborn children for timely registration and works on
late registrations as well, so children of all ages will grow up having a legal
identity that will serve them for various purposes throughout their lives till
adulthood.
• Legislations for Children
The
enactment by the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) of this Municipality of “The Children
Code of the Municipality of Bayambang, Province of Pangasinan,” ratified in
November 2015, constituted a breakthrough legislation for the children of
Bayambang.
On
top of this are the following resolutions and ordinances passed by the SB of
Bayambang since 2015:
Resolution
No. 217, Series of 2015: “Resolution Establishing the Municipal Birthing
Facility and Officially Naming It as RHU I And RHU II Birthing Facility of the
Municipality of Bayambang, Province Of Pangasinan and Defining Its General
Functions, Operations and Administration”
Resolution
No. 218, Series of 2015: “Resolution Supporting the Establishment and Operation
of the Birthing Home of the Local Government of Bayambang and Authorizing the
Hon. Mayor Ricardo M. Camacho to Enter for and in Behalf of the Local
Government Unit (LGU) of Bayambang, into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), with the
Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHILHEALTH) Hospital and Partner
Health Specialist such as an Obstetrician and a Pediatrician, on the Delivery of
Health Services for and in the Municipality of Bayambang”
Resolution
No. 169, Series of 2017; “Authorizing the Municipal Mayor to Enter into a
Memorandum of Agreement Between the Local Government Unit of Bayambang and
Selected Barangays of the Municipality of Bayambang for the Program of the
Municipality for the Provision of Sixty-Two (62) Weighing Scales Intended for the
Nutrition Program of the Municipality”
Resolution
No. 200, Series of 2017: “Resolution Promoting Advocacy to Breastfeeding to
Protect and Defend the Health of Infants and Children”
Resolution
No. 251, Series of 2017: “Authorizing the Municipal Mayor to Sign a Contract of
Lease with Interested and Qualified Parties for the Setting Up of a Headquarter
for Women and Children/LGU Bayambang Center for Women and Children”
Resolution
No. 253, Series of 2017: “Resolution Promoting Advocacy to Breastfeeding and
Breastfeeding Support Group to Protect and Defend the Health of Infants and
Children”
Resolution
No. 318, Series of 2017: “Authorizing the Local Government Unit of Bayambang
Represented by Dr. Cezar T. Quiambao, Municipal Mayor, to Enter into a
Memorandum of Agreement with Early Childhood Care and Development (EECD)
Council Represented by Dr. Teresita G. Inciong, Vice-Chairperson and Executive
Director, for the Establishment of a National Child Development Center (NCDC) in
the Municipality”
Resolution
No. 378, Series of 2017: “Requesting the Department of Public Works and
Highways (DPWH) to Authorize the Designation and Utilization of a Portion of
Wawa Evacuation Center as Half-Way Home (Silungan Center) for Mentally-Ill
Patients, Homeless, Abandoned Persons, Abused Women and Children and the Like
Who are Rescued by MSWDO of the Municipality of Bayambang; and a Portion of San
Gabriel 1st Evacuation Center as Drug Rehabilitation Center for the
Municipality of Bayambang”
Resolution
No. 108, Series of 2019: “Resolution Adopting the Comprehensive Juvenile
Intervention Program for Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) Children at
Risk (CAR) in the Municipality of Bayambang, Pangasinan”
Resolution
No. 283, Series of 2019: “Accrediting the Federation of Day Care Workers and
Service Provider in the Philippines, Inc., for purposes of seeking
representation in the Local Special Bodies of the Municipal Government of
Bayambang”
Resolution
No. 384, Series of 2019: “Resolution Adopting the Republic Act No. 11148,
“Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act” in the Municipality of Bayambang,
Pangasinan”
Resolution
No. 610, Series of 2020: “Resolution Adopting the Special Protection of
Children in Situations of Armed Conflict Act (R.A. 11188) in the Municipality
of Bayambang”
Resolution
No. 614, Series of 2020: “Resolution Adopting the Children’s Emergency Relief
and Protection Act (RA 10821) in the Municipality of Bayambang”
Resolution
No. 615, Series of 2020: “Resolution Adopting Children’s Safety on Motorcycles
Act of 2015 (RA 10666) in the Municipality of Bayambang”
Resolution
No. 617, Series of 2020: “Resolution Adopting the Special Protection of
Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act (RA 9231) in
the Municipality of Bayambang”
Municipal
Ordinance No. 2, Series of 2020: “An Ordinance Establishing a Comprehensive
Nutrition Program to Address Malnutrition and Sustained Programs for Nutrition
for the Municipality of Bayambang, Pangasinan and Appropriating Funds Thereof”
Municipal
Ordinance No. 12, Series of 2020: “Ordinance Enacting the Comprehensive
Children’s Welfare Code of the Municipality of Bayambang, Pangasinan”
These
pieces of legislation are an institutionalization, or a concrete manifestation,
of the level of commitment of this LGU to protect and pursue the best interests
of Bayambangueño children.
PARTICIPATION
Among
the major activities in which these children participated in in 2020 were the following:
• Bayambang Children’s Association
The
Bayambang Children’s Association established by the Department of the Interior
and Local Government in 2019, in coordination with the MSWDO, would have been
very active in 2020 if it were not for the pandemic because a lineup of
activities had been prepared with them by the MSWDO.
• Children’s Month 2020 Celebration
The
Children’s Month celebration was held on November 27 and the traditional
competitions shifted online, featuring a TikTok family dance contest to replace
the group dance competition, a singing competition, and Show-and-Tell, thus
further providing life-enriching opportunities for the kids.
The
annual State of the Children’s Address 2020 was delivered, after the children
asked questions about the administration’s projects and plans for their
well-being.
Part
of the celebration was a tree-planting activity at Brgy. Manambong Sur,
participated in by Alternative Learning System (ALS) students in coordination
with the Local Youth Development Office, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction
Management Office (MDRRMO), Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President, ALS
Coordinator, and Manambong Sur barangay officials.
• Gulayan sa Paaralan
The
LGU has contributed to the Gulayan sa Paaralan vegetable gardening project of
the DepEd in elementary and high school and in Day Care Centers through various
assistance from the Nutrition Office, MDRRMO, Agriculture Office, and Solid
Waste Management Office through funding, provision of seeds/seedlings, and
fertilizers.
• Linggo ng Kabataan 2020
In
August, the Local Youth Development Office (LYDO), together with the
Sangguniang Kabataan Federation and BPRAT, held the Linggo ng Kabataan 2020
celebration through a cleanup drive in every barangay and poster-making and
spoken poetry contests. With the theme, "Youth Engagement for Global
Action,” the spirit of volunteerism in the youth sector was ignited and budding
talents were affirmed.
• SK Volunteerism Ignited during the Pandemic
At
the height of the community lockdowns due to the pandemic in April, the SK
officers launched a commendable community feeding drive and distribution of
face masks around the town and in their own barangays.
• BPRAT’s Painting Contest
BPRAT’s
Search for the Best Balon Bayambang Painter in August with the theme “Bayambang
– Where the Best Things Happen” also invited children 15 years of age and
older. In this contest, the top 10 winners were commissioned to paint a
portrait for the Municipal Annex Building.
• Tourism Office’s Bayambang’s Oldest Photo
Contest
In
September, the Tourism Office also invited the local youth in the staging of
Bayambang’s Oldest Photo Contest as part of the Tourism Week 2020 celebration,
making the youth more aware of the town’s history and culture.
• Museum Office’s Bayambang’s Oldest Document
Contest
In
October, the Museum Office likewise invited the local youth to join the search
for Bayambang’s Oldest Document Contest as part of the Museum Month 2020
celebration, thus heightening the youth’s awareness of the richness of the
town’s history and culture.
• Tourism Office’s Poetry-Writing Contest
In
November, the Municipal Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office invited the youth
who were at least 15 years old to join the Poetry-Writing Contest for the
celebration of SingKapital 2020 in commemoration of the declaration of General
Emilio Aguinaldo of Bayambang town as the fifth capital of the First Philippine
Republic. This activity instilled in the young participants the importance of
commemorating local history while pushing them to hone their literary skills.
•
Library Information Services
Month/National Book Week
A
Library Logo contest organized by the Municipal Librarian was held on November 9-13
and invited children 15 years of age and older to be among the participants,
thus urging them to explore their creativity in graphic design.
• Musical Play
Through
the Bayambang Council for Culture and the Arts, KKSBFI funded the planned staging
of the musical play “Beauty and the Beast” by tapping talented local youth. The
Foundation also upgraded the sound and lighting system of the Balon Bayambang
Events Center for this purpose for P29M.
• Giant Christmas Tree and Giant Lantern
In
place of the annual Paskuhan sa Bayambang giant animated Christmas display,
which did not push through because it would surely result in the usual crowding
in the Municipal Plaza, we came up instead with other alternatives so the
children would not be disappointed: a giant (40-feet) Christmas tree at the
corner fronting the plaza, together with a belen and Christmas lights, and a
giant parol (Pampanga lantern) at the St. Vincent Ferrer Prayer Park – all
donated by the KKSBFI.
• Pamaskong Handog 2020
The
traditional annual Pamaskong Handog show on the last week of December pushed
through despite the pandemic, while of course observing health protocols. Now
on its 19th year, it featured music, magicians, the most popular cartoon
characters, and giveaways, making Christmastime truly memorable for the little
ones, especially for the Day Care and STAC pupils.
•
Millennial Farmers’ Association of Bayambang
Because
we are an agricultural town, it is important that our youth take up interest in
farming as livelihood in order to help secure food sustainability in the long
term. The Millennial Farmers’ Association of Bayambang has been established for
this purpose, and although the pandemic has been a setback for this youth
group, they could have started on a significant farming project because the
current president of the group has volunteered his modest-sized farmland in
Brgy. Hermoza in support of this project.
FUTURE PLANS FOR CHILDREN
This
LGU has been mandated by national and local laws to institute measures for the
protection and welfare of children. It is committed to initiate some more
measures and initiatives to enhance their protection.
In
the works is a big Water and Amusement Park in Brgy. Bani.
Also
being finalized is an update of our Children Code, the "Ordinance Enacting
the Comprehensive Children’s Welfare Code of the Municipality of Bayambang
Pangasinan (s. 2019).”
Realizing
that the Bayambangueño children comprise the next set of the new and young
generation, all possible efforts shall be relentlessly undertaken to carry out such
mandate. This would be easily possible because the LGU is in constant
partnership with private, non-government organizations and government
organizations in pursuance of such endeavor.
Prepared
and submitted by:
DR. CEZAR T. QUIAMBAO
Municipal
Mayor
