The recently concluded 2023 Provincial Children’s Congress in Palawan, organized by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), achieved another milestone in promoting the welfare of the province’s youth.
Held at the Ala Amid Bed and Breakfast in Puerto Princesa on November 21, the congress saw the active participation of twenty-eight (28) youth representatives from Municipal Councils for the Protection of Children (MCPC), Children Sectoral Organizations, Bahay Pag-asa Youth Center (BPYC), and Lualhati Women Center (LWC).
Aside from fostering unity among youth leaders, the congress served as a platform for crucial discussions. An orientation on the “Mahalin at Kalingain ang ating mga Bata” or MAKABATA Helpline 1383, led by Regional Sub-Committee for the Welfare of Children (RSCWC) Coordinator Erica V. Bautista, equipped participants with a means to report various forms of abuse and exploitation.
Moreover, Education Program Specialist Grace Estefano of DepEd Palawan enlightened the youth about DepEd Child Protection Policies and relevant laws safeguarding their rights.
PSWD Officer Abigail D. Ablaña encouraged participants to share their knowledge with peers, emphasizing collective awareness.
The event also featured elections appointing key figures such as Myka Angela Fronda as the Provincial Council for the Protection of Children (PCPC) Child Representative and Azlinawati Enting as the Sectoral Child Representative, both from Rizal, Palawan.
Aligned with RA 10661, or the “National Children’s Month Act,” this congress was under the component of the Universal Children’s Month celebration.