Sorsogon City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office V joins the National Children’s Month Celebration with the theme “Bata: Iligtas sa Droga” which upholds the rights and protection of children from different forms of violence and exploitation including illegal drugs.

The kick-off activity, held on November 8 at Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth in Sorsogon City highlighted the call for the establishment of “Bahay Pag-Asa” to the local government units in their respective areas.

“The Bahay Pag- Asa is a 24-hour child-caring institution that offers short term residential care for children in conflict with the law (CICL), “explained Lyndra Villareal, Social Welfare Officer III and head of the RRCY.

According to her, the establishment of Bahay Pag-Asa is consistent to Republic Act (RA) 10630 or an “Act Strengthening Justice System in the Philippines” which states that each province and highly-urbanized city shall be responsible for building, funding and operating a Bahay Pag-Asa following the standards set by DSWD and Juvenile Justice and Welfare Council (JJWC).

Part of the program was the distribution of shoes to the 62 children in the center, which was donated by Children International Bicol Incorporated (CIBI) , an orientation of RRCY’s programs and services and a special number from the RRCY Band.

Joining the kick-off celebration were Children International Bicol Incorporated (CIBI), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Coast Guard, Napolcom, National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), National Commission for Indigenous People (NCIP), Department of Justice (DOJ), Sister of Mary, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Offices of Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Camarines Norte and the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) of Iriga.

Other activities that are lined-up for the month-long celebration include the Regional Interagency Committee (RIAC) and Regional Juvenile Justice and Welfare Committee (RJJWC) Video Contest, Walk for a Child Friendly Environment and Regional Children and Adolescent Health and Development Congress spearheaded by the Department of Health (DOH).

A Fun Walk and Zumba will form part of the culminating activity to be held on November 28 at Puro, Legazpi City in partnership with the Regional Juvenile Justice And Welfare Committee Bicol (RJJWC) which also celebrating its 6^th Juvenile Justice and Welfare Week Celebration with the theme “ Mapagkalingang Hustisya Ugaliin at Pagtibayin”.

Republic Act No. 10661 declares every November as the National Children‟s Month (NCM)

which commemorates the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child by the United Nations General Assembly.

This year’s theme was aligned with the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs.