KCFI Partners with CWC for National Children’s Month Celebration
As a way of honoring the National Children’s Month Celebration, Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc., (KCFI) together with the Council for Welfare of Children (CWC) organized the 2021 Policy and Program Forum on Early Childhood, last November 29, 2021, via Zoom and Facebook Live. This forum aims to discuss the different programs and policies for children ages 0-4 years old, primarily focusing on health, education, welfare, protection, and development.
The forum was attended by the representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), Early Childhood and Development Council (ECCD), and the Department of Family Life and Child Development of UP Diliman (UPFLCD).
In the opening speech of KCFI President Rina Lopez, she said how adequate Early Childhood Care can encourage economic progress to have peaceful and sustainable communities for children to grow and develop, and in eliminating poverty and inequality.
“That 22-year-old dream brought me here, the dream of the Philippines where children have access to quality education. And, the opportunity to develop [them] to the fullest. This dream may be ambitious but a possibility.” Lopez said.
The DSWD, represented by Ms. Miramel Laxa, Chief of the Sectoral Programs Division, highlighted their programs and services on survival and development, protection, and participation in ensuring that the welfare of the children are being monitored and supported. Meanwhile, the policies and programs for Key Stage 1 Learners were discussed by DepEd Usec. Diosdado San Antonio, for Curriculum and Instruction. He also said that DepEd ensures to uphold inclusive access to education for every Filipino child.
Ms. Margarita Antonio, representative of Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire, Undersecretary and Spokesperson of DOH, presented the Under 5 Health Programs and Policies. She elaborated on the situations of the children below 5 years old being susceptible to infectious diseases and malnutrition. Hence, the interventions and development programs of DOH for these situations to no longer persist in the future.
Then, ECCD Council Secretariat, Planning Officer, Ms. Nicole Reyes, also present on the forum, explained their works with the LGUs in health, nutrition, early education, and social services to learn and understand young children’s needs and development. The UPFLCD, represented by Asst. Professor Erickson Maclid also explained the coherent programs and initiatives of their department for childhood and family education.
Also present in the forum were the LGU’s of Mabalacat, Pampanga, and Cabatuan, Province of Iloilo who are two of the recognized cities by the ECCD for their outstanding response during the pandemic for Early Childhood and Development in their respective communities.
[Story by Fatima Mae Labe]
FILIPINO
Nagsama-sama ang iba’t ibang sangay ng mga pampubliko’t pribadong sektor ng bansa para sa 2021 Policy and Program Forum on Early Childhood upang talakayin ang mga programa at polisiya nito para sa mga kabataan mula sa edad 0-4. Katuwang ng Knowledge Channel Foundation, Inc., (KCFI) ang Council for Welfare of Children (CWC) upang bigyang pugay ang selebrasyon ng National Children’s Month. Ginanap ang forum noong ika-29 ng Nobyembre sa pamamagitan ng Zoom at Facebook Live.
Kabilang sa mga naging bahagi sa pagpupulong ang mga kinatawan at tagapagsalita mula sa Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), Early Childhood and Development Council (ECCD), at ang Department of Family Life and Child Development mula sa UP Diliman (UPFLCD).
Sa pambungad na mensahe ni KCFI President Rina Lopez, ipinaliwanag niya kung gaano kalaki ang naibibigay na kontribusyon ng Early Childhood Care para sa pagsulong ng ekonomikong kaunlaran sa pagkamit ng mapayapa at maayos na komunidad para sa kapakanan ng mga kabataan.
“Ang aking 22 taon na pangarap ang nagdala sa akin dito, ang aking pangarap para sa Pilipinas na kung saan ang mga bata ay nabibigyan ng oportunidad para sa kalidad na edukasyon. At, ang pagkakataong paunlarin [ang mga bata] ng lubusan. Ang pangarap na ito ay maaaring mapaghangad, ngunit hindi impossible),” aniya.
Ibinahagi ni Ms. Miramel Laxa, Chief of the Sectoral Programs Division ng DSWD ang mga programa at serbisyo ng kanilang kagawaran na layuning matutukan ang mga karapatan at mga pangangailangan ng mga bata. Tinalakay din ni Usec. Diosdado San Antonio, mula sa Curriculum and Instruction ng DepEd ang mga kasalukuyang programa gaya ng mga polisiya at programa para sa Key Stage 1 Learners. Naninindigan ang kagawaran ng Edukasyon na naibibigay ang pantay-pantay na edukasyon para sa bawat batang Pilipino.
Ang kinatawan naman ni Dr. Maria Rosario Vergeire, Undersecretary at tagapagsalita ng DOH ang nagpaliwanag sa mga Programa at Polisiya para sa mga batang nasa edad 5 pababa. Ayon kay Ms. Margarita Antonio, ang kagawaran ng kalusugan ay tinitiyak na masolusyonan ang malnutrisyon at iba pang isyu sa kalusugan ng mga kabataan.
Sinundan naman ito ng mga kinatawan mula sa ECCD Council Secretariat, si Ms. Nicole Reyes at si Asst. Professor Erickson Maclid ng UPFLCD. Isinalaysay nila ang kanilang mga pagsisikap at mga programa katuwang ang lokal na pamahalaan at ang sektor ng edukasyon.
Dumalo rin sa pagpupulong ang miyembro ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Mabalacat, Pampanga at Cabatuan, Lungsod ng Iloilo, dalawa sa mga kinikilalang lalawigan na maayos na isinasagawa ang iba’t ibang programa ng Early Childhood and Development Care sa kanilang komunidad.