Dagupan receives Seal of Child Friendly Local Governance Award

DAGUPAN CITY – This city was conferred anew the Seal of Child Friendly Local Governance Award by the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC).  

Dagupan City Mayor Belen Fernandez with children. "Kids are my
friends," she posted at social media.

The award was received by Mayor Belen T. Fernandez from Victoria Jean P. Dawis, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Cluster Leader in Pangasinan in a ceremony on January 28 at the City Museum.

Dagupan was awarded for its commitment in promoting child rights to survival, development, protection and participation towards a Child-Friendly Philippines first in 2014 when Mar Roxas was still the DILG Secretary.

The 2015 Seal of Child Friendly Local Governance Award was signed by Department of Social; Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, chairperson, CWC;  and  Interior and Local Government Secretary Mel Senen  Sarmiento.

The city was recently assessed for its child-friendly practices by the CWC National Award Committee Validation team as the city is a national contender again for the prestigious 2015 Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Cities under the independent component city category. The awarding for the winners is set on April 5 in Manila.

Dagupan was recognized twice by the Regional Committee as the Most Child-Friendly City in Region 1.

“Dagupan wants to be known as a child friendly city, but we don’t just want the tag or title. We want this etched in the hearts of all our people because this is the right thing to do,” said Mayor Fernandez, after receiving the award.

Joining Fernandez in receiving the award were city councilors Jose Netu Tamayo and Marcelino Fernandez; Schools Division Superintendent Froserfina J. Bravo and Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Lourdes Servito; DILG City Director Rhoderick Dawis; and Punong Barangays Helen Fermill, Joseph Maramba and Delfin de Guzman. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO)