The House of Representatives’ Committee on the Welfare of Children, chaired by Party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez of Tingog party-list group, has started deliberation of the provision of children’s needs and their protection during the lockdowns imposed to control the spread of Coronavirus Disease-19.
In an online meeting, the panel tackled the efficiency of the implementation of Republic Act 10821 or the Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act in relation to the implementation of strict measures to contain Covid-19.
Romualdez said implementors of the government’s drive against the easily transmissible disease should always have in mind the needs and safety of children especially during the pandemic.
She said House members want to know if the said law is being obeyed in the rush to contain the spread of the virus, and if the needs and protection of children are being met during the COVID-19 crisis. She also asked stakeholders for their proposals and suggested amendments to RA 10821.
In a presentation, Clifford Cyril Riveral of the Social Welfare and Development admitted that the applicability of RA 10821 to other programs, specifically the emergency foster care guidelines, is not clear for the duration of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). He added that there exists a complexity in implementing the Comprehensive Emergency Program for Children (CEPC) on the issues concerning street children and homeless families, during ECQ.
Among DWSD’s recommendations on RA 10821 are the following: 1) activation of child protection desks in local government units to provide assistance during ECQ for the purpose of family tracing and reunification, psychosocial support, and reporting of child abuse cases; 2) stronger penalties for LGUs without a localized CEPC, and 3) prioritizing rescued children for health screening and testing prior to admission to residential care facilities.
Center for the Welfare of Children Undersecretary Mitch Cajayon recommended that concerns of children be included and considered in the formulation and implementation of future programs of the government in response to the “new normal” and the Balik Probinsiya Program.
PLAN International Philippines said that CEPCs are not mainstreamed and institutionalized in LGUs’ plans, which hinders successful implementation and leads to low prioritization and lack of resource allocation.
Camille Padis of PLAN likewise proposed amendments to RA 10821 to strengthen the role of the Department of Internal and Local Government in monitoring LGUs to ensure incorporation of CEPC programs aimed for the capacity building of families to support their children in the time of emergencies.