LUBAO, Pampanga—The local government unit here on Friday joined the national celebration of the Children’s Month with Mayor Esmeralda G. Pineda reporting about the state of the children in the town.

With the theme: “Kalusugan, Kaisipan at Kapakanan ng Bawat Bata Ating Tutukan”, the celebration centered on the child’s basic rights as enshrined in the Constitution.

Pineda, along with Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer Marilou delos Reyes and Interior and Local Government Operations Officer Irene Bacani, welcomed several children from various schools, parents and child development workers in the event.

In her state of the children address (Soca), Pineda underscored her administration’s thrust in protecting the children’s right to protection, participation, development and survival.

“Sa tuwing pupunta ako sa iba’t-ibang lugar, hindi ko po maiwasang lumapit sa mga batang nakikita ko. Ganyan po kalapit sa puso ko ang mga bata. Ito po ang dahilan kung bakit pinagbubuti natin ang ating mga serbisyo para sa mga bata,” the mayor said.

Pineda stressed that the municipal government did not only recognize the threats of the pandemic in the rights of children but was also taking steps to protect the young ones from these threats.

The pandemic’s threats did not only focus on the virus that causes Covid-19 but also on the social problems that arose along with the restrictions on the movements of people.

Reports have it that crimes against children, such as sexual and emotional abuses, have been on the rise since the start of the pandemic.

“Kinausap natin ang mga barangay officials na maging maingat sa paghawak sa mga kasong kinasasangkutan ng mga bata. Inatasan din natin ang kapulisan na doblehin ang pagbabantay sa kanila lalo na sa gitna ng mga pagbabagong dulot ng pandemya,” Pineda added.

The municipal government, thru its health and social services office have been providing vitamins and nutritious food to malnourished children even as the vitamin supplementation for pregnant women continues.

“Hindi pa rin natatapos ang pandemya kaya nakatutok pa rin ang ating pansin para protektahan ang buhay at kalusugan ng mga bata. Nagbibigay din tayo ng dental services sa mga bata sa mga Day Care at public schools,” she added.