The Affiliated Network for Social Accountability-East Asia Pacific Foundation, Inc. (ANSA-EAP) and Caritas Borongan Inc. (CBI) with the support from Save the Children Philippines (SCP) implemented the project “Strengthening the Participation of Children Groups and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the Local Government Units’ (LGUs) Climate Change Adaptation Mitigation-Disaster Risk Reduction (CCAM-DRR) Programming through Child-Centered Social Accountability (CCSA) in Borongan CIty, Eastern Samar” (also called “Kabataan Kabakyang” or “Together with Children”) covering four (4) barangays in Borongan City, namely, Lalawigan, San Jose, Maypangdan, and Santa Fe.
The Project, which was implemented within a two-year period, had three (3) result areas: a) children practice CCSA in promoting a child-responsive and gender-sensitive CCAM-DRR; b) local CSOs are empowered to support the children and consolidate constituencies in influencing the LGU’s CCAM-DRR programming; and c) the LGU localizes the Comprehensive Emergency Program for Children (CEPC) with a CCSA mechanism.
Using CCSA as an approach, children together with CSOs identified three children’s issues: high incidence of teenage pregnancy, numerous road accidents, and lack of child-friendly spaces in evacuation centers. The children gathered information from other children in their barangays, who validated the issues. With the help of CSOs, the details of these issues together with the recommendations were presented to key LGU officials and concerned public offices through an “interface dialogue”.
In addition, several activities were conducted such as a review of policies related to children as well as a series of meetings, consultations, and learning workshops to fully address the issues – all of which were done to promote children’s rights in Borongan City.
As a result, the LGU of Borongan City passed the “Children’s Welfare Code” to strengthen the implementation of children’s rights in the city. RA 10821, also known as the Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act, was localized through the approval of an ordinance entitled “Establishing A Comprehensive Emergency Program for Children in the City of Borongan and Providing Funds”. This policy protects the rights of children before, during, and after disasters.
All of these were realized through the active participation of children, CSOs, and the LGU partners within a two-year period – stakeholders who recognize the importance of constructive engagement to promote children’s welfare and rights.
