The National Council for Social Development (NCSD) conducted a Forum at its Mid-Year Assembly last July 26, 2017 at Bayview Park Hotel, Manila. It aimed for members to learn from each other, discuss concerns and create synergies necessary to upgrade the network’s perspectives and collective action in protecting children and engaging them to heighten their ability to respond to challenges.

Speakers from non-government organizations were invited to share the latest data on children’s issues. Mr. Benedict Balderrama, National Coordinator of the Partnership of Philippine Support Services Agencies, shared data on the situation of children in armed conflict in Mindanao. Mr.  Geomel Jetonso, Education Technical Programme Manager of World Vision Development Foundation, Inc., discussed about the situation of Children in disasters. Ms. Rowena Legaspi, Executive Director of Children’s Legal Rights and Development Center (CLRDC), talked about the situation of children amidst “War Against drugs”. Mr. Eule Rico Bonganay, Secretary General of Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concern, provided an opportunity for Mr. Ramel M. Miguel, a teacher of Salugpongan Ta Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning in Davao del Sur, to share their school’s experiences on militarization.  A testimony was also given by a student of the school.

Speakers from the government were also invited to respond and share mechanisms being done by their respective organizations on the situation of children.  Ms. Ma. Victoria Diaz, Development Management Officer from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), presented the mandate, initiatives and efforts of the commission in protecting children’s rights and human rights. Ms. Ruth Marayag, Planning Officer of the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) and Ms. Aiza Cabrera, presented the agency’s monitoring, reporting and response system (MRRS) on the grave child rights violations (GCRVs) in situations of armed conflict. Ms. Lovelita Daumar, Local Government Operation Officer V from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) emphasized to reactivate the local consortium which is composed of organizations working for the protection of children.

To sum-up the presentations, below are the issues identified:

• Displacement due to disasters;
• Displacement due to the Marawi crisis (some 257,000 children affected);
• Disruption of children’s regular activities (e.g., going to school, staying in the safety of their homes, etc.);
• Problems in evacuation centers;
• Psychosocial effects (trauma, anger, insecurity);
• Lack of social services (education, health);
• Protection issues/needs of girl children in evacuation areas;
• Children victims of extra-judicial killings or EJK (some 40 children have been killed since July 2016); and
• Other children lost their loved ones to EJK harassment by the military in some Lumad areas.

Challenges to NCSD and Partner Organizations

• CWC and NCSD: Stronger partnerships; capacity-building of members;
• DILG and NCSD: Can collaborate at the local level; coordination between the barangay and the Church (civil society and faith-based organizations);
• CHR and NCSD: Can collaborate on the development of a report on the compliance of government on the implementation of the Child Rights Center or CRC (CSO partners will be engaged); capacity-building for local partners in monitoring violations of child rights; research opportunities; Roadshow:  Kabataan, Karapatan Caravan; advocacy on the reimposition of the death penalty; lowering of the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility (MACR). 

There is a call to maximize NCSD’s efforts and consolidate actions in the network in order to have a unified response to the situations of children in armed conflict, war against drugs, and disasters, in partnership with government agencies and institutions.

Marian Opeña is the Executive Director of NCSD.