STATE OF THE CHILDREN ADDRESS

NOVEMBER 29, 2017, WEDNESDAY, 9:00 A.M.

CULTURAL CENTER OF SINDANGAN,
Disud, Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte

(acknowledgment of participants)

(APPROPRIATE GREETINGS)

Sugdan nako ang kaning akoang ika-walo nga State of the Children Address
sa paghinumdum sa usa ka panghitabo atong mga niaging adlaw. Dakong kasubo
natong tanan sa dihang nakahibalo ta nga naay usa ka bata nga gilugos ug gipatay sa
ngalan nga si Mel Shane Autor.

Mura ug nahugno ang atuang kalibutan pagkahibalo sa brutal nga insidente sa

katorse anyos nga bata. Kita tanan nagpangita ug hustisya, kay ang usa ka bata nga
naa pay dakong kaugmaon, kalit lamang naputol ang kinabuhing puno unta ug
pangandoy.

Pero ang panghitabo usa pod ka pahinumdum sa atua unsa ka vulnerable ang
mga kabataan karon. Ang nahitabo sa iyaha, usa pod ka pagpahinumdum sa atua nga
dako kaayo ang atuang responsibilidad sa proteksyon ug saktong pagpatubo sa
atuang kabataan sa tul-id nga dalan. It is grim reminder that we have the moral
responsibility to address the root cause of this problem.

Gani, agi sa panghitabo, himoon nuon nato kani nga mas madasigon pa kita
sa atuang paghimo ug mga interventions and programs to prevent something like
this from happening again. Unta wala nay Mel Shane Autor sa mga mosunod nga
mga tuig kay atuang paningkamotan nga sakto ang atuang mga lakang gibuhat
ngadto sa atuang mga kabataan. Ako usa sa inyoha sa pagpangita ug hustisya.

Ang atuang Tema karong State of the Union Address kay Bata: Iligtas sa
Droga.
 Sayon litokon nga anaa kitay problema sa droga. Sayon storyahon nga ang
atuang kabataan karon kay exposed na kaayo sa mga butang nga makapadaut sa
ilahang lawas ug utok. However, it is hard to say that we can easily solve this
problem. Sometimes, the existence of the problem would also indicate the bigger
problems. If we have to address the root cause, we must take a holistic approach.

Una nato masulbad ang problema, kinahanglang atoang dawaton nga kaning
problema sa droga dako nga problema dili lamang diri sa atuang munisipyo kundili
sa atuang tibuok nasod. Gani, kani ang hinungdan nganong atuang palanggang
Presidente ni deklara ug all out war against drugs. Sa iyahang termino, na-expose
unsa kadako ang problema sa droga.

Today, the problem of substance use/abuse remains as one of the major

problems in the Philippines. Bisan pa ug unsa ka dagko ang penalty nga gibutang sa
balaod, nagpabilin nga daghan ang nagagamit aning illegal nga droga. Ang nakapait
pa niani kay nagka bata ug nagka bata ang mga nag gamit. Sa usa ka gihimo nga
study, drug use or abuse has been known to start in children at the tender age of 8
and 9.

Usa sa mga sektor aning populasyon nga vulnerable kaayo sa drugs kay
kaning atuang gitawag ug mga street children. Kaning mga lagoy o naglaroy-laroy
sa atuang mga kalsada. Kaning mga kabataan nga murag makita nato nga walay
tumong ang kinabuhi.

But the picture of street children also conveys to us a bigger and sadder
picture. Substance abuse is directly associated with poverty. The bigger problem to
address is poverty, substance abuse is secondary.

Sa usa ka survey nga gibuhat, ang porsiyento sa mga street children nga
nagagamit sa drugs and substance abuse was estimated to be around 60 to 100
percent. Kay sa Pilipinas, naa may tay halos 1.5 million street children, thus, half of
them, or around 750,000 of street children are believed to have at one time or
another, nag singhot ug rugby o lain nga aromatic solvents. Bisan pa ug atuang
ibutang sa diyes porsiyento anang populasyon sa kabataan nag-gamit ug drugs, the
number would still be an alarming 150,000 children on drugs.

Dugang pa ani, ang mga kabataan nga na-engaged in drug trade suffer from
dangers and risks beyond the physical, psychological and mental disorders prevalent
among drug-addicted children. Children in the drug trade are exposed to the world
of illegal activities and criminality. Mabutang sila sa sitwasyon kung asa naay away
ug mahibutang sila sa sitwasyon nga ma harass ug ma- exploit ang ilahang kahuyang
ug kabatan-on.

Dayon kung makasugod na gani aning illegal nga droga, sunod-sunod na ang
problema. Drug abuse leads to many problems such as:

Those individuals who become addicted can become obsessed with their
habit. This means that everything else in their life will take second place.
Unahon sa nila ang droga kaysa sa mga basic needs.

The individuals behavior will change. They may become physically violent
or engage in other types of bad behavior. Gani, sige natong makita ug mabasa
sa balita ang violence associated with drug addicts.

Another thing, those who abuse these drugs can struggle to keep down a
job. They may become unemployable. Mag-lisud na sa pagpang empleyo.

Young people who use these substances will be unable to perform well in
school or college. This means that they will be limiting their future
opportunities. Imbes nga madaghan unta ang atuang mga doctor, engineer, ug
abogado, mahimo na hinuon nga drop-out. Daghan na ra ba unta ta ug mga
top notchers sa teachers, nurses and physicians board exams.

When drug users run out of money to feed their habit they will be tempted to
turn to crime. This may mean stealing from family and friends or from
 complete strangers. Kay magpangita man sila, mangita na pod sila ug pamaagi
nga makakita ug kwarta para sa ilahang bisyo.

Many addicts fall into a life of crime and eventually end up in prison or worse.

Lastly, If the drug addict is unable to escape this behavior it is highly likely
to lead to their death. This individual will shorten their lifespan as a result of
their behavior.

The cost of drug addiction is high for the Philippines and it involves:

A great deal of domestic violence is associated with drug abuse. Daghan ang
mga panahon nga ang pag-abuso naay kalambigitan ang drugs.

A huge proportion of criminal acts are committed by individuals who are

trying to satisfy their drug habit.

The economy suffers because drug users become less productive in their
jobs or they become unable to work completely.

The government needs to spend large amounts of money on tackling drug

problems. The resources used by law enforcement alone are a drain.

Money that could be spent to improve the life of a family is wasted because
one member is a drug addict. It can lead to a situation where the rest of the
family is living in poverty while one of them wastes thousands of pesos each
week on drugs.

A criminal underworld had developed in order to take advantage of the

desire for these illegal substances. The money made from selling drugs is
used to finance other criminal acts as well as terrorism.

Drug addict can destroy communities. It can lead to a situation where people
are afraid to leave their homes because of fear of crime.

The individual who falls into drug addiction can lose everything including
their own self respect. This miserable life is a waste of human potential.

Ang usa unta ka kinabuhi nga dako untag kontribusyon sa atuang kumonidad,
the life of this person will no longer have value. His life will become a liability to
us. Kaning mga napriso nato karon, ang gobyerno nagbayad ug dako para sa ilahang
kaon, maintenance, himo ug mga prisohan ug mga rehabilitation centers. Dako
kaayo ang gigahin nga kwarta para sa ilahang rehabilitation and reformation. What
should have been done was to mold them young in order for them to be model
citizens of our nation. This way, they will be be productive and law-abiding citizens.

Pero, dakong kasubo nga, sa kanta pa ni Freddie Aguilar,

Nagdaan pa ang mga araw

At ang landas mo'y naligaw
Ikaw ay nalulong sa masamang bisyo.

Our vision for Sindangan is that everybody should enjoy improved quality of
life. This vision for a better life starts at the next generation, ang kabataan, ang mga
sunod natong henerasyon. It is our dream that all of our children should be given the
best healthy start, free from drugs and criminality.

This development should start from birth. Mao nga ang Municipality of
Sindangan already has _______ birthing clinics. These are strategically located to
cater to a bigger percentage of our population. Our birthing clinics have provided
access to once inaccessible services which would have resulted to death of either the
infant or the mother. Karon, hamugaway ug duol na sa mga panimalay ang Birthing
Clinics kung asa puede manganak ang atuang mga kababayen-an. Nagpatukod pa
gyod ta ug mga halfway houses kung asa puede magpuyo ang mga manganakay nato
nga inahan. (data about birthing clinics, halfway houses and other structures
here)

Dugang ani, ang Rural Health Unit nato, madasigon kaayo nga nag
implementar sa mga programa sa DOH. Gani, anaa kitay nadawat nga exemplary
award on HIV immunization program. Nakadawat pod ta ug NTP Commitment
Award. Ang atuang programa nga Garantisadong Pambata, sa mga ages 6 months-
59 months, 100 percent na ang atuang na achieve. Last July, we had a successful rate
of 99% in our National School Deworming Month. And the percentage of our School
Based immunization in the month of August was at 97 %. Ang atuang National
Immunization Program as of 3rd Quarter, nabutang na sa 80 %. Kani tanang
programaha, gihimo para ang atuang kabataan mahatagan ug saktong pundasyon
para sa ilahang kinabuhi through proper programs and interventions by the
government.

Under R.A. No. 6972, there is a mandate for the Barangay Level Total
Development and Protection of Children Act. Its mandate is to have a day care center
established in every barangay to provide the day care service to nurture children 3
to 4. There is also a need for children to be taken cared of their needs including
proper care and nutrition, special protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, &
exploitation. This includes monitoring of birth registration, growth and nutrition,
immunization and extending services to abused, neglected and exploited children.

We still acknowledge that this Municipality has various problems and

constraints with poverty and malnutrition among children. Acceptance is the key to
addressing a problem. If we accept that a problem exists, we can then start to address
such.

With regards to the malnutrition problem among our youth, members of the
Municipal Nutrition Committee initiated activities related to proper nutrition. There
were supplemental feedings with VITAMEALS and provisions of Vitamin Angel to
pregnant and lactating mothers. These were donated by the organization Feed the
Children Philippines. The Department of Health continues to provide vitamin A
and micronutrients for supplementation. The Municipal Nutrition Action Office also
provided lectures to mothers with malnourished children about proper nutrition.
These programs have been constantly implemented so that awareness and
knowledge about malnutrition become institutionalized in our communities.

In addition to this, we shall be creating a database for children so that we can

properly monitor their progress. It is the aim of this Municipality that every child
should be accounted for and must be closely monitored of their progress. Let us be
accountable for each and every child in this Municipality.
 Sa atua pod nga edukasyon, sa pagka karon, aduna na kitay 65 day care centers
sa 52 Barangays of this Municipality. Ang vision nato nga mahatagan ug saktong
pundasyon ang atuang mga kabataan, hinay-hinay nga natuman. Usa kaning mga
day care centers ang mohatag ug pagtagad sa kawad-on ug edukasyon sa atuang mga
kabataan.

Aside from this, diri sa atuang munisipyo, gi-implementar pod nato ang
The Supervised Neighborhood Play (SNP) which is a home-based early childhood
services for children 2 - 4 years old. It utilizes play as an approach in providing early
stimulation activities that are developmentally appropriate for each target age of
children in the community. This is done in communities with ECCD center based
services but has no access of the ECCD center based due to its distance. SNP is an
alternative strategy to respond to early learning needs of children 2 4 years old.

For its better implementation, the Day Care Workers & SNP workers have
undergone series of capability building on skills Enhancement as service providers
in coordination with ZNFePa and the Provincial Government Unit of Sindangan thru
the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office. Gikan sa pagpanganak,
hangtod sa iyahang pagtubo, ang mga bata atuang gigiyahan aron sila himsog sa
panglawas ug panghuna-huna. Additionally, the Local Government Unit of
Sindangan thru the Local Council for the Protection of Children has already
complied the 5 year comprehensive Local Juvenile Intervention Program for
Children.

Sa pagka karon, ang datus mao kani:

# of Day Care Center 64 + 1 National Child Devt Center at (SPDS) = 65

# of Day Care Center 64 + 1 National Child Devt Worker = 65
# of Supervised Neighborhood Play Workers = 22
# of Children served by Day Care Workers and SNP workers - 3,126

To make this a reality, this Local Government Unit has allocated an annual
budget for Children in the Year 2017 in the amount of Php4, 678, 800 . 76
 Gigahinan pod ang DSWD ug Budget for Supplemental Feeding Program of
the 3, 126 children enrolled in day Care Centers and SNP sa kantidad nga Php 5,
405, 400. 00. We believe that the child should be given the best start in life. And we
will do our best to provide such.

Human ani, aron ma engage ang mga kabataan sa physical and mental
activities, mismong ang Local Government Unit sa Sindangan thru the Municipal
Cultural Affairs, Sports and Tourism Development nagpasiugda sa Summer Clinic
kung asa ang mga bata gitudloan sa pagdula sa chess, lawn tennis ug table tennis,
badminton, arnis, swimming, basketball, volleyball, ug boxing. Aduna pod kitay
lessons on Band instruments such as Guitar, Bass guitar, Keyboard and Drums.
Nadugang pa ani ang voice lessons ug ang rondalla. Kani tanan gibuhat kay ang
prinsipyo namo sa Local Government is that to steer away the children from
dangerous drugs, one must engage them in fruitful and challenging activities. We
had catered to at least 915 children in the said activities.

Usa pod nga masulti natong makapasigarbo nato, kita maoy nag host sa
Provincial Athletics Meet. Nakita siguro sa DepEd ang kapasidad sa Sindangan nga
mo host ug dagko nga mga activities para sa kabataan mao nga kita moy ilahang
gipili. Atoa pod kaning gidawat kay kani usa sa mga activities nga maka pa engaged
sa mga bata ug sila mahilayo sa dautang bisyo. Ang Local Government Unit sa
Sindangan partner sige sa mga kabataan sa mga saktong activities for their body and
mind.

Daghan pod nga mga lakang ang gibuhat sa atuang kapulisan karong tuiga
para sa atuang mga kabataan. Atong February 13, 2017, our police officers
conducted lecture on Child Sexual Abuse Awareness in Barangay Lawis, Sindangan,
Zamboanga del Norte. Subsequently, they conducted lectures, seminars, symposia,
to the Elementary Schools within our municipality for the students to be aware of
our laws regarding Sexual Abuse and Exploitation among children. In fact, ga sige
ug information drive ang atuang mga kapulisan kabahin sa mga balaud such as R.A
7610, and R.A. 8353, the Anti-Rape Law. Just recently, they conducted lectures
about childrens rights and human trafficking as well as the effects of illegal drugs
in relation to the Childrens Month Celebration with the same theme: BATA:
ILIGTAS SA DROGA! Gibuhat kani tanan para sa paggiya sa mga kabataan sa
pagbagtas sa tul-id nga dalan. Hinaut nga agi aning mga interventions, activities and
programs, mahilayo nato ang kabataan sa illegal nga droga.

Lastly, this Local Government Unit signed a Memorandum of Agreement

with ZNFePA for the conduct of trainings and seminars involving children and
youth. This will pave the way for more capability building and correct interventions
for our children.

Kani tanang atuang gibuhat, atua kaning gihimo agi sa atuang pagpangga ug
paghigugma sa atuang kabataan. Kay sa umaabot, sila na pod ang magdumala sa
atuang lungsod ug atuang nasod. Atuang ihatag sa ilaha ang saktong paggiya aron
dili sila mahisalaag ug magumon sa ginadili nga droga ug uban pang makadaut nga
bisyo. Ang Bata ay ating iligtas sa droga!

Thank you and God Bless us all.