2022 Regional Dagyaw in Butuan talks about children’s well-being
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY – The 2022 Regional Dagyaw Open Government Town Hall Meeting held on November 18 highlighted the situation, issues and concerns of the school children and the youth especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the efforts of the government and different stakeholders in the protection of children’s rights and promotion of the overall well-being of the children and youth.
Invited guest speakers include the Department of Education (DepEd) Caraga through Dr. Violeta NuΓ±ez, OIC-Chief Education Program Supervisor, Policy, Planning and Research Division; National Nutrition Council (NNC) Caraga through Dr. NiΓ±o Archie Labordo, OIC-Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator; Gawad Kalinga through Director Victor Emmanuel Ozarraga; and Caraga State University (CSU) Guidance and Counseling Center through Dr. Maria Olivia Bating, Counseling Supervisor. Said event was moderated by Dr. Alma Eleazar, Honorary member of the Local Government Training and Research Institutes – Philippine Network, Incorporated (LOGOTRI-Philnet).
In the said activity, some 150 participants composed of student leaders, youth organizations, Parents-Teachers Association (PTA), indigenous peoples (IP) youth, PWD sector, local government unit representatives, media partners and other sectors actively took part in sharing their inputs during the open forum to improve the situation of the children sector in the region.
The said town hall meeting was divided into three parts: The Child in School; Health of Learners; and Mental Health and Well-being of Caraganon Learners.
Regional Director Maria Fe Jagna of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Caraga, emphasized that safe and secure dialogue across all sectors must be practiced and continued amid pandemic and challenges, hence, the conduct of the Regional Dagyaw this year.
"This year's Dagyaw is very timely, especially that we are celebrating Children's Month. We hope to continuously secure, promote the rights of the children and protect their mental health," Jagna said.
In her presentation, Dr. Violeta NuΓ±ez, OIC-Chief Education Program Supervisor/Policy, Planning and Research Division of DepEd Caraga, shared that the department is currently working on their Regional Basic Education Plan (a 6-year plan), which provides a strategic roadmap to improve the delivery and quality of basic education.
"To attain our targets, we have these strategies and one is to capacitate our teachers, principals and other personnel making them more competent in performing their jobs. Another major intervention is the strict implementation of Department Order 34, series 2022 - the number of school days in this DO shall solely be dedicated to academics and related co-curricular activities," she bared.
Dr. NiΓ±o Archie Labordo, OIC-Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator of National Nutrition Council (NNC) Caraga, stressed that all sectors need to work in unity in preventing the high prevalence of malnourished children in the region, especially those stunted and wasted. "This Dagyaw is actually one good avenue where we can discuss through a dialogue on how we can address the concern on malnutrition of our children," he said.
"The First 1000 days of life of every child is really important as this is critical in the formation and growth of the child starting from the pregnancy of the mother. The power of the First 1000 Days starts from the 270 days of pregnancy, followed by the 180 days of younger days of infancy (birth to 6 months), and the 550 days of the older stage of infancy and toddlerhood (6 months to 2 years)," added Labordo.
Dr. Victor Emmanuel Ozarraga, Area Team Leader of Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, Inc., also shared the challenges and programs on health, nutrition and well-being for the Caraganon-Learners: The GK Experience. "The Gawad Kalinga has established the implementation of the three zeros -- Zero Exclusion, Zero Carbon, and Zero Poverty. This is in line also with the Sustainable Development Goals," he bared.
Dr. Maria Olivia Bating, Counseling Supervisor, Guidance and Counseling Center of Caraga State University (CSU) Caraga, discussed the Mental Health and Well-being of Caraganon learners. "Based on the data from the Department of Health, there are 1,145,871 individuals with depressive disorder while 520,614 with bipolar, and 213,422 with schizophrenia," she said.
"How can we help them? Let us do our own best way to protect them and promote their well-being. You may also do the following: 1) Be a safe person. Talk to them privately; 2) Let them share to the degree that they are comfortable with; 3) Listen carefully; and 4) Ask open ended questions," Bating added.
On behalf of Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga Regional Director Venus Garcia, Assistant Regional Director Renelle Escuadro, delivered her message of support. She emphasized the Agency's support to the Regional Technical Working Group of Dagyaw 2022 led by DILG, and vowed to continue to disseminate timely, accurate and relevant information to the public that promotes the rights and welfare of the children sector.
"We, in PIA, affirm our strong support and engagement to the children and the youth of the country not because we are obligated to, but because we truly believe in the importance of putting them first in the priority. We can do so by implementing policies and programs that focus on promoting their well-being complemented by a strong information drive to create awareness of its relevance," said Escuadro.
In his closing message, Engr. Donald Seronay, Assistant Regional Director of DILG Caraga, thanked all the participating sectors for their active support in this year's Dagyaw, and stressed the need to continuously uphold the rights and total well-being of the children sector.
This year’s Regional Dagyaw is anchored on the theme "Edukasyon ug Nutrisyon sa Kabataang Caraganon: Palig-onon!
Dagyaw is a Hiligaynon word for "bayanihan" or togetherness which aims to bring the government closer to the people. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
