Lipa City gets 2017 Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance Award

Lipa City, Batangas MAYOR MEYNARD ASA SABILI during 2017 Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance Award regional awarding. by Lolitz ...

Lipa City, Batangas MAYOR MEYNARD ASA SABILI during 2017 Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance Award regional awarding.

by Lolitz L. Estrellado

LUCENA CITY – The fast-growing progressive city of LIPA in Batangas Province under the stewardship of MAYOR MEYNARD ASA SABILI, was among those conferred with the 2017 Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance Award during the CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) regional awarding ceremony held last Monday, August 20, 2018 at the Quezon convention Center in Lucena City, Quezon Province.

The awarding was held in this Capital City as part of the annual “Niyogyugan Festival” hosted by Quezon Province.

Mayor Meynard, together with the other awardees from the CALABARZON Region, received a Plaque of Recognition from the Council for the Welfare of Children under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as partner, based on the results of the mandatory Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit (CFLGA) which is conducted annually and covers all cities and municipalities throughout the country.

Lipa City is among those which passed 100% the mandatory CFLGA, and passed the criteria for the selection of the awardees.

Under the Sabili administration, the Lipa City Welfare Village, the first and only of its kind in CALABARZON, was prioritized and constructed. It was formally inaugurated last June 4, 2018 which houses among others the Bahay Pag-asa for the children in conflict with the law.

No less than DSWD USEC Isko Moreno lauded Mayor Sabili who, he stressed, has genuine concern and compassion for the children.

In an exclusive interview on Wednesday, Mayor Sabili said, “Maraming salamat po sa DSWD at DILG sa pagkilala sa ating mga pagsisikap na maisaayos ang mga programa para sa mga bata. At congratulations sa lahat ng ating chiefs of offices, lahat ng mga empleyado ng local na pamahalaan ng Lipa, dahil hindi natin ito makakamit kung hindi dahil sa inyong suporta, pakikiisa at pagtutulungang maiayos ang ating mga programa para sa mga bata. Para ito sa ating lahat.”

Mayor Sabili added, “Katungkulan ng gobyerno na kalingain ang mga bata, akayin sa matuwid, turuang maging produktibo upang magkaroon sila ng maayos at disenteng pamumuhay. Paano sila magiging pag-asa ng bayan kung hahayaan natin silang mapahamak o maligaw ng landas?”

During the awarding ceremony, Mayor Sabili was joined by his loving wife and partner in rendering service and helping the Lipeños, Mayora Bernadette P. Sabili, City administrator Atty. Leo Latido, CSWD officer Lerma Laylo and other Chiefs of offices of the city government.