The Valenzuela City government was recognized by the Child Protection Network Foundation, Inc. (CPN) as its “2022 Most Valuable Partner” for its continuous efforts for the protection of children in the city from different forms of abuse.

Valenzuela City Committee on Women, Family, and Gender Equality Chairperson Councilor Niña Lopez, City Social Welfare and Development Office Head Ms. Dorothy Go Evangelista, and City Child Protection Center Head Ms. Kristina Ramos, Registered Social Worker (RSW), received the plaque of recognition during the culminating activity of the 14th Ako Para Sa Bata hybrid session at the Ramon Magsaysay Center, Malate, Manila on Thursday, Nov. 24.

The CPN is a non-government organization composed of professionals and individulas working together to ensure that all children in the Philippines and throughout Asia are protected from the many faces of abuse, according to childprotectionnetwork.org.

The Most Valuable Partner award was given by the organization to the city government for serving as a role model on the whole-city approach in the implementation of evidence-based programs in the prevention and intervention of child abuse and exhibiting political will in protecting minors during the most challenging times.

The Valenzuela City government is the first local government unit in the country to receive the award.

Among the city government’s projects and programs for the welfare and safety of the children is the Valenzuela City Child Protection Center (CPC).

According to the city government, the CPC, which opened in 2017 and the first local government-run protection center for children in the National Capital Region, serves as a safe haven for children who experience neglect, discrimination, cruelty and other forms of abuse that hinder their development.

The center, which is currently manned by a team of woman and children protection specialists including social workers, police investigators, doctors, and psychometricians, has already served 4,000 clients since its establishment, the city government said.

In 2019, during the term of former Valenzuela City Mayor Rexlon “Rex” Gatchalian, the city was hailed by the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children (GPEVAC) as the first “Pathfinding City” in the world.

The city government said that the concept of “Pathfinding” aims to raise awareness, stimulate leadership commitment, and establish a standard of national violence prevention throughout the world.

On the same year, the city government also partnered with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), to boost the city’s capacity to deliver programs and achieve results for the children. They also inked a five-year partnership to foster the rights and protection of the minors in the city.

“Bilang Ama ng Bayan at bagong halal na Punong Lungsod, patuloy nating mahalin at kupkupin ang mga nangangailangan, ipagtatanggol natin ang mga batang walang laban at naaabuso (As the newly elected city mayor, we will continue to love and take care of those who are in need, we will defend the helpless and abused children)” Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian said.

The GPEVAC is a public-private collaboration of United Nation agencies, governments, research institutions, international non-government organizations, foundations and private sector groups working to achieve a world where the children have a safe, secure, and nurturing environment.