(MANILA BULLETIN)

It's somewhat cliché to say that the nation's hope lies with its youth, but it's something that Quezon City 5th district Rep. PM Vargas deeply believes in. 

That's why, for the month of November or National Children’s Month, Vargas highlighted the House of Representatives' efforts in promoting the well-being and development of Filipino children by way of legislation. 

Vargas says he sees hope in the children and youth as a stepping stone to foster the well-being of families and promote stronger communities, which are important aspects for nation-building. 

“The youth of today are creative thinkers and innovators. With proper guidance, we can empower their potentials and encourage them to be our agents of change to steer us towards a brighter future,” says Vargas. 

Among the proposed House bills (HB) filed in the current 19th Congress are focused on infant and childcare. These are the proposed Ensuring Child Support Act (HB No.4798), Infant-Friendly Facilities Act (HB No.4799), Expanded Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act (HB No.5924), and Free Child Care Center in Every Barangay of Novaliches, Quezon City. 

Vargas also lobbied for legislation aimed at protecting children and youth who are marginalized and disadvantaged such as the School Visitation Rights Act (HB No.1636), Teachers of Children with Disability Enhancement Act (HB No.4071), Magna Carta of the Out of School Youth (HB No.6441); Educational Success for Homeless Children and Youth HB No.7613 and the Expanded Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act (HB No.8009). 

“As legislators, we stand at a privileged vantage point to push for policies and turn challenges into opportunities to improve the conditions of people, starting with the Filipino children, and guarantee that they have access to education, health care and the opportunities to reach their full potential, to which they rightfully are entitled to,” said the neophyte lawmaker.

Many of these proposed statutes were also among the advocacies pushed during the previous congresses by the former Quezon City 5th district congressman and the incumbent solon’s older brother, Councilor Alfred Vargas. 

National Children’s Month was established in 2015 as the Philippines’ official celebration of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which took place on Nov. 20, 1989. 

The solon is an assistant majority leader in the 19th Congress.