Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro signed a measure adopting the 2024 Children’s Code of Marikina City to further promote children's rights and prevent their abuse, neglect, exploitation, and acts of violence against them.
Marikina City Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro joins the culmination of the 32nd National Children’s Month at the Marikina City Convention Center on Nov. 30, 2024. (Photos from Marikina LGU)
Teodoro signed Ordinance No. 74, Series of 2024, which was introduced by Councilor Marife Dayao, Committee Chairman on Women's and Family Affairs, during the closing of the 32nd National Children’s Month last Nov. 30.
“Let us create a Marikina and the Philippines that is not only safe but is a home that nurtures, values, and listens to our youth,” he said.
In the ordinance, it stated that “The City of Marikina stands with the State as ‘Parens Patriae of ‘Parents of the Nation’ and as much recognizes the honored duty to update and enhance its local laws to align with the national and international standards, policies, and frameworks to better serve the best interests of children within its jurisdiction.”
According to the measure, the Local Code on Children in the City of Marikina enacted in 2000 has significantly contributed to the protection and welfare of children in the city. However, it noted that it must be updated to address emerging issues, challenges, and evolving needs of children in the current context.
“There is a need to adopt a new Children's Code for 2024 that reflects contemporary standards, responds to recent developments, and reinforces the city's commitment to the holistic growth, protection, and empowerment of children,” it stated.
The ordinance states that the local government is committed to following these core principles in all its efforts for the children in the city:
- Right to Life, Survival, and Development – Every child has the inherent right to life, survival, and development that includes the physical, mental, emotional, social, and cultural aspects of the child's well-being.
- Best Interests of the Child – All decisions and actions concerning children made by governments through their courts of law, administrative authorities, legislative bodies, and both public and private social organizations must be done with the best interests of the child as the paramount consideration.
- Non-Discrimination – The government shall ensure that all children can enjoy their rights irrespective of their or their parent's or legal guardian's race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression (SOGIE), language, religion, political or other opinion, nationality, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth, or other status.
- Respect for the Views of the Child – Children have the right to be heard and participate in all matters that affect them. The child's views shall be given due weight and consideration.
During the program, the mayor said that National Children’s Month, which is celebrated every year, is a celebration of the unique rights of Filipino children and aims to give access to a healthy environment, good education, and health care.
“This is also a time for the entire community, especially the government, to remember and give due importance to our responsibility towards them,” he stated.
He added that the city’s celebration of the annual event was a child-led activity, led by 16 barangay child representatives.
Teodoro said that the representatives were selected from the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) Child Representative Election on October 5, which was attended by Barangay for the Protection of Children (BCPC) representatives.
He also shared that Marikina’s LCPC earned an adjectival rating of ideal with an average of 98.80 percent according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Marikina, which Teodoro said was a remarkable change from the city's 87.2 percent last year.
“Likewise, our Local Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (LCAT-VAWC) also earned an adjectival rating of ideal with an average of 97% in the Functionality Assessment of Performance Year 2023. Because of this, we earned awards from the DILG-NCR at the 2024 Urban Governance Awards Exemplar this October 28,” the mayor explained.
Meanwhile, Teodoro urged everyone to continue safeguarding the rights of children.
“Dahil ang pagmamahal, gabay, at alagang ibinibigay natin sa kanila ngayon ang huhubog hindi lamang sa kanila, kundi maging sa kinabukasan ng ating bayan (Because the love, guidance, and care we give them today will shape not only them but also the future of our nation). So together, let us build a world where every child can dream, grow, and thrive,” he said.
The mayor also said to the children, “Dahil ang inyong kanya-kanya at pinagsama-samang boses ay ang buhay ng ating komunidad—ito ang tinig ng pag-asa at pagbabago. May karapatan kayong mapakinggan, may lakas kayong magpahayag, at may kapangyarihan kayong baguhin ang hinaharap (Because your individual and collective voices are the life of our community—this is the voice of hope and change. You have the right to be heard, the strength to express yourselves, and the power to change the future).”